Australia’s most prestigious portrait competition, the Archibald Prize, has unveiled its 2026 finalists, with several Greek Australian artists and subjects earning a place among this year’s celebrated works.
Presented annually by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Archibald Prize recognises outstanding portraiture depicting notable figures in art, science, politics, literature and public life.
Established in 1921 through a bequest from former Bulletin editor Jules Francois Archibald, the competition remains one of the country’s most closely watched cultural events, awarding $100,000 to the winning artist.
This year, 59 finalists were selected from more than 1,000 entries, with the exhibition running from 9 May to 16 August at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney.
Among the finalists are several artists and subjects connected to the Greek Australian community, highlighting the continuing contribution of Hellenic voices to Australia’s cultural landscape.
Sydney-based artist Drew Bickford was selected for his energetic portrait of filmmaking twins Danny and Michael Philippou, known internationally as RackaRacka. The Adelaide-born brothers rose to prominence through YouTube before moving into feature filmmaking, gaining acclaim for their horror projects.
Bickford described the work as a celebration of the twins’ chaotic creative energy, drawing inspiration from horror aesthetics and comic-book caricature. His painting portrays the brothers in a dramatic and theatrical style intended to reflect their bold cinematic identity.
Melbourne artist Nick Mourtzakis is also among this year’s finalists with a portrait of late neurologist Jack Wodak. Mourtzakis completed the work following an earlier sitting with Wodak before his death in 2019.
The artist said he aimed to capture not simply a likeness, but a sense of the neurologist’s inner life and quiet presence. Using restrained composition and controlled lighting, Mourtzakis sought to reveal the subtle emotional depth of his subject.
Veteran portraitist Nick Stathopoulos returns to the Archibald shortlist with a portrait of influential Australian film producer Margaret Fink. Titled A Brilliant Career, the work honours Fink’s major contribution to Australian cinema, including producing the landmark 1979 film My Brilliant Career.
Stathopoulos, known for his hyper-realistic style, has been an Archibald finalist numerous times and won the People’s Choice Award in 2016. He described Fink as a spirited and stylish subject whose strong personality shaped the portrait process.
Another finalist with Greek connections is Brisbane artist Michael Zavros, whose portrait depicts Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin standing in the sea wearing tefillin.
Zavros explained that he felt a personal connection to Ryvchin after discovering shared heritage through DNA testing, which revealed Greek, Irish and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. He said the portrait explores themes of identity, symbolism and leadership in contemporary Australia.
The inclusion of multiple Greek Australian artists in this year’s Archibald Prize finalists underscores the enduring presence of Hellenic creativity within Australia’s arts sector.
Their works sit alongside portraits of well-known Australians from across public life, reinforcing the diversity and depth of the nation’s cultural storytelling.
