02-05-2025
Jackie O as you've never seen her before
This week, Jackie hit back at an elderly neighbour who complained as construction began on her dream home and labelled her and Sandilands 'disgusting'. But Jackie O also revealed that she was blown away by the Archibald portrait, saying she had been blown away by Maree's previous work of actor Josh Heuston. 'Fast forward a few months, I'm in New York, still talking about that painting with friends, still in my mind,' she said in an Instagram video. 'The very next day, an email lands in my inbox. It's from Kelly!!!!! Out of the blue. She wanted to know if I'd be open to being painted for her Archibald next year. You could have knocked me over with a feather. Was this real? What serendipity. Turns out we were drawn to each other.' Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
Banquet (Rainbow Chan) by Whitney Duan depicts artist and musician Chun Yin Rainbow Chan. Born in Hong Kong and living and working in Sydney, Chan often evokes traditional Chinese methods in different ways. Picture: Whitney Duan, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Rainbow Chan before the 2017 MOFO Festival.
Felix Cameron by Jeremy Eden depicts young actor Felix Cameron. At just 15, Cameron won two Logie awards for his performance as Eli Bell in Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe. Picture: Jeremy Eden, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Eden said the inspiration for the work came after Cameron's Logies acceptance speech. 'It was incredibly moving,' Eden said. 'I was already a big fan of Boy Swallows Universe and I thought Felix gave such a powerful, grounded performance. After meeting him and his family, I wanted to portray him not as a character, but as himself: a teenager at home, passionate about sport.' Photo byfor AFI
Ramesh (with mask) by Remy Faint depicts Sri Lankan – born Australian artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, who is a finalist in the Wynne Prize. An irreverent ceramist, Nithiyendran works across materials including sculpture, paining and printmaking. Picture: Remy Faint, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Of Nithiyendran, Faint said: 'Ramesh has a unique charisma that resonates in his art and outgoing personality. This made me think about performativity, a theme Ramesh has explored in his work through the recurring motif of masks, both as a form of adornment and a conceptual idea.' Photo: Hugh Stewart
Head of BF no 2 by David Fairbairn depicts head of cardiothoracic surgery at Liverpool Hospital in South Western Sydney Professor Bruce French. Picture: David Fairbairn, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Bruce French sitting for David Fairbairn in the past. Fairbairn said: 'Bruce's striking appearance, with his lean physique and almost skeletal bone structure, immediately drew me in. As a rule, my subjects tend to be people in their later years, who have had rich, varied life experiences, which makes it possible for me to create a more emotive, expressive and visually stimulating response.' This is Fairbairn's 10th time as an Archibald Finalist. Photo: Instagram
Keiran by Timothy Ferguson depicts Sydney artist Kerian Gordon, who combines painting, drawing and sculpture in his art. Ferguson is a first-time Archibald finalist. Picture: Timothy Ferguson, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Malatja malatja (into the future) by Robert Fielding depicts his grandson Arnold Dodd, a master spear-maker. Fielding said of the piece: 'This painting is not just about Arnold. It's about all of us who came before and all who will come after. It's about what survives – language, skill, story. He holds it with strength and grace. Through him, our culture walks boldly into the future.' Picture: Robert Fielding, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene) by Julie Fragar depicts artist Justene Williams. The title comes from Justene's recent performance in New Zealand titled Making do rhymes with poo about getting by, particularly balancing work and a family life. Picture: Julie Fragar, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Williams works across media including video, photography, sculpture and performance. Fragar is now a four-time Archibald finalist. Photo: Britta Campion / The Australian
Still standing and fighting by Linda Gold depicts AFL legend, 2025 Australian of the Year and FightMND co-founder Neale Daniher. He has raised $115 million for research into the disease he suffers from. Picture: Linda Gold, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Daniher receiving his Australian of the Year honour. Gold said of Daniher: 'I wrote asking if he would consider posing for a portrait. He kindly agreed to a 15-minute sitting at his home. In the end, I spent more than an hour with Neale and his wife Jan.' Photo: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Sisters by Jaq Grantford depicts Antonia and Nicole Kidman, who sat for the portrait last Christmas Eve. The portrait is a tribute to their mother Janelle, who died last September. Picture: Jaq Grantford, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
I won't wish, I will by Yolande Gray depicts well-known ceramic artist Pippin Drysdale, whose career has lasted three decades. Picture: Yolande Gray, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Drysdale uses ceramic and inspiration from landscapes, including Australian desert landscapes, in her work. Photo: Stewart Allen
