| Kurrajong-based artist Laura Jones has won the Archibald Prize 2024 and $100,000 for her portrait of Australian author and conservationist Tim Winton.
Jones’ win marks the 14th time the Archibald Prize has been awarded to a woman and she becomes the 12th woman to win since its inception in 1921.
A four-time Archibald Prize finalist, Jones said her heart was racing when Art Gallery of New South Wales director Michael Brand phoned this morning to deliver the news that she had won this year’s Archibald Prize.
‘There is an array of brilliant finalists for the 2024 Archibald Prize. I am shocked and humbled to be chosen as the winner. This is a life-changing moment for me. I would like to thank my sitter, Tim Winton. Tim is one of the world’s greatest novelists and also a tireless advocate for the environment. He is an inspiration to me as both an artist and as a human being,’ said Jones.
Jones was moved to paint Winton after undertaking an artist residency in 2016, dedicated to studying the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, which preceded a meeting with Winton at an environmental advocacy event.
‘I wrote Tim a letter and sent him a book of my reef paintings, and we seemed to really connect on our interest in climate activism. I was amazed by the humility of this great novelist, who has enchanted generations of Australian readers. Last year, I watched his ABC documentary, Ningaloo Nyinggulu, about the fight to save Ningaloo Reef. It was beautiful and terrifying … I was stunned to discover a portrait of Tim had never been a finalist in the Archibald Prize,’ said Jones.
‘I approached his portrait as if it was a monotype, using thin brushstrokes and letting the paint bleed across the canvas like ink into paper. Dreamy yet direct.’
Based in Kurrajong in Greater Western Sydney, Jones credits her childhood spent in nature as a driver of her practice and her passion for environmental advocacy. Working across painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture, she creates compositions that explore the complex relationships between humanity and nature.
Jones has been a finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Award, The King’s School Art Prize, and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship. She has exhibited in public and commercial galleries since 2011, and her work is held in the Artbank collection, as well as Australian and international private collections.
Tim Winton is an acclaimed Australian novelist, revered for his ability to evoke rich and diverse Australian landscapes. He has authored 30 books, including the Miles Franklin Award-winning novels Cloudstreet (1991) and Breath (2008). Based in Perth, he has dedicated much of the last two decades to campaigning to protect Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef. In 2023, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished services to both literature and environmental advocacy.
On hearing of Jones’ win, Winton said: ‘I have to admit that I’m a very reluctant sitter, but I had seen Laura’s paintings of the Great Barrier Reef coral gardens, including her beautiful and tragic depictions of coral bleaching, so I was a little more curious and open than usual.
‘After we spoke for a while on the phone it was clear we had some pressing concerns in common, like the fate of our oceans, and our culture’s refusal to take the climate emergency seriously, so I ended up agreeing to sit for her. She flew across to WA and it ended up being another long and engaging conversation! I haven’t seen the portrait properly yet, but this is lovely news. I’m thrilled for Laura. She’ll be beside herself.’
Jones’ painting was selected from 1005 entries for the Archibald Prize in 2024 and is one of 57 finalists on display at the Art Gallery.
Art Gallery director Michael Brand said Jones was overwhelmed when she took his phone call.
‘When you look at this sensitive portrait, you can immediately feel the strong connection between the artist and sitter, forged through their shared interest in conservation. Laura’s bold but tender depiction of Tim’s face captures his vulnerability, while his figure melds into the background of wonderful watery brushstrokes. He is very present in the painting, making it a most deserving winner,’ Brand said.
The Archibald Prize and the Wynne Prize winners are decided by the Art Gallery’s Board of Trustees. Board president David Gonski said, ‘I congratulate all of the finalists in the 2024 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes. The trustees were extremely pleased to see such a high standard of work this year and were particularly impressed by Laura Jones’ portrait of Tim Winton, unanimously awarding it the 2024 Archibald Prize.’
Jones is also one of 40 finalists in the 2024 Sulman Prize, for her painting Sliding doors, and she is one of the subjects of Daniel Kim’s 2024 Archibald Prize finalist work, Blue jeans and flowers, where she is portrayed alongside fellow Incognito Art Show co-founders Ed and David Liston. Jones has also been a finalist in the 2021 Wynne Prize for her painting titled Bushfire ephemerals – Wollangambe wilderness.
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2024 and the Young Archie competition are generously supported by presenting partner, ANZ.
Mark Whelan, Group Executive, Institutional at ANZ said: ‘To be awarded the Archibald Prize is a significant achievement and we congratulate Laura Jones. The Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s most distinguished and celebrated awards, which showcases the depth of Australia’s artistic talent. We are proud to have supported this iconic exhibition for 15 years.’ |
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Winner Wynne Prize 2024, Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu Nyalala gurmilili, natural pigments on bark, 263 x 154 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
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Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu wins the Wynne Prize 2024
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| Yolŋu elder and distinguished artist Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu from Yirrkala in the Northern Territory has won the Wynne Prize 2024 for her painting Nyalala gurmilili.
