Her beloved “Äunty Erika” is both the inspiration and the subject behind the winning artwork of Lily Hobbs, a 17-year-old artist from Kedron, who won the top prize for the 16-18 age group at the 11th annual Young Archie competition.
Inspired by the famous Archibald Prize, the Young Archie competition asks young artists aged 5 to 18 to create a portrait of someone special to them, someone who plays an important role in their life.
Lily chose her aunt Ericka and lovingly painted her in a pensive mode, her face in light and shadow.
Lily explained that her winning artwork captured a rare moment. She said her aunt has a bright and charming personality and in the portrait, Lily said she chose to show deeper emotions and her aunt’s more vulnerable side. She said she also wanted to show her aunt’s generosity and strength even in difficult times.
In the 5-8 years category, eight-year-old Phoebe Raft from Terrigal, NSW, won the top prize for her amazing self-portrait and Toby Lopata, a nine-year-old from Elsternwick, Victoria, was awarded the 9-12 years prize for his portrait of his grandpa.
Jasmine Guy, 15, from Oatley NSW, won in the 13-15 years category with a striking painting of her friend. Finally, Kedron’s 17-year-old Lily Hobbs received the top award in the 16-18 age group for her thoughtful portrait of her aunt.
This year’s competition received a record number of submissions from all over Australia, with over 3,400 artworks entered.
The guest judge, artist Grace Lillian Lee, faced the difficult task of selecting the finalists from such a talented pool of young artists. Lee expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to learn about the artists and the people they depicted in their portraits.
Maud Page, the deputy director of the Art Gallery of NSW, praised the Young Archie competition for supporting the next generation of Australian artists. She emphasised the importance of encouraging young artists to express their individuality and creativity.
The winners in each age category were announced in Sydney, and now an exhibition of all the finalists’ artwork can be seen at the Art Gallery of NSW. The winners in each category will receive a cash prize of $200, while the remaining finalists will be awarded $50 each.
The Young Archie exhibition, featuring incredible artworks, is now open to the public for free at the Art Gallery of NSW. Visitors can also explore the Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman Prizes for 2023. This competition celebrates the talent and artistic expression of young people while showcasing the power of art to capture emotions and tell stories.
Published 4-July-2023