Archibald Prize Portrait Project 2026
The incredible Lexi Keelan and I have created portraits to enter into the Archibald Prize. This is our third year entering the prize. We drove up to Sydney to once again drop our portraits off in person at the Gallery of NSW Packing Room where we got this adorable picture together.
A long-term outcome of this project will be a retrospective exhibition so that we can present each of the portraits and trace our changes in approach over the years and also how I might have changed as a subject.
🌸 more about Sentimental by Lexi Keelan.
From Lexi:
"The last couple of times I have painted Emma, I have tried to incorporate a different part of her home to inform the overall vibe and expression of the portrait itself."
"This year, I wanted to delve further into Emma's love of curating and collecting the objects that share her space by combining my love of layering acrylic inks and gouache with a surrealist, whimsical composition. Sentimental is a glimpse at some of the cherished memories and items Emma keeps close. "
"It was my first time using Aquabord as a surface and I found it held the vibrancy of the inks quite well. Layering was more challenging however, as the drying time was a bit faster than I am used to compared to a watercolour paper, but it did provide a lovely texture and gave it some additional depth. On top of the ink wash layers I used a combination of gouache and paint markers for the finer details."
"Just like each time I visit Emma's home, you might spot something different each time your eyes travel around the painting."
🌸 more about The Hermit by Emma Batchelor.
This year my concept was very much led by the surface I found to paint on.
In each of my previous portraits I have painted on a traditional surface (linen and clay board respectively) which I have then mounted within an antique wooden tray. This year, I wanted to experiment with painting directly onto something old so when making my annual pilgrimage to Dirty Janes, I was on the look out for unusual pieces of wood. While poking around I came across an old school slate and was immediately drawn to it's gritty black surface encased in a handmade wooden frame.
The scale of the slate was similar to a tarot card, iconography which informs all my self-portraits, so I decided to once again treat the portrait as though it were the surface of a card. I used layers of gouache to create a textured sky on the slate. I then painted a test portrait on water colour paper and was so pleased with it I decided to go with a mixed media moment and cut it out, along with some little stars, which I attached to the painted slate.
I feel like this painting conveys the heaviness of my busy brain and my constant drive for self reflection.
🌸 revisit our previous portraits.
Emma Batchelor
Emma Batchelor