Archie 100 A Century of the Archibald Prize

Left to right: William Dargie Portrait of Albert Namatjira 1956, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, purchased 1957 © Estate of William Dargie, photo: QAGOMA; Tempe Manning Self-portrait 1939, Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery Society of NSW 2021 © Estate of Tempe Manning
Celebrating 100 years of Australia’s most renowned portrait prize
In 2021, Australia’s oldest and most-loved portrait award, the Archibald Prize, celebrated its 100th birthday.
Arranged thematically, Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize unearths fascinating stories behind more than 100 artworks carefully selected from every decade. It reflects not just how artistic styles and approaches to portraiture have changed over time but, importantly, the changing face of our nation.
Since 1921, the prize has attracted entries from both prominent and emerging artists in Australia and New Zealand, and featured people from all walks of life, from famous faces to local heroes.
Resulting from many years of research for lost portraits, this landmark exhibition features works from the Art Gallery’s collection as well as works from libraries, galleries and museums across Australia and New Zealand, and private Australian and international collections. Some of the works have not been seen since first being exhibited in the Archibald.
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Geelong Gallery 6 November 2021 – 20 February 2022
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Cairns Art Gallery 18 March – 12 June 2022
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Art Gallery of South Australia 9 July – 3 October 2022
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Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston 22 October 2022 – 8 January 2023
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Bathurst Regional Art Gallery 26 January – 26 March 2023
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Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 15 April – 25 June 2023
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Home of the Arts, Gold Coast 15 July – 2 October 2023
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National Portrait Gallery, Canberra 21 October 2023 – 28 January 2024
Discover the stories
All the themes, portraits and text from the exhibition along with behind-the-scenes articles, videos and more
Buy the book
Includes photographs and text for each portrait, an essay about the quest to find the artworks, a timeline, and facts and figures
More about the prize
Find out about the Archibald and its related prizes, including competition entry conditions, and explore past winners and works

Join
See this exhibition for free
Art Gallery of NSW members can see this for free at the touring venues, just by presenting their current membership card.
Become a member
Note: This display includes works that are protected under the Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan Act 2013. Find out more information