Latest news with #Fragar
The Advertiser
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Multiverse of motherhood shines brightest in Archibald
Julie Fragar has won the $100,000 Archibald Prize with a portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams to "honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her". The winning work is titled Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), and depicts the artist floating among the stars above the materials of making art, her daughter looking on. Fragar has been a finalist in the Archibald four times, and burst into tears when Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page called Friday morning to tell her she had won. "It feels unbelievable, can you imagine? I'm from a small country town originally, I moved to Sydney to go to art school, so to win the Archibald is amazing," Fragar said after the announcement in Sydney. She described the win as an incredible honour and her longtime friend and colleague Williams as an extraordinary artist. "I wanted to honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her, spinning not quite out of control," the Brisbane artist said. "The work is a reflection on the experience of making art to deadlines and the labour and love of being a mother." The title of the winning work comes from Williams' recent endurance performance in New Zealand, titled Making do rhymes with poo, about juggling a day job with art making and motherhood. It's the third year in a row a female artist has won the Archibald, making Fragar the 13th woman to win since the prize started in 1921. "Here are two of Australia's great artists in conversation about what matters most to them," said Page, who was announced in March as the gallery's new director. Fragar conducted a photo session with Williams and spent three months in the studio working on the painting, which she hoped would communicate her subject's singularity and otherworldliness. The winner was selected from 903 entries and 57 finalists, with works painted in the past year from at least one live sitting. The award, widely regarded as Australia's most prestigious art prize, is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, who made a unanimous decision on Friday. Jude Rae has won the $50,000 Wynne Prize for landscape painting or sculpture, for the oil on linen work Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal. The $40,000 Sulman Prize for genre painting went to Katoomba-based artist Gene A'Hern for Sky painting, beating a record field of 732 entries. For the first time in 2025, women artists made up the majority of finalists in each of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize competitions. Earlier in May, the $3000 Packing Room Prize selected by the gallery's art handling staff went to Abdul Abdullah for a portrait of his friend Jason Phu. The finalists for all three prizes will be on show at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from Saturday until August 17, before touring Victoria and NSW. Julie Fragar has won the $100,000 Archibald Prize with a portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams to "honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her". The winning work is titled Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), and depicts the artist floating among the stars above the materials of making art, her daughter looking on. Fragar has been a finalist in the Archibald four times, and burst into tears when Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page called Friday morning to tell her she had won. "It feels unbelievable, can you imagine? I'm from a small country town originally, I moved to Sydney to go to art school, so to win the Archibald is amazing," Fragar said after the announcement in Sydney. She described the win as an incredible honour and her longtime friend and colleague Williams as an extraordinary artist. "I wanted to honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her, spinning not quite out of control," the Brisbane artist said. "The work is a reflection on the experience of making art to deadlines and the labour and love of being a mother." The title of the winning work comes from Williams' recent endurance performance in New Zealand, titled Making do rhymes with poo, about juggling a day job with art making and motherhood. It's the third year in a row a female artist has won the Archibald, making Fragar the 13th woman to win since the prize started in 1921. "Here are two of Australia's great artists in conversation about what matters most to them," said Page, who was announced in March as the gallery's new director. Fragar conducted a photo session with Williams and spent three months in the studio working on the painting, which she hoped would communicate her subject's singularity and otherworldliness. The winner was selected from 903 entries and 57 finalists, with works painted in the past year from at least one live sitting. The award, widely regarded as Australia's most prestigious art prize, is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, who made a unanimous decision on Friday. Jude Rae has won the $50,000 Wynne Prize for landscape painting or sculpture, for the oil on linen work Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal. The $40,000 Sulman Prize for genre painting went to Katoomba-based artist Gene A'Hern for Sky painting, beating a record field of 732 entries. For the first time in 2025, women artists made up the majority of finalists in each of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize competitions. Earlier in May, the $3000 Packing Room Prize selected by the gallery's art handling staff went to Abdul Abdullah for a portrait of his friend Jason Phu. The finalists for all three prizes will be on show at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from Saturday until August 17, before touring Victoria and NSW. Julie Fragar has won the $100,000 Archibald Prize with a portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams to "honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her". The winning work is titled Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), and depicts the artist floating among the stars above the materials of making art, her