Artist Jeremy Eden’s portrait of actor Samuel Johnson has been judged people’s favourite in this year’s Archibald Prize.
The announcement was made on Wednesday morning at the Art Gallery of NSW, concluding this year’s “Archies” season.
Archibald Prize People’s Choice winner: Jeremy Eden’s portrait of Samuel Johnson. Credit:Jeremy Eden
Blak Douglas won this year’s Archibald Prize with his towering portrait of the indomitable Karla Dickens, a painting that captured the story of our times: climate change, frustration, and resilience of those at the frontline.
But audiences preferred Eden’s portrait of Johnson, a Logie Award-winning actor and cancer charity campaigner. Eden met Johnson over video while the actor was recovering from a car accident.
First awarded in 1988, the People’s Choice award is selected from Archibald finalists and voted for by members of the public, carrying a cash prize of $5000 for the winning artist. Traditionally, it has gone to portraits painted in the realistic tradition. This year, a record 30,000 votes were made.
Two previous People’s Choice winners have also won the Archibald – Fred Cress’ portrait of John Beard (inaugural People’s Choice award in 1988) and Craig Ruddy’s 2004 portrait of David Gulpilil.
Public favourites that won the Packing Room Prize include Paul Newtown’s Roy and HG in 2001, Jan Williamson’s Jenny Morris in 2002 and Bruno Jean Grasswill’s Michael Caton in 2015.
Of the previous 33 People’s Choice award-winning artists since 1988, 26 have been male and seven female.
Last year, People’s Choice was awarded to Melbourne artist Julia Ciccarone for The Sea Within, a cinematic portrait that shows the artist wrapped in a blanket from her childhood, her head resting on a suitcase with the wild sea rising behind her. It resonated with audiences in a period of unprecedented crisis with global pandemic and lockdowns following on in the blackened footsteps of bushfires.
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2022 exhibition is on show at the Art Gallery of NSW until August 28, after which Archibald Prize finalists will then go on a tour to Victoria and regional NSW until July 2023.
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