Julie Fragar has won the prestigious 2025 Archibald Prize for her portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams. Announced at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Friday, Fragar’s work, titled Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), was selected unanimously by judges from a pool of 904 entries and 57 finalists, earning her the $100,000 prize. This marks a significant moment for Fragar, who is only the 13th woman to win the Prize in its 104-year history, with this being the 15th time the Archibald has been awarded to a woman.
Fragar, a four-time Archibald finalist, revealed that she chose to paint Williams for her close friendship, Williams’ talent as an artist, and to capture her friend’s unique “otherworldliness.” Fragar and Williams both work at the Queensland College of Art, where Fragar serves as head of painting and Williams as head of sculpture. Despite being a close friend of Williams, Fragar kept the work a secret from her until the announcement, showcasing the high level of trust between them.
The painting process was extensive, with Fragar spending three months on the piece after a single photo session with Williams. Williams, appreciating the honor but modest about her lack of painting skills, humorously mentioned the possibility of returning the gesture through a sculpture or a collaborative performance.
The win is a testament to Fragar’s career-long dedication to the arts, a journey she describes as filled with both highs and lows over two decades. Her victory also celebrates Williams’ distinct artistic energy, which was the cornerstone of Fragar’s motivation for the portrait.
The Archibald Prize continues to honor the best portrait of a person “distinguished in art, letters, science, or politics” painted by an Australian resident, a legacy that began in 1921. Alongside the Archibald, the Wynne Prize for landscape painting and figurative sculpture was awarded to Jude Rae for her painting, Pre-dawn Sky over Port Botany Container Terminal, a work that captures the view from her bathroom window in Sydney. Rae, a three-time Wynne finalist, received the $50,000 prize for her evocative depiction of the city’s industrial landscape against the backdrop of a pre-dawn sky.
The Sulman Prize, awarded to Gene A’Hern in the amount of $40,000, recognized her oil and oil stick painting on board, titled Sky Painting, which she described as being “about home and place.” This year’s competition, one of the most inclusive to date, received a record 2,394 entries across the Archibald, Wynne, and SulmanPrize categories, with over 70% of finalists being female artists and more than a third of this year’s Archibald finalists being first-time nominees.
In addition to these awards, the $3,000 packing room prize was won by artist Abdul Abdullah for his playful portrait of fellow finalist Jason Phu, titled No mountain high enough. The finalists’ works from all categories will be showcased at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from this weekend until August 17, followed by a regional tour.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/may/09/archibald-prize-2025-julie-fragar-wins-for-portrait-of-artist-justene-williams
