Geelong Gallery is the exclusive Victorian venue and first stop on the regional tour of the Archibald Prize 2025, presenting Australia’s most celebrated art award from Saturday 30 August to Sunday 9 November.
In 2025, the $100,000 prize has been awarded to Julie Fragar for her portrait of fellow Brisbane artist and colleague Justene Williams. Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), depicting Williams as an ‘active master of a multiverse of characters and events’.
The Archibald Prize highlights the best in contemporary portraiture, capturing the prominent faces and cultural figures of our time. Each year, it forms a unique time capsule of famous faces, local heroes, and the prevailing zeitgeist.
The 2025 finalists include portraits of Australian of the Year recipients Neale Daniher and Grace Tame, Boy Swallows Universe star Felix Cameron, and comedian and actor Aaron Chen.
Julie Fragar is among 57 finalists chosen from 904 entries for the 2025 prize. Responding to the win: ‘You work your whole career imagining this might happen one day,” said Fragar. “Thinking back to myself as a 17 year old showing up at the Sydney College of the Arts – a kid from country New South Wales – it’s incredible to think I have won the Archibald Prize.”
“Portrait painting wasn’t taken as seriously in the 1990s as it is today. I have always regarded the Archibald Prize as a place that understood the value of portraiture,” said Fragar.
“The Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s favourite exhibitions, and we know Geelong is going to love having it back in our city. The 2025 exhibition gives us a snapshot of some of today’s most interesting social themes and subjects from the artworld through to popular culture. It needs little introduction and is not to be missed,” said Director & CEO, Geelong Gallery, Humphrey Clegg.
‘The City of Greater Geelong is proud to be a Presenting Partner of the Archibald Prize 2025. We are delighted to welcome this renowned exhibition back to Geelong, the hometown of its founder, JF Archibald,” said City of Greater Geelong Mayor, Stretch Kontelj OAM.
“Geelong Gallery stands as a crown jewel within our vibrant arts precinct. This prestigious exhibition, steeped in over a century of rich artistic heritage, is undoubtedly a major highlight on our cultural calendar.”
Geelong Gallery is also proud to showcase the eight Victorian artists featured in the 2025 exhibition, including ceramicist and multidisciplinary artist Vipoo Srivilasa, whose work will be on display in re/JOY – a concurrent exhibition touring from the Australian Design Centre; and Richard Lewer, whose solo exhibition will be presented at Geelong Gallery over summer.
The Gallery will also present its popular after hours events, alongside a dynamic public program including a series of Creative Conversations with Archibald Prize 2025 artists, sitters and moderators.
Archibald Prize 2025
Geelong Gallery, Geelong
Exhibition: 30 August – 9 November 2025
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.geelonggallery.org.au for details.
Image: Winner Archibald Prize 2025, Julie Fragar, Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), oil on canvas, 240 x 180.4 cm © the artist, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Jenni Carter