Ep 166: Julie Fragar wins the 2025 Archibald Prize
An edited video version of this conversation will be on the YouTube channel soon!
It’s one of the most thrilling days on the Australian art calendar—and this year, Julie Fragar has taken out the Archibald Prize with a captivating portrait of fellow artist and colleague Justene Williams.
Her large scale portrait of Justene, appearing to float in space and surrounded by model figures and structures drawn from Justene’s creative universe, commands the viewer's attention. Julie talks with me about the portrait and its elements, her approach to colour and her tips for a productive sitting. This episode also includes Julie’s moving acceptance speech.
Also announced today:
Jude Rae, winner of the Wynne Prize (and two-time podcast guest)
Gene A’Hern, winner of the Sulman Prize (video interview coming soon!)
Scroll down for images of the winning works
Podcast listeners click here to see images of the works
Julie Fragar's website
Julie Fragar on Instagram
Ep 28: Jude Rae
Ep 97: Jude Rae '424-428'
TWP on Instagram
TWP on Facebook
Maria Stoljar on LinkedIn
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Julie FragarFlagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)oil on canvas240 x 180.4 cm
Jude RaePre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminaloil on linen200 x 150.4 cm
Gene A’HernSky paintingoil and oil stick on board240 x 240 cm
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Ep 165: Richard Lewer
Podcast listeners - see the art work we talk about in this episode here
Step into the gripping world of Richard Lewer — where drawing, painting, and video meet the raw edges of human experience.
Richard doesn’t look away from life’s toughest stories. From the deeply personal — like the final days of his father’s life — to the harrowing and socially charged, including the tragic death of an Indigenous child in custody and the haunting Snowtown murders, he takes it all on. But never with shock tactics. His work is quietly powerful — full of feeling, sensitivity, and a surprising touch of humour. And the surfaces he paints on? Anything but traditional — think steel, aluminium, formica table tops, even billiard tables.
Richard is a multi-award-winning artist whose work has appeared in major public and private collections. He’s been a finalist multiple times in the Archibald and Sulman Prizes, and his recent acquisition by the National Gallery of Australia will soon be part of an upcoming exhibition and tour.
This was the perfect time to sit down for a deep conversation — just ahead of his new show ‘The stories that persist are not always true’ opening on 10 April at Hugo Michell Gallery.
Richard is also represented by Jan Murphy Gallery in Brisbane and Suite Gallery in New Zealand.
Links
Art work mentioned in this episode (for podcast listeners)
Richard Lewer on Instagram
Exhibition opening on 10 April at Hugo Michell Gallery
YouTube video- Richard Lewer talks with Maria Stoljar about his commissioned work at the Art Gallery of NSW
Boxing match Richard Lewer vs Luke Sinclair 2001, video, documentation of performance as art
Worse luck I'm still here, 2014, video and animation
Never Shall be Forgotten - A Mother's Story, 2017, video and animation
Talking with Painters on Instagram
Join me on LinkedIn
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'We have grave concerns for your father's health'oil on epoxy-coated steel80.5 x 141 cmFinalist Sulman prize 2019
I'm not the boy who cried wolf, 202580 x 120 cmacrylic on laminate tabletop
Richard's medical disastersacrylic on linen181.5 x 152.7cmFinalist Sulman prize 2023
NGV Confessions (one wall of several)Acrylic on pegboard
The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals that God had made. He said to the woman ‘Did God really say that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?’. She replied ‘We may eat fruit from all the trees in the garden except for the..., 2022, acrylic on canvas, 153 x 153 cm
'The 2006 Granny' 2024acrylic on linen200.0 x 200.0 cm
'The 2006 Granny' 2024acrylic on linen& 41.0 x 31.0 cm
https://youtu.be/Du-Lad05_vk?si=lW4hXdAYI9jmNEfo
Body of work 'Steve' acquired by the National Gallery of Australia
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50:28
Ep 164: New Videos, Loading Dock Invite & What’s Next
Catch up on the latest YouTube videos and Instagram reels, and don’t miss the chance to be part of my next Loading Dock interview at the Art Gallery of NSW!
Justin Williams (video)
Justin Williams - ep 60 podcast interview
Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt (video)
Loading Dock Interviews Playlist
Nic Plowman (Instagram reel)
Sam Eyles (Instagram reel)
The Art Room
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4:36
Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt (live at the Tweed Regional Gallery)
Ingrid Hedgcock, director of the Tweed Regional Gallery, shows me around the amazing Margaret Olley Art Centre which is the relocation of Margaret Olley's home studio from Paddington in Sydney.
Famous for being like an Aladdin's cave of eclectic objects, the recreated home studio contains the sources of many inspirational items which appear in Margaret Olley's paintings. Over an astonishing 21,000 items were relocated from Sydney to the gallery.
Ingrid, having been involved in the project almost from its inception, is the ideal person to share insights into the creation of this extraordinary tribute to Olley.
This is the second of three episodes recorded at Tweed Regional Gallery. The previous episode is my conversation with Sophie Perez and Sarah McDonald undertaking a residency at the gallery and the following episode will be my conversation with Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt at the gallery about the exhibition 'A Dictionary for Painting'.
Photo of Ingrid Hedgcock supplied by Tweed Regional Gallery
Podcast listeners click here to see images of the Margaret Olley Art Centre
Margaret Olley Art Centre
'A Dictionary for Painting', exhibition with Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt at the Tweed Regional Gallery until 2 March 2025
Scott Bevan on William Dobell
Ben Quilty (ep 80)
'The Hat Factory', Margaret Olley Art Centre
'The Yellow Room', Margaret Olley Art Centre
Sverige