Archibald Prize 2022: Portrait of artist Karla Dickens by Indigenous painter Blak Douglas wins coveted prize

A portrait of artist Karla Dickens by Indigenous painter Blak Douglas has won this year’s coveted Archibald Prize.

Art Gallery of NSW Trustees unanimously selected the portrait, titled Moby Dickens, to receive Australia’s best known art prize on Friday, which carries a prize of $100,000.

Mr Douglas was among 52 finalists whose work included portraits depicting Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman and former politician and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett among others.

A self-portrait by last year’s winner Peter Wegner, a seven-time finalist from Melbourne, was also in the running.

This year’s Sulman Prize was awarded to Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro for their work titled Raiko and Shuten-doji. The duo will receive $40,000.

The $50,000 Wynne Prize was awarded to Nicholas Harding for his Eora painting.

The award recognises the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figurative sculpture.

The Wynne Prize, which was judged by guest artist Joan Ross, recognises the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project in oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media.

Highly commended honours went to The Big Switch - a portrait of Dr Saul Griffith by Jude Rae.

This year’s Archibald Prize, which has been awarded annually since 1921, saw a record number of entries from Aboriginal artists and the highest number of Aboriginal finalists across all three competitions.

More than 1900 entries were received for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes.

The Archibald is regarded as one of the nation’s most prestigious art awards and depicts anyone from politicians, celebrities, athletes and artists.

Sydney artist Claus Stangl, who created a 3D portrait of Kiwi film director Taika Waititi, took out the $3000 Packing Room Prize, a category awarded by gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the portraits.

All finalists will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW from Saturday until August 28.