National award hits home for Young Archie winner

A FOCUS on family and her storytelling ability through painting has seen local artist Isobel Bazar win a Young Archie award in the 9-12 years category.

The annual Young Archie competition is a national portrait challenge for young artists inspired by Australia’s oldest and most famous portrait prize, the Archibald Prize.

The competition invites young people between the ages of five and 18 to submit a portrait of someone who is special to them.

Isobel was joined by her parents Andrew and Rachel when the winners were announced at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.

The Teven-Tintenbar Public School student submitted a portrait depicting her 93-year-old great-grandmother, Oma as her competition entry.

“She migrated from Lithuania to Australia, and I really wanted to capture her story,” Isobel said.

“I didn’t think I was going to win.

“It was a great experience, she was really happy.

“I called my art teacher immediately after and she was excited, too.

“My dad is an artist, and mum has been taking me to art classes for a few years now.”

Isobel has a passion for drawing anime characters and was encouraged to explore realism art, which focuses on depicting everyday life and common subjects in a natural setting.

She was one of 70 finalists selected from more than 2500 entries by children and teens from across the country in the competition.

She received a cash prize of $200 from ANZ Bank, an art hamper, a family pass to a ticketed exhibition at the Art Gallery, and an Archibald Prize 2025 catalogue for her win.

Her work has been on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and will be featured among the three other age winners and finalists until August 17.

“Each year, the Young Archie exhibition proves to be a crowd favourite, as visitors marvel at the extraordinary talent of our young artists,” art gallery director Maud Page said.

“It’s so good to see so many young people, as well as their family and friends, represented on the walls of the Art Gallery.

“I extend my congratulations to this year’s winners, finalists and entrants, and encourage them to continue making, creating and exploring the world around them through art.”