Four-time Archibald Prize finalist Loribelle Spirovski has won the Archibald Prize 2025 ANZ People’s Choice award for her portrait of William Barton, a virtuoso of the yidaki, also known as the didgeridoo. The portrait was made entirely using a finger-painting technique.
Finger painting of William Barton is a tribute to Barton, a Kalkadunga man and internationally acclaimed composer, who has transformed perceptions of the yidaki through his pioneering work in classical and contemporary music.
Spirovski said she was ecstatic to receive the news of her win and was quite emotional to know that her work was highly regarded by visitors to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025 exhibition.
“I am overjoyed that the public have selected my work as the winner of this year’s ANZ People’s Choice award. I am infinitely grateful to William for allowing me to paint him and so humbled by everyone’s responses to the work. It has been a difficult few years and this whole experience is the most beautiful reprieve and reward,” said Spirovski.
Spirovski first met Barton last October at a concert featuring both Barton and Spirovski’s spouse, concert pianist Simon Tedeschi. Spirovski said she was taken by Barton’s presence, strength and wisdom and was certain she would paint him. At the time of the sitting, Spirovski was recovering from a nerve injury that left her struggling to paint.
“When it came time to work on William’s portrait, I played his composition Birdsong at dusk. As the music began, my hand set the brush aside and I dipped my finger into the soft, pliant paint. I turned the volume up, the music guiding me. Without a brush, painting was almost painless. As the portrait painted itself, I felt alive in a way I hadn’t for a very long time,” said Spirovski.
Spirovski was born in 1990 in Manila, the Philippines, to Filipino and Serbian parents. She immigrated to Australia when she was eight years old and now lives and works as a full-time artist in Sydney. A largely self-taught artist, Spirovski trained at the College of Fine Arts as an art teacher. She was a finalist in the 2017 Archibald Prize for her painting John Bell at home, in 2018 for Villains always get the best lines and in 2019 for Meg and Amos (and Art).
William Barton is a producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, and is recognised as one of Australia’s leading didgeridoo players and composers. For two decades, Barton has forged a peerless profile as a performer and composer in the classical music world, from performing with the Philharmonic Orchestras of London and Berlin to marking historic events at Westminster Abbey, England, and Anzac Cove, Turkey.
Art Gallery of New South Wales director Maud Page said visitors have been drawn to Spirovski’s work since the opening of the exhibition. The ANZ People’s Choice award reflects the democratic spirit of the Archibald Prize and we look forward to celebrating the public’s chosen favourite each year,” said Page.
“Congratulations to Loribelle Spirovski for her well-deserved win and for her magnetic portrait of William Barton, rendered with expressive paint strokes and lit by Barton’s radiant smile.”
The Archibald Prize People’s Choice was first awarded in 1988 and is now supported by presenting partner ANZ. This year, 40,842 visitors to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025 exhibition at the Art Gallery voted in the competition, the highest number of votes ever received.
As winner of the 2025 ANZ People’s Choice award, Loribelle Spirovski is awarded $5000, thanks to ANZ. One person who voted for the People’s Choice award-winning painting was also selected at random to win the People’s Choice voters’ prize. This year, the lucky voter isSaan Clemons from Hobart, Tasmania, who receives a $2000 cash prize, also thanks to ANZ.
All the finalists in Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2025 will be exhibited at the Art Gallery until Sunday 17 August 2025.
Following the exhibition at the Art Gallery, Archibald Prize 2025 finalist works will tour to six venues including Geelong Gallery (30 August – 9 November), Gosford Regional Gallery (30 November – 11 January), Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (23 January – 7 March), Mudgee Arts Precinct (20 March – 3 May), Shoalhaven Regional Gallery (16 May – 19 July) and Yarrila Arts and Museum, Coffs Harbour (1 August – 13 September) – offering audiences outside Sydney the opportunity to see the finalist portraits.
Wynne Prize 2025 finalist works will also tour to four venues in regional New South Wales including Orange Regional Gallery (6 September – 16 November), Glasshouse Port Macquarie (29 November – 26 January), Ngununggula, Southern Highlands Regional Gallery (7 February – 5 April) and Grafton Regional Gallery (25 April – 21 June).
Image: Archibald Prize 2025 ANZ People’s Choice award winner Loribelle Spirovski and sitter William Barton with winning work ‘Finger painting of William Barton’ at the Archibald Prize 2025 ANZ People’s Choice award winner announcement, Art Gallery of New South Wales, artwork © the artist, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio