Melbourne hopeful could be Archibald’s youngest yet

JF Archibald, journalist and founder of the Bulletin magazine, was always keen to promote the work of young Australian artists and writers. This year, Julius Killerby could become the youngest ever winner of the annual prize bearing Archibald’s name.

The Archibald Prize, announced tomorrow, began in 1921 and aims to foster portraiture, support local artists and remember great Australians distinguished in the fields of art, letters, science or politics. Following its establishment, the prize quickly became desired by artists all over the country, not only for the prize of $100,000 or the publicity it generates, but the opportunity to exhibit their work in one of Australia’s major galleries.

Killerby, only 22 years of age, used the opportunity as an excuse to paint Paul Little; co founder of Toll and the previous chairman of the Essendon Footbal Club. “I admired Little for taking on the roll in the club’s most turbulent years… his work in philanthropy and specifically drug rehabilitation impressed me a lot, it was admirable to see someone turn so much of their personal success towards charitable causes” he said.

His style; being “quite representational” also uses thick, abstract brush strokes and colour. “I find it aesthetically satisfying when the two styles, abstract and representational exists simultaneously”. His work, landing in the top 43 from over 800 works is a testament to exactly this.

 

Of the 43 works now hanging in the Art Gallery of New South Whales, Anne Ryan, The Gallery’s curator, told the ABC that this year’s finalists are “as ever, a very diverse field”. She also said the standard of work this year was high but argues that the “painstaking task of choosing the finalists” was expected due to the nature of engaging with art and coming to your “own conclusions“.

With the announcement coming tomorrow at 12pm, Killerby says, no matter what, he will continue to paint and looks forward to completing his studies at the Victorian College of the Arts and travelling to find new subject matter.