The work is one of the largest bark paintings ever produced and the first bark painting to be awarded the Wynne Prize. The painting depicts the miwatj, or ‘sunrise side’ in Yolŋu Matha. It relates to the north-easternmost part of Arnhem Land, NT, that receives the first light as the sun rises in the east. This is the landscape during April and the start of Miḏawarr (the harvest season following the wet), when the earth receives sudden surprise showers during what is meant to be the dry.
A first-time Wynne Prize finalist, Yunupiŋu paints lore connected to the beach at Garriri/Rocky Bay, through songs gifted to her by her father, renowned artist Muŋgurrawuy Yunupiŋu (c.1905–1979). It refers to the tale of the Djulpan, a group of Yirritja spirit women who are a constellation – the Pleiades. These are the seven sisters, who come together to gather food. They then retreat over the northern horizon to their homes. If fires are lit before these celestial movements take place, the Djulpan become sad and cry, as is evident in this painting.
After receiving the news that she had won the Wynne Prize 2024, Yunupiŋu said: ‘I am one of seven sisters. There are only three of us left now. The songs of this painting were given to me by our father, Muŋgurrawuy. It shows the songs of the seven sisters in the stars crying. Now I am crying. But this time with happiness.’
Working from the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre in Yirrkala, Yunupiŋu first exhibited her paintings in 2021 at the age of 72, after caring for her late sister Mrs N Yunupiŋu, who won the 2021 Wynne Prize. She had previously participated in printmaking workshops with her sisters when in 2011 they collectively made the renowned Seven Sisters suite of prints.
Yunupiŋu paints on bark using earth pigments and gapan (clay) applied with a small brush called a marwat, which is made by hand using fine, straight, human hair. She methodically applies the paint onto the surface of the bark using a technique called rarrk (cross-hatching). Through dedicated practice she has honed and refined this technique.
The Wynne Prize is Australia’s oldest art prize and is awarded annually for ‘the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours or for the best example of figure sculpture by Australian artists’. |
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Winner Sulman Prize 2024, Naomi Kantjuriny Minyma mamu tjuta, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 197 x 153.5 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter
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Naomi Kantjuriny wins the Sulman Prize 2024
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| Respected Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) community Elder Naomi Kantjuriny has won the Sir John Sulman Prize 2024 and $40,000 for her work Minyma mamu tjuta, which depicts mamu, good and bad spirits that come in different forms and with varying powers.
A first-time Sulman finalist, Kantjuriny is the third Indigenous Australian to win the Sulman Prize.
Kantjuriny mainly works across painting and drawing, but is also a basket-maker and wood carver. She is a ngangkari or traditional healer who specialises in women’s and children’s health and provides treatments for the mind, body and spirit.
Upon hearing the news of her win, Kantjuriny said: ‘I am so happy to win the Sulman Prize. I am an artist and a ngangkari. I started working at my art centre, Tjala Arts, many years ago alongside senior women: Nyurpaya Kaika Burton, Langaliki Derose, Tjampawa Kawiny, Wawiriya Burton, Ruby Williamson, Katanari Tjilya and Paniny Mick. We grew it for the young ones (and the generations to come) – Yaritji Young, Tjungkara Ken, Sylvia Ken and Muna Kulyuru – and now they have found their way and love painting too. I’ve been painting for 30 years, and I love it. I love what my art centre is and the support it provides for my community.
‘The story of the mamu is a story we sing and dance to. Mamu are good and bad spirits, sometimes they hold scary stories that teach lessons to the grandkids, sometimes they are funny and joyful stories that make us all laugh. Mamu also protect us from illness and danger. Our culture is in everything we do, and I hope culture will be celebrated at Tjala Arts forever, but today is a happy day,’ said Kantjuriny.
The Sir John Sulman Prize is awarded to the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project by an Australian artist and is judged by a guest artist each year. This year’s Sulman Prize judge is Sydney artist Tom Polo, who selected Kantjuriny’s work from a field of 40 finalists.
‘From an outstanding collection of finalists, Naomi Kantjuriny’s Minyma mamu tjuta reached out to me repeatedly during the judging process. The dynamism within her composition and bold use of black and white to depict mamu made this work one of conviction, and a joy to return to. It was great learning more about Naomi’s work during this year’s Sulman Prize,’ said Polo.
All finalists in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2024 will be exhibited at the Art Gallery from Saturday 8 June to Sunday 8 September 2024.
Following the exhibition at the Art Gallery, Archibald Prize 2024 finalist works will tour to five venues across New South Wales and, for the first time, to the Northern Territory, offering audiences outside Sydney the opportunity to see the finalist portraits up close and personal.
Wynne Prize 2024 finalist works will tour to four venues in regional New South Wales. The Wynne Prize regional tour is proudly supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW’s Blockbusters Funding initiative.
To keep up to date with all things Archibald and to buy tickets, please visit the Art Gallery website. |
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