Archibald Prize
Archibald Prize 1969
Finalist John Brack's 'Barry Humphries in the character of Mrs Everage'
Archibald Prize 1943
William Dobell's controversial portrait of Joshua Smith
Archibald Prize 1976
Brett Whiteley's winning self-portrait
Archibald Prize 2009
Vincent Fantauzzo's 'Brandon' wins people's choice
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.
Related prizes
Entries in the Archibald Prize are also eligible for the following prizes.
Packing Room Prize
First awarded in 1991 and chosen by the Gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries, with 51 per cent of the vote going to the Gallery’s storeman, Steve Peters
People’s Choice
First awarded in 1988 and voted for by the public visiting the Archibald exhibition
How to enter
Explore past winners and finalists
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| Archibald 2001 finalists | Nicholas Harding John Bell as King Lear |
| Archibald 2000 finalists | Adam Cullen Portrait of David Wenham |
| Archibald 1999 finalists | Euan MacLeod Self Portrait/head like a hole |
| Archibald 1998 finalists | Lewis Miller Portrait of Allan Mitelman no 3 |
| Archibald 1997 finalists | Nigel Thomson Barbara Blackman |
| Archibald 1996 finalists | Wendy Sharpe Self portrait - as Diana of Erskineville |
| Archibald 1995 finalists | William Robinson Self Portrait With Stunned Mullet |
| Archibald 1994 finalists | Francis Giacco Homage to John Reichard |
| Archibald 1993 finalists | Garry Shead Tom Thompson |
| Archibald 1991/92 finalists | Bryan Westwood The Prime Minister |
| Archibald 1990 finalists | Geoffrey Proud Dorothy Hewett |
| Archibald 1989 finalists | Bryan Westwood Portrait of Elwyn Lynn |
| Archibald 1988 finalists | Fred Cress John Beard |
| Archibald 1987 finalists | William Robinson Equestrian Self Portrait |
| Archibald 1986 finalists | Davida Allen Dr John Arthur McKelvie Shera |
| Archibald 1985 finalists | Guy Warren Flugelman with Wingman |
| Archibald 1984 finalists | Keith Looby Max Gillies |
| Archibald 1983 finalists | Nigel Thomson Chandler Coventry |
| Archibald 1982 finalists | Eric Smith Peter Sculthorpe |
| Archibald 1981 finalists | Eric Smith Rudy Komon |
| Archibald 1980 finalists | No award |
| Archibald 1979 finalists | Wesley Walters Portrait of Phillip Adams |
| Archibald 1978 finalists | Brett Whiteley Art, life and the other thing |
| Archibald 1977 finalists | Kevin Connor Robert Klippel |
| Archibald 1976 finalists | Brett Whiteley Self portrait in the studio |
| Archibald 1975 finalists | Kevin Connor The Hon Sir Frank Kitto, KBE |
| Archibald 1974 finalists | Samuel Fullbrook Jockey Norman Stephens |
| Archibald 1973 finalists | Janet Dawson Michael Boddy |
| Archibald 1972 finalists | Clifton Pugh The Hon E.G. Whitlam |
| Archibald 1971 finalists | Clifton Pugh Sir John McEwan |
| Archibald 1970 finalists | Eric Smith Gruzman - architect |
| Archibald 1969 finalists | Ray Crooke George Johnston |
| Archibald 1968 finalists | William Pidgeon Lloyd Rees |
| Archibald 1967 finalists | Judy Cassab Margo Lewers |
| Archibald 1966 finalists | Jon Molvig Charles Blackman |
| Archibald 1965 finalists | Clifton Pugh RA Henderson, Esq |
| Archibald 1964 finalists | No award |
| Archibald 1963 finalists | Jack Carington Smith Professor James McAuley |
| Archibald 1962 finalists | Louis Kahan Patrick White |
| Archibald 1961 finalists | William Pidgeon Rabbi Dr I. Porush |
| Archibald 1960 finalists | Judy Cassab Stanislaus Rapotec |
| Archibald 1959 finalists | William Dobell Dr Edward MacMahon |
| Archibald 1958 finalists | William Pidgeon Mr Ray Walker |
| Archibald 1957 finalists | Ivor Hele Self Portrait |
| Archibald 1956 finalists | William Dargie Mr Albert Namatjira |
| Archibald 1955 finalists | Ivor Hele Robert Campbell |
| Archibald 1954 finalists | Ivor Hele Rt. Hon. R. G. Menzies, P.C., C.H., Q.C., M.P. |
| Archibald 1953 finalists | Ivor Hele Sir Henry Simpson Newland, CBE, DSO, MS, FRCS |
| Archibald 1952 finalists | William Dargie Mr Essington Lewis, CH |
| Archibald 1951 finalists | Ivor Hele Laurie Thomas |
| Archibald 1950 finalists | William Dargie Sir Leslie McConnan |
| Archibald 1949 finalists | Arthur J Murch Bonar Dunlop |
| Archibald 1948 finalists | William Dobell Margaret Olley |
| Archibald 1947 finalists | William Dargie Sir Marcus Clarke, Kt., K.B.E. [sic] |
| Archibald 1946 finalists | William Dargie L. C. Robson, M.C., M.A.. |
| Archibald 1945 finalists | William Dargie Lt-General The Hon Edmund Herring, KBC, DSO, MC... |
| Archibald 1944 finalists | Joshua Smith Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. J. S. R... |
| Archibald 1943 finalists | William Dobell Mr Joshua Smith |
| Archibald 1942 finalists | William Dargie Corporal Jim Gordon, VC |
| Archibald 1941 finalists | William Dargie Sir James Elder, KBE |
| Archibald 1940 finalists | Max Meldrum Dr J. Forbes McKenzie |
| Archibald 1939 finalists | Max Meldrum Hon G. J. Bell, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., (Speaker,... |
| Archibald 1938 finalists | Nora Heysen Mme Elink Schuurman |
| Archibald 1937 finalists | Normand Henry Baker Self Portrait |
| Archibald 1936 finalists | William Beckwith McInnes Dr Julian Smith |
| Archibald 1935 finalists | John Longstaff AB (Banjo) Paterson |
| Archibald 1934 finalists | Henry Aloysius Hanke Self Portrait |
| Archibald 1933 finalists | Charles Wheeler Ambrose Pratt |
| Archibald 1932 finalists | Ernest Buckmaster Sir William Irvine |
| Archibald 1931 finalists | John Longstaff Sir John Sulman |
| Archibald 1930 finalists | William Beckwith McInnes Drum-Major Harry McClelland |
| Archibald 1929 finalists | John Longstaff The Hon WA Holman, KC |
| Archibald 1928 finalists | John Longstaff Dr Alexander Leeper |
| Archibald 1927 finalists | George Washington Lambert Mrs Murdoch |
| Archibald 1926 finalists | William Beckwith McInnes Silk and Lace (Miss Esther Paterson) |
| Archibald 1925 finalists | John Longstaff Maurice Moscovitch |
| Archibald 1924 finalists | William Beckwith McInnes Miss Collins |
| Archibald 1923 finalists | William Beckwith McInnes Portrait of a Lady |
| Archibald 1922 finalists | William Beckwith McInnes Professor Harrison Moore |
| Archibald 1921 finalists | William Beckwith McInnes Desbrowe Annear |
