Julie Fragar has been awarded the prestigious $100,000 Archibald Prize for her portrait of fellow artist and friend Justene Williams, titled Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene). The announcement was made at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), marking a significant moment in the prize’s 104-year history.
Fragar, a four-time Archibald finalist, expressed her deep appreciation for being the 13th woman to win the prize. This recognition coincides with the historic appointment of Maud Page as the first female director of the AGNSW. “To have a painting of my close friend and to have a new woman at the helm of this incredible institution — everything feels like it came together in a really nice way,” Fragar told ABC Arts.
Understanding the Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize, established in 1921, is one of Australia’s most esteemed and democratic painting awards, focusing on portraiture. The prize is open to artists at any career stage, with the primary conditions being that the portrait is a painting created from life within 12 months before the submission deadline. A preference is given to sitters distinguished in art, letters, science, or politics.
Finalists are selected by the AGNSW’s board of trustees, while the Packing Room Prize is determined by gallery staff. This year, Fragar’s portrait was chosen unanimously from 904 entries, with 57 finalists making the cut.
Fragar’s Artistic Journey
Fragar’s journey to the Archibald Prize has been marked by persistence and dedication. Her first entry as a finalist came 25 years ago with a self-portrait alongside American artist Chuck Close. Reflecting on her career, Fragar noted, “I think I had this idea now that I’m in the Archibald Prize [so] everything’s going to be smooth sailing, onwards and upwards from here. But life’s more complicated than that.”
Her winning portrait of Williams is a testament to their shared history and artistic journey. Williams, a central figure in the Sydney art scene since the 1990s, is celebrated for her dynamic photographs, videos, performances, and later, installations and operas. “I made this painting because I wanted to honour the incredible multiverse of artwork that seems always to be exploding from her,” Fragar explained.
Artists Painting Artists
This year’s Archibald Prize saw a notable trend of artists painting fellow artists, with 22 such portraits among the finalists. Fragar herself has painted artists three times in her Archibald entries, including Indigenous artist Richard Bell and her own self-portrait.
“If you choose a fellow artist who you know very well, there are feelings involved. There’s a relationship that happens as the painting gets built that’s very satisfying,” Fragar shared. Beatrice Gralton, curator of the Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman Prizes exhibition, remarked, “I think artists turn to their own community and each other for humour, for pathos, and there’s a trust there.”
The Broader Impact
Fragar’s win is not just a personal achievement but also a reflection of broader trends in the art world. This year, for the first time, there were more finalist works by women artists in the Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman prizes. Of the 59 people painted, 31 were women and non-binary, 28 were men, 12 were First Nations, and 15 were from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
37% of finalists are first-time finalists; 22 finalists painted other artists; 12 painted self-portraits.
Fragar’s achievement comes amid challenges in the arts sector, particularly in arts education. A recent RMIT study found that 45% of artists also work in the broader visual arts sector, while 36% are employed outside the industry. Additionally, 40 creative arts courses have been discontinued in Australian universities between 2018 and 2025.
“It’s challenging for all universities and the arts,” Fragar noted. “But artists are scrappy, and people who want to teach art are scrappy, and we keep making it happen.”
Looking Ahead
The Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman Prizes 2025 exhibition will run from May 10 to August 17 at the AGNSW, showcasing the diverse talents and stories of Australia’s artistic community. As Fragar and her peers continue to navigate the evolving landscape of the art world, their work remains a testament to resilience and creativity.
