Warburton,a painter whose work is in the National Portrait Gallery,was also a disability support worker,whose face featured in the 2014 Archibald Prize,painted by his friend Paul Miller.
“Part of Greg’s role was to have Daniel put more emotion in his paintings. The beauty of this painting is it has so much emotion about Greg’s loss. You can feel his grief just by looking at it,” Mordy said.
Another Studio A Archibald portrait with a heartbreaking backstory is finalist Catherine McGuiness’ picture of chef Kylie Kwong,who she first met at the South Eveleigh Artist Markets in 2022. Kwong purchased one of McGuiness’ artworks and a connection was formed.
Daniel Kim with his scrapbook of memories of greg Warburton.
For her Archibald submission,McGuiness drew inspiration from Kylie’s restaurant Lucky Kwong,where the live sitting took place. The resulting portrait is calledLucky.
Archibald Prize 2023 finalist,Catherine McGuiness ‘Lucky’,a portrait of chef Kylie Kwong.
“I’ve painted Kylie wearing her favourite necklace and her round glasses. She always wears black. The words Lucky are written lots and lots to refer to Kylie’s special restaurant and memory of her son,who her restaurant is named after. She’s a lovely person,” McGuiness said.
“Sitting for Catherine’s Archibald portrait has been one of the most memorable and enriching experiences of my life-to-date,” said Kwong.
“As I showed her around Lucky Kwong,I pointed to my wife Nell’s suspended glass ghost installation and explained how Lucky was Nell’s and my little baby boy who had ‘turned into an angel’ – I wanted to share my heart with Catherine as she has always shared her heart with me so the very first thing I did was tell her who Lucky Kwong was.
Artist Catherine McGuinness painting restaurateur Kylie Kwong.
“I not once mentioned that Lucky was sadly stillborn,yet she somehow organically ‘tuned into’ the celestial nature of the space and the resulting artwork is absolutely ‘divine’. She certainly felt Lucky’s spirit all-pervading and I am incredibly moved by this,” Kwong said.
In the past four years Studio A artists have consistently been finalists in the nation’s best known portrait prize. This year Studio A artists Emily Crockford with a portrait of queer champion Jeff McCann and Thom Roberts with architect Farhad Haidari have secured their place as Archibald finalists for a third time.
Chef Kylie Kwong with artist Catherine McGuiness.
Roberts’ 2023 submission,titledIn the future there might be new tall buildings built by Bert (Farhad Haidari),was the result of a residency the artist did at The Langston Epping,a residential development by Haidari,a principal at Archetectus.
Roberts was invited to the Architectus offices at 25 Martin Place,a building designed by Harry Seidler. The city skyline visible from the office windows provided a captivating backdrop for the portrait sitting.
Archibald Prize 2023 finalist,Thom Roberts ‘In the future there might be new tall buildings built by Bert (Farhad Haidari)’.Credit:Jenni Carter
In 2021,he was a finalist in the Archibald Prize and his portrait of Studio A Chairman Shane Simpson was selected to hang as the primary exhibition banner on the AGNSW facade.
Archibald Prize 2023 finalist,Emily Crockford ‘Jeff’s pink daisy eyelash clash’.
“To have these artists as finalists feels incredibly validating for our artists,their families and their mentors and it shows the art world we are not one-trick ponies,” Mordy said.
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