THE Archibald Prize 2025, Australia’s most popular, celebrated, and debated annual portraiture exhibition, has opened at City of Coffs Harbour’s Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM).
Widely considered Australia’s most famous art award, its main prize money is $100,000.
Artists resident in Australia or New Zealand may enter a portrait painted from life, with the subject known to the artist, aware of the artist’s intention and having at least one live sitting with the artist.
The 2025 winner was Julie Fragar for Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene).
The Packing Room Prize was awarded to Abdul Abdullah for No mountain high enough (a portrait of artist Jason Phu).
Winning artwork in the People’s Choice Award is Loribelle Spirovski’s finger-painted portrait of musician William Barton.
For the 2025 Archibald Prize, there were 904 submissions entered.
From those initial entries, the trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales narrowed the field down to select 57 finalist artworks.
This collection has been on regional tour from the Art Gallery of New Wales for almost a year, with Coffs Harbour hosting the final showing.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the Archibald Prize 2025 regional tour,” Service Leader Museum and Gallery, City of Coffs Harbour, Carrie Kibbler told News Of The Area.
The 57 chosen works are showing in the three main galleries at YAM in a unique hanging.
“We receive some guidelines from the Gallery of NSW on how the works should be exhibited, with some specific requirements, and then we create an exhibition design.
“Our curation is designed especially for YAM’s spaces, giving the viewer room to stand back for some of the large portraits and, for example, on the walk-through arches there are smaller works which you are forced to get close to and observe.”
The opening night of Archibald Prize 2025 at Yarrila Arts and Museum, on Thursday 6 August, was a tremendous success, with around 400 guests welcoming the exhibition to Coffs Harbour and creating a vibrant evening celebrating Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize, Ms Kibbler said.
“Guests enjoyed an inspiring address from Maud Page, Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, alongside live jazz by the Phil Stitt Trio.”
The exhibition is open daily, including Mondays, until Sunday 13 September, with free entry and the opportunity for visitors to cast their vote in the Coffs Harbour People’s Choice Award.
By Andrea FERRARI
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