Orange Regional Gallery will host Australia's most celebrated portraiture prize, the Archibald Prize 2024 from 21 September to 17 November 2024.
Orange is the first stop on the Archibald Prize 2024 regional tour, an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition, which will also visit the Southern Highlands, Casula, Alice Springs and Lismore.
Orange Mayor Jason Hamling said this was a great opportunity for regional audiences to see all 57 finalists in this year's exhibition.
"It's wonderful to see works by some of the country's most talented and best-known artists in Australia's most prestigious portrait prize right here in Orange," Cr Hamling said.
Archibald Prize 2024 finalist and Packing Room Prize 2024 winner, Matt Adnate Rhythms of heritage, spray paint and synthetic polymer paint on linen, 220 x 188.5 cm © the artist
"Every year the Archibald Prize features portraits of some of the country's most notable Australians including entertainers, politicians, artists, activists and sportspeople, and this year's offering is no different, featuring a who's-who of Australian culture.
"Everyone should come and see the exhibition while it's here in our own backyard."
First awarded in 1921, the Archibald Prize was established following a bequest from former Art Gallery trustee and founder of The Bulletin magazine JF Archibald (1856-1919), whose aim was to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians.
In conjunction with the Archibald Prize 2024, Orange Regional Gallery will also display portraits by budding young local artists in the Young Archie Central West 2024 exhibition.
The exhibitions will be officially opened at Orange Regional Gallery at 6pm on Friday 20 September by Sally Webster, Director of Program Delivery at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Book free tickets to the opening event here.
