Abdul Abdullah Wins the Archibald Packing Room Prize for His Portrait of “Best Friend” Jason Phu

This year, 2394 submissions to the Archibald, Sulman and Wynn prizes passed through the loading dock of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Today, the gallery announced 139 finalists across the three categories, as well as the winner of the hotly contested Packing Room Prize.

For the last 34 years, the staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries to the Archibald, Sulman and Wynn prizes have awarded $3000 to the creator of their favourite work among the Archibald finalists, which in 2025 numbers 57.

This year, the prize went to artist Abdul Abdullah. Abdullah, a multidisciplinary artist, was born in Perth but now splits his time between Melbourne and Bangkok. He has been a finalist in the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne prizes multiple times.

He won for his painting, titled No mountain high enough, of fellow artist Jason Phu (who is also a finalist in this year’s Archibald Prize for his portrait of Hugo Weaving).

“It is always an honour to be selected as a finalist for the Archibald Prize, and I am especially honoured to be picked for the Packing Room Prize,” said Abdullah in a statement. “I see it as a sort of community prize, where the Packing Room team, which is made up of professional art handlers – many of whom are artists themselves – get to pick a painting they like. I am so glad they picked this one. It’s kind of like an artists’ pick, and I’m extra happy for that.

“Jason is my best friend. We talk on the phone every day; he was the best man at my wedding, and we have travelled together. I’ve painted him as I see him, as a ceaseless adventurer who at any one time is involved in a dozen conversations on a dozen different platforms, bringing his unique perspective to one flummoxed friend or another.”

Senior installation officer Alexis Wildman, speaking on behalf of the packing room team, said, “We were instantly drawn to Abdul Abdullah’s portrait of Jason Phu. Both are accomplished artists whose works have a distinct style and engage with complex social and cultural themes using wit and cartoonish references … On a technical level, this portrait is very well painted. It really captures the essence of the subject with the image of a lone ranger, an intrepid jokester or a quiet hero navigating the rocky terrain of today’s social climate. This immediately sparked conversation among the Packing Room team.”

The team also announced the full list of finalists in the three prizes noting that, for the first time, there are more works by female artists than male.

The finalists in the Young Archies, the competition for artists aged five to 18 in every state and territory, have also been revealed. Their works and their artist statements are hung in the gallery and published online.

@artgalleryofnsw