Archibald Prize Finalists Revealed

The finalists for Australia’s premier portrait prize have been announced.

While Iain Scott Wallace’s portrait of PFLAG luminary Shelly Argent didn’t make the final cut, a portrait of Missy Higgins by artist Sophia Hewson has given the awards a queer moment.

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Hewson’s portrait depicts the artist and the famous singer locked in a kiss. Hewsom has said that she chose Higgins both because of her love of music and the songwriter’s attitude.

“I sought out working with Missy because I belt out her songs in the car,’ says Hewson. ‘I also know her to be genuinely egoless with a deep respect for artistic autonomy, which meant she was willing to work with me outside the traditional portrait structure.”

Also amongst the finalists are portraits of well known Australia’s including snowboarder Tora Bright, actor John Waters, Nick Cave, Richard Roxborough, author Coleen McCullough and singer Dan Sultan.

The Packers Room Prize has been awarded to the Tim Storrier for his portrait of Barry Humphrey’s as the character Sir Les Patterson.

The annual portraiture prize was first awarded in 1921 and was funded via a bequest from J.F. Archibald who was the editor of ‘The Bulletin’. Archibald died in 1919. When it was launched the winning artist recieved four hundred pounds in prize money. Today the best painting is awarded $75,000.

The winner of the 2014 Prize will be announced on July 18th.