The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2022 are set to open to the public next weekend, 14 May and be on view until 28 August. Buy tickets here.
The Archibald Prize is arguably the most well known and popular art exhibition in Australia, its format of celebrating famous faces in a variety of styles for the audience and art world to debate, and its ability to hold a mirror to our times is exceptional.
The finalists this year all hold these qualities and with so many to enjoy we will only name a few, such as the Archibald Prize Winner, Blak Douglas whose portrait of artist Karla Dickens in ‘Moby Dickens’ depicts the literal rising muddied waters of Bundjalung Country in Lismore and uses this as a metaphor for politics and the art world; Laura Jones’ portrait of Brooke Boney and her dog Jimmy uses a mostly hot-pink palette that is a striking conversation starter; past winner Yvette Coppersmith pays tribute to Climate activist and high school student Ella Simons; OneFour, a hip-hop group originally from Mount Druitt in Sydney’s western suburbs are painted by Daniel Boyd as he sees the group has a role to play in highlighting police brutality, racial profiling and black deaths in custody in Australia. And, this year the Packing Room Prize goes to Claus Stangl for his depiction of Taika Waititi, congratulations to the artist!
Moving across to the other exhibition spaces, the Wynne Prize will be awarded to the best landscape painting of Australian scenery, or figure sculpture. The Sulman Prize goes to the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project in oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media.
