But his wasn’t a smooth path to success. He grew up in a tough neighbourhood where you literally had to fight to get by and he learnt to survive by becoming someone that went against his true nature.

Unaware he had dyslexia, he struggled at school and was kicked out at 13 years of age.  He worked from job to job but never stopped drawing and ultimately realised that was what he did best. How he got into and finished university is a story in itself. He is now an adjunct professor of that university, RMIT.

In this episode he also tells the story behind many of his famous portraits: of actor Heath Ledger, film director Baz Luhrmann, acclaimed actress Asher Keddie (who is also his wife) and former prime minister Julia Gillard.

He also talks about his passion to take art to people who might have never set foot in a gallery.

Press ‘play’ above to hear the interview.  

‘Heath’, 2008, oil on canvas, 106 x 140cm (Collection of the Art Gallery of NSW, highly commended and winner of the Archibald Prize People’s Choice award 2008. Portrait of Heath Ledger)

‘Off Screen’, 2010, oil on canvas, (Winner Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2010. Portrait of Baz Luhrmann)

‘Love face’, 2013, oil on linen, 174 x 304cm, (Winner Archibald Prize People’s Choice 2013 – portrait of Asher Keddie)

‘All that’s good in me (self-portrait as son Luca)’, 2014, oil on linen, 160 x 260cm, (Winner Archibald Prize People’s Choice 2014)

‘Matt Moran’, 2011, oil on canvas, 200 x 150cm, (Winner of the Archibald Packing Room Prize 2011)

Fantauzzo working on his portrait of Nic Cester, in Strachan Lane, Melbourne CBD, outside the restaurant he co-owns, Harley House. (Image from Fantauzzo’s instagram page)