Meditation on time (a left-handed self-portrait) by Tsering Hannaford is a self-portrait done in Hannaford's non-dominant left hand. It took seven months to do after she suffered a debilitating tendon injury in her right wrist. The 11-time Archibald finalist said: 'My right hand is not just connected to my work and livelihood, but to my sense of independence, agency and identity … Art can have the power to transform suffering and, if anything, my experience with chronic pain has made me more sensitive to the challenges of others, and grateful for the blessings I do have.' Picture: Tsering Hannaford, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Nooky, The Voice by JESWRI depicts Yuin and Thunghutti rapper and Triple J radio host Nooky. Nooky also founded the Indigenous social enterprise We Are Warriors. Picture: JESWRI, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
The portrait of Nooky is after his 2024 ARIA performance, where he's wearing a bulletproof vest. JESWRI said: 'That night, Nooky had an undeniable presence, which needed to be immortalised'. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer
New Madonna by Brittany Jones is a self-portrait including her son. The first-time Archibald finalist said: 'I chose to include my son in this self-portrait to commemorate his life with me earthside at roughly the same amount of time he spent inside before he was born. I drew inspiration for the pose from the classical depictions of the Madonna and Child.' Picture: Brittany Jones, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Kim by Solomon Kammer depicts Kim Leutwyler, a seven-time Archibald finalist who had gender-affirming surgery. Picture: Solomon Kammer, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Diana through threads by Madeleine Kelly depicts textile artist, painter and visual art professor at the University of Wollongong Diana Wood Conroy. Over a six decade career, Conroy has produced hundreds of tapestries, with first-time Archibald finalist Kelly choosing the thread theme. Picture: Madeleine Kelly, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Thom Roberts by Daniel Kim depicts Thom Roberts, a four-time Archibald finalist who works across painting, drawing, installation, animation and performance. Picture: Daniel Kim, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Kim said of Roberts: 'Thom and I have both been Archibald finalists before and have had artworks exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Thom and I also did some sketching at the Art Gallery at a late-night art event. Thom is in this year's Sulman Prize.' Picture: John Appleyard
Monica in her studio by Bronte Leighton-Dore depicts Monica Rani Rudhar. Born to Indian and Romanian migrant parents, Rudhar works across sculpture, video and performance. Picture: Bronte Leighton-Dore, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Rudhar's art explores cultural disconnection. Leighton-Dore said: 'I don't mind movement in my sittings; it helps relieve the pressure and creates a more relaxed atmosphere. In this case, Monica is shown chatting with me.'. Picture: Monica Rani Rudhar and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia / Zan Wimberley
You are only as good as your last painting by Richard Lewer has done a self-portrait which shows him stepping back to admire his painting. Picture: Richard Lewer, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
The New Zealand-born Melburnian is a five-time Archibald finalist. Of the painting he said: 'In the portrait, my clothes are flecked with the smears and splotches of paint from months in the studio. There is a physicality to the outfit; it is a palette, a uniform, and a record of repetition, routine and the discipline of making. The glasses in one hand and paintbrush in the other are metaphors for the act of looking and making; the tools of observation and inspiration.'
Ken Done by Fiona Lowry depicts legendary Australian artist Ken Done. Picture: Fiona Lowry, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Painted by 2014 Archibald winner Lowry, she said Done's work had been a feature of her life. 'I chose to paint Ken Done for the Archibald because his art and design was woven into the fabric of my childhood. I remember my mother buying his bedspreads. They felt rich and vibrant, like bringing joy into the home. I used to draw his fish, completely absorbed in their playful shapes and colours that echoed the ocean and my home town. His frangipanis and hibiscus still sit in my memory as symbols of the changing seasons – of warmth, light, and a uniquely Australian kind of beauty.' Picture: Christian Gilles
Miranda and Prince by Col Mac depicts Australian actor Miranda Otto. A long time fan of her work, Mac was thrilled when Otto decided to sit for him. Picture: Col Mac, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Otto, who has featured in the likes of The Lord of the Rings, War of the Worlds and TV show Homeland, left Mac feeling she was a 'a very engaging, thoughtful person. We were outside for most of the morning before ending up in the living room, which is why Miranda is wearing those amazing bright sneakers'. Mac is a first-time Archibald finalist. Photo:for IMDb
Shan is a little little little mermaid by Catherine McGuiness depicts queer Australian artist Shan Turner-Carroll. Picture: Catherine McGuiness, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Turner-Carroll works across sculpture, performance, photography and film. McGuiness said of Turner-Carroll: 'Shan is an artist and my Prince Charming. He helps me with my sketching and we have made lots of artworks and exhibitions together.' Photo: Instagram
Savanhdary by Kerry McInnis depicts Savanhdary Vongpoothorn, a Lao-Australian painter who arrived in the country as a seven-year-old. Picture: Kerry McInnis, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Two-time Archibald finalist McInnis said of Vongpoothorn: 'I have long admired the integrity and execution of Savanhdary's oeuvre, appreciating the complexity of the intercultural connections it illuminates.'
