Archibald Prize 2024 Finalists announced + Packing Room Prize

 The finalists for The Archibald Prize 2024 have been announced. 

The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’.

The Archibald Prize for portrait painting is Australia’s most celebrated and democratic – sometimes controversial – art award. Open to any artist living in Australia or New Zealand, since 1921 it has reflected the unique experiences of the people who live in this region, highlighting figures from all walks of life. 

Some Archibald Prize Facts

• there were 1005 entries from artists resident in Australia (i.e. don't even think about entering next year's competition unless you live in Australia!)
• of these 57 artworks were selected as finalists for the Prize and will be hung in the exhibition. That's 5.6% of the entry.
• the entries were judged and the finalists were selected by the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
• the winner of The Archibald Prize will be announced on 7th June 2024.
• the exhibition will be open at the Art Gallery of New South Wales between 8 June – 8 September 2024

You can VIEW ALL THE FINALISTS ONLINE. See if you can work out who has won!

Sitting here in London I'm looking at the finalists' artwork and wondering who on earth are the sitters. That's not to say I might not also have a view about the portraits irrespective of not knowing the sitters or the artists!

Interestingly, the portraits are not at all conventional and indeed many of them might be termed "very contemporary". 

The Packing Room Prize

Winner: Packing Room Prize 2024

Rhythms of heritage by Matt Adnate

spray paint and synthetic polymer paint on linen

220 x 188.5 cm (86 inches x 75inches)

In the meantime, the Packing Room Prize has been announced. 

The 2024 Packing Room Prize has been awarded to 'Rhythms of heritage' by Matt Adnate who normally creates very large scale murals and who has been a finalist multiple times in prestigious art competitions such as the Doug Moran and the Archibald Prize. His portrait of Yolŋu rapper, dancer, artist and actor Baker Boy and the painting is BIG!

I've always really liked the fact of the existence of the Packing Room Prize - which is for the work that has been judged to be the best by the Art Gallery Staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries.

I've always had a sneaky suspicion that they never ever favour those packed by people who don't know how to make a package secure and/or those who pack like a complete nightmare for unpackers!