The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.
History
'The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’.
'This open competition is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW. Finalists are displayed in an exhibition at the Gallery (although in the early years all entrants were hung). Although it is a non-acquisitive prize, several of the entries are now part of the Gallery’s collection.
'The Archibald Prize was first awarded in 1921. In establishing the prize, JF Archibald’s aim was to foster portraiture as well as support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Over the years some of Australia’s most prominent artists have entered and the subjects have been equally celebrated in their fields.' (Source: Archibald Prize website)
Winners
- 2017 winner Peoples Choice Award Jack Charles Anh Do , 2017 single work art work
- 2016 winner Barry Louise Hearman , 2016 single work art work
- 2016 winner People's Choice Award Deng Nick Stathopoulos , 2016 single work art work
- 2015 winner Judo House Pt 6 (The White Bird) Nigel Milsom , 2015 single work art work
- 2014 winner Fiona Lowry for Penelope Seidler
- 2011 winner Margaret Olley Ben Quilty , 2011 single work art work
- 2010 winner Tim Minchin Sam Leach , 2010 single work art work
- 2009 winner Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu Guy Maestri , 2009 single work art work
- 2005 winner Self Portrait Janus Faced John Olsen , 2005 single work art work
- 2004 winner David Gulpilil, Two Worlds Craig Ruddy , 2004 single work art work
- 2003 winner Richard Flanagan Geoff Dyer , 2003 single work art work
- 2001 winner John Bell as King Lear Nicholas Harding , 2001 single work art work
- 2000 winner Portrait of David Wenham Adam Cullen , 2000 single work art work
- 1997 winner Barbara Blackman Nigel Thomson , 1997 single work art work
- 1995 winner Self Portrait With Stunned Mullet William Robinson , 1995 single work art work
- 1993 winner Tom Thompson Garry Shead , 1993 single work art work
- 1991-1992 winner The Prime Minister Bryan Westwood , 1991 single work art work
- 1988 winner Fred Cress for John Beard
- 1987 winner Equestrian Self Portrait William Robinson , 1987 single work art work
- 1986 winner Davida Allen for Dr John Arthur McKelvie Shera
- 1985 winner Guy W. Warren for Flugelman with Wingman
- 1984 winner Max Gillies Keith Looby , 1984 single work art work
- 1983 winner Nigel Thomson for Chandler Coventry
- 1982 winner Peter Sculthorpe Eric John Smith , 1982 single work art work
- 1979 winner Portrait of Phillip Adams Wes Walters , 1979 single work art work
- 1978 winner Art, Life and the Other Thing Brett Whiteley , 1978 single work art work
- 1976 winner Self Portrait in the Studio Brett Whiteley , 1976 single work art work
- 1973 winner Michael Boddy Janet Dawson Boddy , 1973 single work art work
- 1972 winner The Hon E.G. Whitlam Clifton Pugh , 1972 single work art work
- 1971 winner Clifton Pugh for Sir John McEwan
- 1970 winner Eric John Smith for Gruzman - architect
- 1969 winner George Johnston Ray Crooke , 1969 single work art work
- 1968 winner Lloyd Rees William Edwin Pidgeon , 1968 single work art work
- 1967 winner Margo Lewers Judy Cassab , 1967 single work art work
- 1965 winner Clifton Pugh for RA Henderson, Esq
- 1963 winner Professor James McAuley Jack Carington Smith , 1963 single work art work
- 1962 winner Patrick White Louis Kahan , 1962 single work art work
- 1961 winner William Edwin Pidgeon for Rabbi Dr I. Porush
- 1960 winner Judy Cassab for Stanislaus Rapotec
- 1959 winner William Dobell for Dr Edward MacMahon
- 1958 winner William Edwin Pidgeon for Mr Ray Walker
- 1956 winner Mr Albert Namatjira William Dargie , 1956 single work art work
- 1949 winner Bonar Dunlop Arthur Murch , 1949 single work art work
- 1948 winner Margaret Olley William Dobell , 1948 single work art work
- 1943 winner Mr Joshua Smith William Dobell , 1943 single work art work
- 1940 winner Max Meldrum for Dr J. Forbes McKenzie
- 1939 winner Max Meldrum for Hon G. J. Bell, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.,
- 1938 winner Mme Elink Schuurman Nora Heysen , 1938 single work art work for Mme Elink Schuurman
- 1935 winner AB (Banjo) Paterson John Longstaff , 1935 single work art work
- 1935 winner AB (Banjo) Paterson John Longstaff , 1935 single work art work
- 1932 winner Ernest Buckmaster for Sir William Irvine
- 1931 winner John Longstaff for Sir John Sulman
- 1929 winner John Longstaff for The Hon WA Holman KC
- 1928 winner John Longstaff for Dr Alexander Leeper
- 1927 winner G. W. Lambert for Mrs Murdoch
- 1925 winner John Longstaff Maurice Moscovitch
