Keith Burt Sam Leach in his studio chair

Sam Leach is a Melbourne artist who has exhibited nationally and internationally, winning multiple prizes, including both the Archibald and Wynne in 2010.

‘I’ve always liked Sam’s work. I met him at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2022 – he was a finalist in the Wynne Prize and I was in the Archibald – and I instantly thought he’d make a good subject for a portrait. I really enjoy painting other artists, because they are completely sympathetic to the process, particularly if they paint portraits, as Sam has done,’ says five-time Archibald finalist Keith Burt.

‘I visited Sam’s studio at the back of his family home to sketch him in his own environment. Apart from a single piece that he was working on, the walls were empty, which worked nicely to isolate him visually in space. He sat in his studio chair, which is an odd, beautiful piece of furniture. The chair is not one to envelope you; rather, it supports you in specific areas, presenting an enjoyable challenge and an interesting shape for the painting.’

Both Burt and Leach are finalists in this year’s Wynne Prize.