Geelong Gallery is delighted to be the exclusive Victorian venue for the 2017 Archibald Prize. High profile, eagerly anticipated and often controversial, the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ Archibald Prize is Australia’s favourite art award, and one of its most prestigious.
Awarded to the best portrait painting, it’s a who’s who of Australian culture, with subjects often including politicians, celebrities, sporting heroes, authors and artists.
Since its inception in 1921, the Archibald Prize has been engaging art enthusiasts, and challenging the way we see ourselves and our society. Over the years, the prize has been awarded to many of Australia’s most prominent artists.
Forty three portraits are exhibited in this year’s exhibition including 2017 Archibald Prize winner Mitch Cairns for his portrait of partner and artist Agatha Gothe-Snape and the Packing Room Prize winner Peter Smeeth for his portrait of Lisa Wilkinson AM.
Did you know? Christened John Feltham, JF Archibald was born in Geelong West on 14 January, 1856, and lived in the region beginning his journalism career in Warnambool when he was 15 years old. Furthermore, a number of finalists in the 2017 Archibald Prize have connections to the region. Artist Kate Beynon was the winner of the 2016 Geelong contemporary art prize, Sophia Hewson was schooled in Geelong while William H. Luke and sitter Remy van de Wiel have decades of involvement in the Geelong region spending their summers on the Surf Coast.
For more information or to book tickets to the 2017 Archibald Prize visit archibaldgeelong.com.au
Open daily 10am to 5pm and Fridays until 8pm, at 55 Little Malop Street, phone 5229 3645.
