Celebrating a century of much-loved Archie

Portrait enthusiasts are in for something special this summer when the Geelong Gallery hosts the Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize exhibition.

The Art Gallery of NSW exhibition looks back on a century of Australia’s much-loved portrait award which celebrates both famous faces and local heroes.

Geelong Gallery will be the exclusive Victorian venue for the touring exhibition which is expected to attract 80,000 visitors to the region.

Archie 100 honours the artists who have made the Archibald Prize the most sought-after accolade in Australian art today.

Geelong Gallery director and CEO Jason Smith said it was a pleasure to welcome the Archibald Prize back to Geelong in the form of Archie 100.

Wendy Sharpe ‘Self-portrait as Diana of Erskineville’ 1996. Oil on canvas, 210 x 172 cm. Private collection. © Wendy Sharpe

“We look forward to presenting a comprehensive program of events and educational opportunities for the community to engage with artists and sitters alike,” he said.

Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said Geelong Major Events was delighted to support the high-profile exhibition, which follows on from the successful presentation of RONE in Geelong.

“There is a strong local connection between Geelong and the Archibald Prize,” she said.

“Christened John Feltham, Jules Francois Archibald was born in Geelong West on 14 January 1856 and lived in the region, beginning his journalism career in Warrnambool when he was 15 years old.

John Brack ‘Barry Humphries in the character of Mrs Everage’ 1969, oil on canvas, 94.5 x 128.2 cm. Art Gallery of New South Wales. Purchased with funds provided by the Contemporary Art Purchase Grant from the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council 1975. © Helen Brack

“Furthermore, a number of artists and sitters presented in Archie 100 have connections to the region or are represented in the Geelong Gallery collection.”

Those connections include Albert Namatjira, Janet Dawson, Sybil Craig, Kate Beynon, George Lambert, John Molvig, Ernest Buckmaster, Del Kathryn Barton, John Brack, John Longstaff, William Dargie, Nora Heysen, William Dobell, and Brett Whiteley.

Exhibition curator Natalie Wilson said Archie 100 was arranged thematically and featured portraits from every decade of the prize.

William Dargie ‘Portrait of Albert Namatjira’ 1956, oil on canvas, 102.1 x 76.4 cm. Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. Purchased 1957. © Estate of William Dargie. Photo: QAGOMA

“Each portrait selected for Archie 100 offers an exciting glimpse into a specific moment in time,” she said.

“Together, these works uncover changes in society in engaging ways, enabling people to experience how artistic styles and approaches to portraiture have changed over time.”

The Archibald Prize was established in 1921 from a bequest made by Jules Francois Archibald to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and now awards $100,000 prize money for the winning artist.

Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize runs from Saturday, November 6, 2021 to Sunday, February 20, 2022 from 10am to 5pm (excluding some public holidays).

Visit the Geelong Gallery website for ticket prices and more information.