Julia Gutman’s stylised portrait of Australian popster Montaigne has taken out the 2023 Archibald Prize.
The work, titled Head within the sky, toes on the bottom, makes the 29-year-old Ms Gutman the youngest winner within the prestigious artwork award’s 102-year historical past.
Montaigne can also be the primary feminine musician to characteristic as a topic in a successful Archibald entry, with Ms Gutman solely the eleventh girl to have received the $100,000 portrait prize.
The Sydney artist mentioned she was “elated and overwhelmed” to have taken residence the highest prize.
“Shocked, dumbfounded, but very happy,” she mentioned.
“It’s honestly completely surreal. I’m so grateful to be working at a time when young female voices are heard.
“So much of my practice is devoted to revisiting, critiquing and contending with the histories housed in institutions. It’s so affirming for that conversation to be recognised in such a public way.”
The Sydney artist mentioned she’s been mates with Montaigne – actual title Jessica Alyssa Cerro – “for a few years” and mentioned there was “lot of alignment in our practices”.
“We are both interested in creating our own forms and approaches rather than strictly adhering to any one tradition,” she mentioned.
“Montaigne’s work defies genres, while her mercurial soprano has become an indelible part of the fabric of Australian music.”
Selected because the winner from 949 entries and 57 finalists, Art Gallery of NSW director Michael Brand described the portrait as a “remarkable tender portrait of a young musician who is making her way in a tough business”.
“We see an intimacy and vulnerability that is truly compelling,” he mentioned.
The Wynne Prize panorama prize and the Sulman Prize for the most effective topic portray, style portray or mural challenge by an Australian artist have additionally been introduced.
Doris Bush Nungarrayi was awarded the $40,000 Sulman Prize for her piece Mamunya ngalyananyi (Monster coming).
The $50,000 Wynn prize was awarded to Zaachariaha Fielding, who can also be one-half of techno pop group Electric Fields, for his portray Inma.
He secured the highest spot with ‘Inma,’ a portray of “the sounds of Mimili”, a small group within the japanese a part of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia.
The 2023 Packing Room Prize – which is picked by workers who obtain and unpack the entries – was awarded to Andrea Huelin’s portrait of comic and former Spicks and specks host, Cal Wilson, titled Clown Jewels.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