King Dingo by Vincent Namatjira is a self-portrait by the 2020 Archibald winner. Picture: Vincent Namatjira, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Namatjira won the Archibald for his painting of Adam Goodes, becoming the first Indigenous artist to win the award. But this time around he painted a self-portrait. 'When I paint self-portraits, I want people to get to know me a bit and see what is important to me – Country, family, history, power, recognition,' Namatjira said. 'Self-portraiture is a way of sharing what it might be like to be in my shoes. It's also an opportunity for me to look at the history of this country and ask, who has the power, and why?' Photo: Sia Duff
Self-portrait with nose tube by Chris O'Doherty (AKA Reg Mombassa) is a self-portrait by the legendary artist of Mambo fame. He was also a founding member of Mental as Anything. Picture: Reg Mombassa, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
It's the second time Mombassa has submitted a self-portrait for the prize. 'This painting is based on a selfie and some sketches I made while in hospital a couple of years ago,' he said. 'I find self-portraits easier to set up as I am readily available and will not complain about a negative or ugly portrayal. Plus I don't need to be stuck in a room with a stranger.' Photo: Supplied
Casey by Sassy Park depicts ceramic artist Casey Chen, who blends both nostalgia and East Asian ceramics. Park is a first-time Archibald finalist. Picture: Sassy Park, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Self-portrait (the act of putting it back together) by Sid Pattni is a self-portrait examining how he came to understand himself, using a range of different styles. 'Crucially, these references are about getting it wrong; about producing pictures that speak of the here and now,' Pattni said. 'I'm very attracted to the cycle of collapsing interpretations, telling a story of how India is perceived externally and how generations of Indians came to internalise and inhabit Western projections of 'Indian-ness' today. Ultimately, my portrait is not a fixed statement but a dynamic exploration of identity, which is a constant negotiation between inherited histories and the lived realities of the present.' Picture: Sid Pattni, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Sid Pattni entered the 2021 Big Brother house. This is his first year in the Archibald Prize. Picture: Seven Network
Magic Nikki and Charlie Fancy Pants Party … DJaaaaaaaay by Meagan Pelham depicts designer and jeweller Nikita Majajas and her wife Charlie Villas, who is a DJ. Picture: Meagan Pelham, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
(L-R) Charlie Villas, Sally Jackson, Gary Bigeni and Nikita Majajas at UTS Honours Graduate Showcase. Pelham said: 'Nikita is such a talented artist. I love her work because it is so colourful and fun and makes me happy. I had the best time DJing with Charlie at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art Australia); we were vibing, rapping and just living it up on stage. I'm all about hip hop, good music and having a blast. That's why I chose them as subjects for my Archibald portrait.'
Warwick Thornton by Adrian Jangala Robertson depicts internationally acclaimed director and Indigenous man Thornton. Robertson, who features in a painting himself, is in the Archibald finals for the second time, having previously been one of only two artists to be a finalist in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes. Picture: Adrian Jangala Robertson, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Thornton has directed movies such as Samson and Delilah and Sweet Country and, like Robertson, also shares his deep connection to Country, family and the role of the past in the present. Photo byfor SXSW Sydney
Kidjerikidjeri by Joan Ross depicts First nations curator Coby Edgar. Ross is a three-time Archibald finalist and 2017 Sulman Prize winner. Picture: Joan Ross, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Of Edgar and the painting, Ross said: 'The title Kidjerikidjeri (willy wagtail) is her given name. Coby is a queer woman and the bright red and orange symbolises this. I had the idea of portraying her in a colonial dress. She suggested it be pulled down to the waist to emulate the portraits of her ancestors, photographed by Paul Foelsche in the 1800s. Her body is painted in a wash of ochre and the tattoos were designed by and represent people in her family. She chose to hold red seeds that her ancestor Billiamook gifted to the first colonials. I have used hi-vis (as I often do) as a stamp of colonisation to show that it's a stain on us all.' Picture: Phil Williams
Lette loose by Sally Ryan depicts Puberty Blues author Kathy Lette. Picture: Sally Ryan, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
While being circled by sharks, Ryan said of the image: 'It was an absolute joy to capture her essence – full of energy and mischief – with her Cronulla roots serving as the perfect theme for my composition. At her request, I added some sharks into the mix – a playful reference to her most recent novel, The Revenge Club. However, Kathy isn't swimming with the sharks; she is on top of the water, in control and keeping them at bay.' Picture: Richard Dobson
