16 May 2013

Vincent Fantauzzo has won the 2013 Archibald People’s Choice for Love Face, a portrait of his sweetheart, actor Asher Keddie.

Keddie is one of Australia’s most popular actors, best known for her award-winning performances in television shows Offspring and Paper giants: the birth of Cleo, in which she played Ita Buttrose.

I had so many ideas about how to paint it that I didn’t quite know which way to go, says Fantauzzo. In the end I decided it needed to be honest and simple. A face can display so much emotion and Asher’s eyes tell you so much of the story.

Arriving home late one evening, Keddie gave Fantauzzo a look, which proved to be the key to the portrait.

I knew she’d had a hard day and so was relieved to be home, says Fantauzzo. It was a look of real happiness.

The wash that Fantauzzo has used for the background represents the chaos of a hectic life. Against that Keddie is a picture of composure and contentment.

Renowned as a portrait artist, this is Fantauzzo’s fifth time as an Archibald Prize finalist. He won the 2011 Packing Room Prize with a painting of Matt Moran and the People’s Choice Award in 2008 and 2009 for paintings of actor Heath Ledger and child actor Brandon Walters from the film Australia. His portrait of Ledger was highly commended by the judges.

Vincent Fantauzzo receives $2500 and a $1000 ANZ Visa Gift Card.

Each year a voter for the Archibald painting which receives the most votes is selected to win a prize of $2500, a $1000 ANZ Visa Gift Card and one night’s accommodation at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

This year’s lucky voter is Lou Pulvirenti.

21,141 people voted in this year’s People’s Choice.

Young Archie 2013

Today the Gallery also announced the four winners of the 2013 Young Archie art prize. There were 467 entries.

• 5-8 year category Liam Williamson (7)
• 9-12 year category Archibald Hyles (10)
• 13-15 year category Max Fontaine (13)
• 16-18 year category Angela Yang (17)

View all Young Archie finalists

A message from ANZ

We are very pleased to be sponsoring Australia’s most popular portraiture prize for a fourth year, said ANZ Chairman John Morschel. ANZ’s support for the Archibald is part of our commitment to the community of New South Wales, its thriving arts sector and our customers.