daughter looking on. Fragar has been a finalist in the Archibald four times, and burst into tears when Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page called Friday morning to tell her she had won. "It feels unbelievable, can you imagine? I'm from a small country town originally, I moved to Sydney to go to art school, so to win the Archibald is amazing," Fragar said after the announcement in Sydney. She described the win as an incredible honour and her longtime friend and colleague Williams as an extraordinary artist. "I wanted to honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her, spinning not quite out of control," the Brisbane artist said. "The work is a reflection on the experience of making art to deadlines and the labour and love of being a mother." The title of the winning work comes from Williams' recent endurance performance in New Zealand, titled Making do rhymes with poo, about juggling a day job with art making and motherhood. It's the third year in a row a female artist has won the Archibald, making Fragar the 13th woman to win since the prize started in 1921. "Here are two of Australia's great artists in conversation about what matters most to them," said Page, who was announced in March as the gallery's new director. Fragar conducted a photo session with Williams and spent three months in the studio working on the painting, which she hoped would communicate her subject's singularity and otherworldliness. The winner was selected from 903 entries and 57 finalists, with works painted in the past year from at least one live sitting. The award, widely regarded as Australia's most prestigious art prize, is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, who made a unanimous decision on Friday. Jude Rae has won the $50,000 Wynne Prize for landscape painting or sculpture, for the oil on linen work Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal. The $40,000 Sulman Prize for genre painting went to Katoomba-based artist Gene A'Hern for Sky painting, beating a record field of 732 entries. For the first time in 2025, women artists made up the majority of finalists in each of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize competitions. Earlier in May, the $3000 Packing Room Prize selected by the gallery's art handling staff went to Abdul Abdullah for a portrait of his friend Jason Phu. The finalists for all three prizes will be on show at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from Saturday until August 17, before touring Victoria and NSW. Julie Fragar has won the $100,000 Archibald Prize with a portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams to "honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her". The winning work is titled Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), and depicts the artist floating among the stars above the materials of making art, her daughter looking on. Fragar has been a finalist in the Archibald four times, and burst into tears when Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page called Friday morning to tell her she had won. "It feels unbelievable, can you imagine? I'm from a small country town originally, I moved to Sydney to go to art school, so to win the Archibald is amazing," Fragar said after the announcement in Sydney. She described the win as an incredible honour and her longtime friend and colleague Williams as an extraordinary artist. "I wanted to honour the incredible multiverse of artworks that seems always to be exploding from her, spinning not quite out of control," the Brisbane artist said. "The work is a reflection on the experience of making art to deadlines and the labour and love of being a mother." The title of the winning work comes from Williams' recent endurance performance in New Zealand, titled Making do rhymes with poo, about juggling a day job with art making and motherhood. It's the third year in a row a female artist has won the Archibald, making Fragar the 13th woman to win since the prize started in 1921. "Here are two of Australia's great artists in conversation about what matters most to them," said Page, who was announced in March as the gallery's new director. Fragar conducted a photo session with Williams and spent three months in the studio working on the painting, which she hoped would communicate her subject's singularity and otherworldliness. The winner was selected from 903 entries and 57 finalists, with works painted in the past year from at least one live sitting. The award, widely regarded as Australia's most prestigious art prize, is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, who made a unanimous decision on Friday. Jude Rae has won the $50,000 Wynne Prize for landscape painting or sculpture, for the oil on linen work Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal. The $40,000 Sulman Prize for genre painting went to Katoomba-based artist Gene A'Hern for Sky painting, beating a record field of 732 entries. For the first time in 2025, women artists made up the majority of finalists in each of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize competitions. Earlier in May, the $3000 Packing Room Prize selected by the gallery's art handling staff went to Abdul Abdullah for a portrait of his friend Jason Phu. The finalists for all three prizes will be on show at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from Saturday until August 17, before touring Victoria and NSW.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
As it happened: Portrait of Justene Williams wins prestigious Archibald award
The $100,000 Archibald Prize winner is Julie Fragar for her portrait of Justene Williams, Flagship Mother Multiverse. It was a unanimous decision made at 7.20am. Fragar said she painted Williams for three reasons: She is a dear friend. She is an extraordinary artist. Fragar wished to honour the 'multiverse of artwork' spinning out of Williams. Fragar thanked previous gallery director Edmund Capon, who discovered her, and Michael Brand who encouraged her to keep entering the prize. When she was informed of the win this morning, Fragar burst into tears. 'It doesn't get better than this,' she said. This is the 15th time that the Archibald Prize has been awarded to a female artist.
