Australia’s best-known art prize is heading to Geelong this November for its century anniversary tour.
Geelong Gallery recently announced it would be the only Victorian venue to host Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize.
The often controversial competition began in 1921 following a bequest by Jules Francois Archibald to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Christened John Feltham, Archibald was born in Geelong West in 1856 and lived in the region, beginning his journalism career in Warrnambool when he was 15-years-old.
The founding editor The Bulletin magazine, he was a passionate supporter of a distinctly Australian style of nationalism, journalism and the arts.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales now awards $100,000 each year to the winning artist of the prize.
Archie 100 celebrates the centenary of Australia’s oldest portrait award with paintings from every decade of its history.
The exhibition follows years of research into more than 6,000 works appearing in the Archibald Prize and a public appeal to help find lost portraits.
The exhibition runs at Geelong Gallery from November 6 to February 20, 2022.
Details: geelonggallery.org.au
