Winners of the Young Archie competition 2024 announced

Winners of the Young Archie competition 2024 announced

Portraits of a beloved mum, a contemplative brother, a kind friend and an admired art teacher are the winners of the 2024 Young Archie competition, the national portrait challenge that invites young artists between the ages of 5 and 18 to create a portrait of someone who is special to them.

Now in its 12th year, the annual Young Archie competition takes inspiration from Australia’s oldest and most famous portrait prize, the Archibald Prize. The Young Archie 2024 exhibition is free and on display now at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, alongside the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2024.

The Young Archie 2024 competition winners for each age category were announced during a special ceremony held at the Art Gallery this morning. The winners are:

• 5–8 years category: Ella Lee Fowler, 6, Melbourne, VIC, for her portrait of her friend
• 9–12 years category: Hollie Au, 10, Northmead, NSW, for her portrait of her art teacher
• 13–15 years category:  Leon Do, 14, Wombarra, NSW, for his portrait of his brother
• 16–18 years category: Leah Blatchford, 18, Glenhaven, NSW, for her portrait of her mum

Young Archie 2024 set a record for the greatest number of entries in a single year with more than 4000 artworks received from across Australia.

Competition entries were judged by Meriam Mer artist Grace Lillian Lee, who returned as a guest judge for the second year, and the Art Gallery’s family programs manager Victoria Collings. Together, they selected 70 finalists across four age categories.

Grace Lillian Lee said: ‘It’s so inspiring to see all the entries that have come from across the nation. The talent is incredible and it was very difficult to select only four winners. I am very proud of all the entrants.’

‘Art is an opportunity for young people to celebrate who they are and share their stories. To this year’s Young Archie entrants, I really hope that you continue to be inspired, persevere and enjoy the practice of creating.’

The Young Archie competition was established in 2013 as an opportunity for children and young people to engage with art and express their creativity and has since grown into a renowned national portrait competition and much-loved part of the annual Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition

Deputy director Maud Page said the Young Archie competition is a cornerstone of the Art Gallery’s commitment to connecting with young people and families.

‘The exceptional standard of talent, expressive use of line and colour, and heartwarming portrayals of loved ones make Young Archie one of our most popular annual exhibitions. We love this important opportunity to connect children with the joy of art and celebrate the next generation of artists.

My heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners, as well as every finalist and entrant, for their fantastic portraits.’

The Young Archie 2024 competition is proudly supported by presenting partner ANZ.

ANZ Institutional group executive Mark Whelan said: ‘I’d like to congratulate all four winners of the 2024 Young Archie competition. This competition provides an opportunity to profile Australia’s up-and-coming artists and nurture our best budding portraitists. ANZ has been presenting partner since the first Young Archie competition in 2013 and we are very proud to support this esteemed prize for the 12th year.’

The four winners each receive a cash prize of $200 from ANZ, an art hamper, a family pass to a ticketed exhibition at the Art Gallery and an Archibald Prize 2024 catalogue. The remaining finalists each receive a cash prize of $50 from ANZ, an art pack and an Archibald Prize 2024 catalogue.

The four winners each receive a cash prize of $200 from ANZ, an art hamper, a family pass to a ticketed exhibition at the Art Gallery and an Archibald Prize 2024 catalogue. The remaining finalists each receive a cash prize of $50 from ANZ, an art pack and an Archibald Prize 2024 catalogue. The winners and finalists of the Young Archie 2024 competition from each age category are on display at the Art Gallery alongside the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2024 exhibition until 8 September 2024. The artworks that received an honourable mention are displayed at the SH Ervin Gallery in The Rocks alongside the Salon des Refusés. These works are also displayed on the Art Gallery website as part of the prizes archive, along with all Young Archie winners, finalists and honourable mentions since 2013.

About the Art Gallery of New South Wales On Gadigal Country The Art Gallery of New South Wales acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which it is located, the Gadigal of the Eora nation, and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. From its magnificent site in Sydney, the Art Gallery is one of Australia’s pre-eminent art museums and the state’s leading visual arts institution. Its mission is to serve the widest possible audience as a centre of excellence for the collection, preservation, documentation, interpretation and display of Australian and international art, and a forum for scholarship, art education and the exchange of ideas. The transformation of the Art Gallery – now with two buildings, Naala Badu and Naala Nura, brings together art, architecture and landscape in spectacular new ways with dynamic galleries and seamless connections between indoor and outdoor spaces. Naala Badu is the most significant cultural development to open in Sydney in half a century and is a prominent new destination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture. artgallery.nsw.gov.au