The Age
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
As it happened: Portrait of Justene Williams wins prestigious Archibald award
The $100,000 Archibald Prize winner is Julie Fragar for her portrait of Justene Williams, Flagship Mother Multiverse. It was a unanimous decision made at 7.20am. Fragar said she painted Williams for three reasons: She is a dear friend. She is an extraordinary artist. Fragar wished to honour the 'multiverse of artwork' spinning out of Williams. Fragar thanked previous gallery director Edmund Capon, who discovered her, and Michael Brand who encouraged her to keep entering the prize. When she was informed of the win this morning, Fragar burst into tears. 'It doesn't get better than this,' she said. This is the 15th time that the Archibald Prize has been awarded to a female artist.
Time Out
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This stunning portrait of artist Justene Williams just won the Archibald Prize 2025
The face that stops the nation has landed. This morning, the Art Gallery of New South Wales announced Brisbane-based artist Julie Fragar as the winner of the 2025 Archibald Prize, for her portrait of fellow Brissy artist and colleague Justene Williams. The highly detailed black and white painting, titled 'Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)', depicts Williams as an 'active master of a multiverse of characters and events'. Fragar is a four-time Archibald Prize finalist, and this is the first time she has won the $100,000 prize. The artist broke into tears when the Art Gallery of NSW's recently appointed director, Maud Page, phoned this morning to deliver the news that her work had been selected as the winner from the 57 finalist works. This is the 15th time in Archie history that the prize has been awarded to a woman, and Fragar is the 13th woman to win since its inception in 1921. Fragar and Williams work together at the Queensland College of Art and Design, where Fragar is the head of painting and Williams is the head of sculpture. Responding to the win, Fragar said: 'You work your whole career imagining this might happen one day. Thinking back to myself as a 17-year-old showing up at the Sydney College of the Arts – a kid from country New South Wales – it's incredible to think I have won the Archibald Prize. Portrait painting wasn't taken as seriously in the 1990s as it is today. I have always regarded the Archibald Prize as a place that understood the value of portraiture.' The winning painting depicts its subject suspended mid-air in a sort of galactic landscape, floating above an assortment of distorted mannequins and other objects. The words 'Flagship Mother' in the title come from Justene's recent endurance performance in New Zealand titled 'Making do rhymes with poo', which was about the labour of 'getting by'. Speaking of her sitter, Fragar said: 'Justene is incredible. I feel very fortunate that she allowed me to do this portrait. There is nobody like her. The work is a reflection on the experience of making art to deadlines, and the labour and love of being a mother." It's a big year for artists finding their muse in fellow artists, it would appear. Today's news follows last week's announcement of the winner of the much-loved Packing Room Prize, which went to Abdul Abdullah for his painting of fellow artist Jason Phu (read more about that over here). The Gallery also today announced the winners of the Archibald's sibling exhibitions, the Wynne and Sulman Prizes, today. Sydney artist Jude Rae took out the Wynne Prize 2025 and $50,000 for her painting , depicting an immense sky underlaid with the rust reds of impending sunrise. Meanwhile, Gene A'Hern has won the Sir John Sulman Prize 2025 and $40,000 for his work 'Sky painting', a bold, vibrant and gestural work that draws on his relationship to the Blue Mountains where he lives and works.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Artist Julie Fragar wins Archibald Prize with portrait of best friend
Julie Fragar has taken out this year's $100,000 Archibald Prize with an epic portrait of her best friend, Justene Williams, portrayed as a master conjurer of a multiverse of characters and performance. 'Justene is incredible. She has an amazing way with materials where she can grab anything and I feel fortunate that she allowed me to do this portrait. There is nobody like her,' Fragar said on Friday after being named the winner. 'The work is a reflection on the experience of making art to deadlines and the labour and love of being a mother.' Fragar's winning portrait, Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), was sketched in one sitting, then put together over three months, with the help of photographs, in her Brisbane studio. Williams' daughter is a tiny figure in the background standing atop a sculptured rock tower. Fragar cried happy tears on being told by Art Gallery of NSW director Maud Page of her win. Looking back on her younger self, Fragar said, her win seemed unimaginable. 'My first goal was to be included in Art Express [exhibition] and I remember walking through the art gallery and saying, 'Oh goodness, imagine if I could be at the entrance to Art Express',' she said. On the $100,000 prizemoney, Fragar said she intended to 'sit there and look at it in disbelief and then buy an easel I haven't made myself'.
