Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep 71 Julie Fragar

Julie Fragar is one of the country's most compelling painters. 

For those who are familiar with that name, it could well be because she recently made headlines as the winner of the prestigious 2025 Archibald Prize. What is perhaps not as well known to the general public is that that win marked the 4th time she had been a finalist in that competition.

For over two decades, Julie's practice has been described as pushing the intellectual limits of painting. Her works are deeply psychological, and weave together autobiography, historical narratives and intense human experiences. 

We had a great conversation talking about her childhood in country NSW, her art school experiences, her visual technique which she describes as not "layering," but rather as images "woven" or "knitted" together, where all images exist simultaneously on the canvas, the incredible works she produced after sitting in the public gallery of the Supreme Court and later when she shadowed a gynaecological surgeon and witnessed the visceral reality of the operating theatre and, of course, her 2025 win in the Archibald Prize. 

Julie Fragar’s work is held in major public collections including the Art Gallery of New South Wales; Art Gallery of South Australia; and the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art. She has been the recipient of major awards and institutional commissions. And Professor Fragar also happens to be Deputy Director (Research) at the Queensland College of Art and Design, Griffith University. 

Head to the link in my bio to hear our conversation, or search Australian Women Artists wherever you find your podcasts. 

Images

1.   JF, AGNSW, Diana Panuccio

2.   Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene) 2025 oil on canvas, 240 x 180 (Archibald winner 2025)

3.   Richard, 2020 oil on canvas 180 x 135 (Archibald finalist)

4.   Trust, 2026 oil on canvas 180 x 135

5.   Drown in Your Own Ambition, 2021

6.   Origin of the World (or One Battle After Another), 2026