Archibald Approaching
If you missed seeing the Archibald Prize exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW last year or you want to see it again the great news is that it is coming to Windsor.
The Archibald Prize 2023 regional tour will roll up to the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery from Friday, 15th March and stay until Sunday, 28th April, when the Gallery will open for extended hours with an exhibition program including artist talks.
It is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the regional tour – the last time it was exhibited in the Hawkesbury was in 2017.
The 2023 Archibald Prize attracted an incredible 949 entries. From these 57 finalists were selected and for the first time ever, there were more works by women (30) than men (27) selected as finalists with significant representation of First Nations artists.
The Archibald Prize is Australia’s foremost portraiture prize. Awarded to the best portrait ‘preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in arts, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’, the Archibald Prize is a who’s who of Australian culture, from politicians and celebrities to sporting heroes and artists.
The first Archibald Prize was awarded in 1921 to artist William Beckwith (Billy) McInnes. The 2023 winner was Julia Gutman with her work Head in the sky, feet on the ground which features singer Montaigne.
While the People’s Choice Award went to Jaq Grantford’s portrait of actor, writer and director Noni Hazlehurst called Through the window, visitors to Hawkesbury Regional Gallery will have their own opportunity to vote for their favourite in the Hawkesbury’s People’s Choice Award.
The Hawkesbury Young Archie portrait competition will also run in 2024 which will be a fantastic exhibition of young creative talent. Follow the Gallery’s Facebook www. facebook.com/hawkesburygallery. Find out more about each of this year’s Archibald Prize finalists at www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2023
The Hawkesbury Regional Gallery is on the top floor of the Deerubbin Centre, 300 George Street, Windsor.
It is normally open six days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10am-4pm. Saturday-Sunday 10am-3pm. But there will be extended hours during the Archibald Exhibition.
