‘Clown Jewels’: Packing Room Prize goes to portrait of comedian Cal Wilson

By ERIN MODARO

The prestigious Archibald Packing Room Prize has been awarded to artist Andrea Huelin for her portrait of New Zealand born comedian Cal Wilson.

The award, which is chosen by the staff who unpack and curate the finalist artworks for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes each year, has had a major switch up in its selection this year.

With the retirement of head packer of 41 years at the Art Gallery of NSW, Brett Cuthbertson, the way the prize is selected has undergone a significant change.

Cuthbertson previously held a whopping 52% of the packing room vote- this year, the prize was selected via a panel including two women, meaning the selection was more democratic than in previous years.

Panel has female majority

The panel is comprised of packers Timothy Dale, Monica Rudhar and Alexis Wildman; three experienced packers who have been involved in the Archibald for many years.

Wildman said that Andrea’s work “jumped out at us as soon as it arrived”.

“Cal’s been such a mainstay on Australian television for two decades. We love the interesting pose and unique headwear and, in the tradition of the Packing Room Prize, Andrea’s painting looks like Cal!” Wildman said.

A real switch up for who could be the Packing Room winner was on the table for this year, with Cuthbertson saying under his and Steve Peter’s stewardship the prize always went to a celebrity or a sportsperson.

While the Packing Room prize is a great honour for artists to receive, and comes along with a neat $3000 cash reward, it’s considered a bit of a bad omen for going on to win the esteemed Archie award.

Archie, Wynne and Sulman finalists announced

Along with the reveal of the Packing Room prize, the finalists for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes was also unveiled.

The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes will be on display at the Art Gallery of NSW from May 6 to September 3.