Packing Room Prize goes to portrait of Taika Waititi

By Erin Modaro.

The winner of the Packing Room Prize was announced at the Art Gallery of NSW by Head Packer for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prize Brett Cuthbertson, with the award going to a portrait of Taika Waititi by artist Claus Stangl.

The winning artwork features the eccentric filmmaker in a charismatic pose and sets high precedent for the upcoming Archibald prize.

The Packing Room Prize is voted on by the staff at the Art Gallery of NSW who receive, unpack and hang the portraits, with 52% of the vote going to Brett Cuthbertson. Cuthbertson also announced his retirement as Head Packer after 41 years of work at the Art Gallery.  

Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Finalists Revealed

The finalists for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes were also announced, and in fashion with the history of the prestigious Archibald prize, many notable figures are among the portrait sitters including activist Sally McManus and actor Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

This year marks the largest pool of entries ever for the Young Archie award with over 2400 portraits entered, as well as the highest known number of First Nation’s artist entries in the Archibald.

The winners of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes will be announced at 12pm on Friday May 13, with the exhibition opening to the public the following day.

The exhibition dates of the Archiblad, Wynne and Sulman prizes are Saturday May 15 to Sunday August 28.