The green man by Evan Shipard depicts ABC's Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis. Picture: Evan Shipard, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Of Georgiadis, Shipard said: 'He is an animated character on screen, but I aimed to capture a quieter, more pensive moment that hopefully offers a fresh insight into this popular man. After spending a day painting him, it felt as if we were old friends. He checked in on the work during breaks, but was careful not to get too close as he was excited about the final reveal.'. Picture: Bega Valley Shire Council
Finger painting of William Barton by Loribelle Spirovski depicts didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton, who has taken the instrument to new heights by engaging with classical music. Picture: Loribelle Spirovski, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
As for why Spirovski chose finger paining, Spirovski said she played one of Barton's compositions during the sitting. 'For years, I've been recovering from an injury that has made painting difficult and painful. Many times, I've questioned my role as an artist,' Spirovski said. 'As the music began, my hand set the brush aside and I dipped my finger into the soft, pliant paint. I turned the volume up, the music guiding me. Without a brush, painting was almost painless. As the portrait painted itself, I felt alive in a way I hadn't for a very long time.' Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
Self-portrait as a cat king by Vipoo Srivilasa depicts the first-time Archibald finalist pretty much as his title suggests. Picture: Vipoo Srivilasa, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Srivilasa said: 'To create this self-portrait, I used my phone in selfie mode instead of a mirror, but I found far more joy in observing my cats than in looking at my reflection.' Generally working in ceramics, Srivilasa chose to do the piece on handmade porcelain tile. Photo: Aaron Francis/The Australian
With the shadow by Clare Thackway is a self-portrait, drawing on Jungian concepts of the unconscious part of the psyche. Picture: Clare Thackway, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Thackway, who now lives in Paris, is known for her intimate portraits and figurative paintings. She painted the portrait over two years.
The Yellow Odalisque of Brunswick by Natasha Walsh depicts Atong Atem, a South Sudanese artist who uses photography to study postcolonialism and the spread of African culture across the world. Picture: Natasha Walsh, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Of the collaboration with Atem, Walsh said: 'Her photographs, which often play with her own representation, have always captivated me. When I asked her which work from art history she would like to reimagine together, she suggested Henri Matisse's Yellow odalisque.' Picture: Mark Mohell
Portrait of Sue Chrysanthou by Peter Wegner depicts Sydney defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou, who has represented a number of high profile clients. Picture: Peter Wegner, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Chrysanthou arriving at the Lidcombe Coroners Court on the first day of the Westfield Bondi Junction inquest. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
From comic to canvas by Kaylene Whiskey is the artists third time in the Archibald Prize, having previously won the 2018 Sulman Prize. Picture: Kaylene Whiskey, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Of the painting, Whiskey said: 'Now that I'm an artist myself, I like to say that my artworks are 'from the comic to the canvas' because I love to paint my favourite comic book superheroes, especially Wonder Woman. I paint ladies with superpowers because the ladies at Iwantja Arts, where I work, are kungka kunpu (strong women) too! I also love to paint my favourite musicians like Dolly Parton and Tina Turner. I show everyone coming together on Aṉangu Country, sharing bush tucker like tjala (honey ants) and ngiṉtaka (perentie lizard), and having fun, singing and dancing together.' Photo: Merinda Campbell / MAGNT
Cormac in Arcadia by Marcus Wills depicts 13-year-old Cormac Wright, who appeared alongside Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris in the 2022 film The Stranger watching a mythical scene from Greek antiquity. Cormac is the middle in the green hoodie. Wills won the Archibald Prize in 2006. Picture: Marcus Wills, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Self-portrait in the studio by Callum Worsfold is 'a raw reflection of me in all my grungy griminess. Although the gas mask was initially a mere prop, adding to the grunge aesthetic, the choice to submit a painting which obscures half my face in a portrait prize seemed a funny idea'. He is a first-time Archibald finalist. Picture: Callum Worsfold, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Wendy in the gallery by Lucila Zentner depicts acclaimed artist Wendy Sharpe, who won the 1996 Archibald Prize for a self-portrait. Sharpe has won many prizes and has held over 70 major exhibitions, as well as being appointed an official war artist by the Australian War Memorial and being posted to East Timor. Picture: Lucila Zentner, Archibald 2025, Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
Archibald winning artist Wendy Sharpe and her mural at the Sydney Jewish museum. For Zentner, a first-time Archibald finalist and practising doctor, she said Sharpe's 2024 Spellbound exhibition had inspired her. 'I immediately had an idea for a painting that was small and secretive – a window into a rich inner life. By using Wendy's motifs and paintings for the background, distorted through my lens and brush, I acknowledge and celebrate that another person's inner life is unknowable, even allowing for a lack of fear and censorship in art,' Zentner said.
