Archibald and Wynne finalists 2023

I went with a friend to see the finalists of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes, it was a fine day earlier this month and we spent some time looking at the paintings including Andrea Huelin’s winning entry (see below). It’s a whimsical work featuring an outlandish plastic headdress. The sitter has pink hair which matches with her puffer jacket.

I wasn’t so careful with my photo of San Neil (see below) for some reason I moved my phone before the snap. The work is by James Powditch and it references a famous New Zealand artist whose name I have presently forgotten. The writing at least, and the black-and-white palette.

Another painting with a reduced palette is Michael Simms’ portrait of Zaacharaia Fielding (see below), which is imposing and austere.

Zoe Young’s portrait ‘Lattrell and Winmarra’ (see below) hangs near the Archibald’s entrance along one wall, it’s also an imposing work, but this time a diptych.

Another work that deals with First Nations issues, this time more openly, is Ryan Presley’s ‘Blood Money’ (see below).

In the Wynne Prize, Christopher McVinis’ ‘Christmas in Katoomba’ (see below) has a nice demotic feel to it, like a pub band in the afternoon on a Sunday in winter.

I just had to snap a quick shot of John Olsen’s ‘The lake recedes’ (see below).

I also successfully snapped a photo of Gregory Hodge's 'Pattern in a landscape' from up close.

Naomi Hobson’s ‘Golden wattle among eucalypts’ is just as striking up close (see below) as from a distance. It has a playful and interesting pattern.

Using a more limited palette, Sandra Pumani’s ‘Antara maku’ is also striking, yet sombre.