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Children’s drawings of loved ones usually end up on a family’s kitchen fridge but for a talented few, they are hung at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Six-year-old Ella Lee Fowler has won her age category at the Young Archies competition with a portrait of her best friend, Avelyn, titled Under the sea.
Ella Lee Fowler won the 5-8 age group at the Young Archie for a portrait of her best friend. Credit: Mimi Stirling/Art Gallery of NSW
It is the product of some artistic decisions unlikely to be seen in the competition’s grown-up counterpart, the $100,000 Archibald Prize.
Avelyn is pictured underwater wearing the headgear of popular Japanese cartoon character Kuromi and the artist said she chose her subject simply because “she is so nice”.
“I think Avelyn would like to go under the water in the Kuromi helmet, to swim with the piranha and the queenfish,” Ella said.
This year’s competition attracted a record number of young artists with more than 4000 entries. Seventy finalists are on display at the gallery until September. The Art Gallery’s deputy director, Maud Page, praised the finalists and entrants for their “fantastic portraits”.
Leon Do (right) with his brother Xavier, who was the subject of his winning entry in the Young Archie 2024. Credit: Mim Stirling/Art Gallery of NSW
“The exceptional standard of talent, expressive use of line and colour, and heartwarming portrayals of loved ones make Young Archie one of our most popular annual exhibitions,” Page said. “We love this important opportunity to connect children with the joy of art and celebrate the next generation of artists.”
Leon Do, 14, the son of artist and author Anh Do, won with a portrait of his brother in a melancholy mood, titled Xavier on a Tuesday.