Most Australians have heard of the Archibald prize, the nation's most famous portrait prize, partly because of the controversies which seem to follow it. When Francis Giacco won in 1994, that year was no exception. In this conversation, he recalls the day he won and how the win influenced his career. 

Francis is a contemporary realist painter and lives in Sydney.  He has won and judged numerous art competitions. In 2014 he won the prestigious Percival Prize for Portraiture with his portrait of Charles Blackman. He has had many solo shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and his work was selected to appear in the ABC production of Rake. 

In this interview, Francis talks about his childhood influences, travels overseas, teaching at Julian Ashton Art school, his art process, people he has met along the way and how his painting was eerily affected just prior to his diagnosis with lymphoma five years ago.

Show notes:

Francis Giacco

Julian Ashton Art School

Jeffrey Smart

Brian Dunlop

Justin O'Brien

Kunsthistorisches museum, Vienna

Johannes Vermeer's 'The Art of Painting'

Jackson Pollock's 'Blue Poles'

Archibald prize

Margaret Olley

Doug Moran Portrait Prize

Australian Galleries