Melbourne Artist Richard Lewer Wins the Archibald Prize for His Portrait of Pitjantjatjara Elder, Iluwanti Ken

It’s a case of sixth time lucky for Melbourne artist Richard Lewer, who has been announced as the winner of this year’s $100,000 Archibald Prize for his portrait of Pitjantjatjara Elder, Iluwanti Ken.

Ken is a traditional healer and senior artist, and is a finalist herself in this year’s Wynne Prize. Lewer painted her at her home in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of South Australia, where she lives and works.

“I am especially happy this recognition brings a spotlight to Iluwanti, which was always my intention with this portrait. I hope this work recognises her role as a healer, artist and custodian of the knowledge she carries and so generously shares,” Lewer said in his acceptance speech.

The arresting life-sized portrait in synthetic polymer paint on canvas, titled Iluwanti Ken, was the unanimous winner among this year’s 59 Archibald finalist portraits, selected by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW.

“I’m a very lucky man to paint Iluwanti, I’ve wanted to for some time. It’s an absolute pleasure that you gave me your time, took me to your Country and gave me the opportunity to paint you, so thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Lewer said.

The competition attracted 1034 Archibald entries, with 42 per cent of the finalists first-timers. If there was a theme that ran through the finalist portraits it was the diversity of sitters chosen, including 14 artists, 13 stage and screen stars, eight activists and advocates and six musicians including singer-songwriter Adam Hyde (aka Keli Holiday); the first openly bisexual AFL player Mitch Brown; Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin; celebrated artist Elisabeth Cummings; and designers and sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann.

Now in its 105th year, the Archibald Prize is awarded to the best portrait of a man or woman “distinguished in arts, letters, science or politics” painted by any artist resident in Australasia. Born in New Zealand, Lewer has been resident in Melbourne since 1996.

Yolŋu artist Gaypalani Waṉambi won the $50,000 Wynne Prize for best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figurative sculpture, for her double-sided, etched and spray-painted metal work, The Waṉambi tree. The piece tells the story of the artist’s songlines, as well as ancestral honey hunter Wuyal, with markings that depict the life cycle of bees as well as the stringybark blossom that grows in her Marrakulu homeland in north-east Arnhem Land. 

Waṉambi is a first-time Wynne finalist and last year won the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA).

The $40,000 Sulman Prize for best genre painting, subject painting or mural project, this year judged by former Archibald Prize winner Del Kathryn Barton, was awarded to Sydney artist Lucy Culliton for her oil on canvas work, Toolah, artist model. The painting depicts one of Culliton’s beloved seven rescue greyhounds seated on a floral armchair, cleverly blending into the scenery behind it.

“This is my quiet protest against greyhound racing,” says Culliton, herself a seven-time Archibald finalist.

The recently announced $3000 Packing Room Prize was awarded to Melbourne artist Sean Layh for his portrait The tragicall historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke, depicting actor Jacob Collins-Levy in character as Hamlet.

The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize finalists will be on display at the AGNSW until August 16, when it tours regional NSW and Victoria.