Talking with Painters

Watch a 2 minute highlights video of this episode on the YouTube channel here

In this special episode of Talking with Painters, I’m bringing you my conversation with Richard Lewer recorded shortly after he was announced as the winner of the 2026 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Richard won Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize for his powerful portrait of artist and Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken, a striking full-length painting set against a powerful ochre background inspired by time spent with Iluwanti on country.

I also share some of my favourite parts from my longer 2025 conversation with Richard, where he talks about growing up in New Zealand, using art as a form of escape as a child, painting deeply personal works about family and grief, and creating his exhibition Steve, currently showing at the National Gallery of Australia. Along the way we also discuss this year’s Wynne and Sulman Prize winners, including works by Gaypalani Wanambi and Lucy Culliton.

Links

‘Iluwanti Ken’
Synthetic plolymer paint on canvas
198cm x 198cm
Winner 2026 Archibald Prize
Image: Art Gallery of NSW

‘The Waṉambi tree’ by Gaypalani Waṉambi
spray paint on etched steel
240cm x 240cm
Winner Wynne Prize 2026
Image: Art Gallery of NSW

‘Toolah, artist model’
by Lucy Culliton
oil on canvas
137.6 x 137.1cm
Winner Sulman Prize 2026
Photo: Art Gallery of NSW

‘We have grave concerns for your father’s health’
oil on epoxy-coated steel
80.5 x 141 cm
Finalist Sulman prize 2019

Watch a short highlights video of this episode on the TWP YouTube channel 

Born in 1933, Ann’s art education took place during the 1950s and early 60s, a time when male artists like Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, John Brack and Charles Blackman dominated the Australian art scene.

Today Ann Thomson is one of Australia’s most respected and internationally acclaimed artists. A painter and sculptor, she has held more than 60 solo exhibitions, won numerous awards, and her work is represented in major public collections. As this episode is released, an exhibition of her work is also showing at Messums Gallery in London.

Links

Ann Thomson on Instagram

Ann Thomson at Messums

Talking with Painters on Instagram

Talking with Painters on Facebook

Maria Stoljar on LinkedIn

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Podcast interview with Thomson on her life and art

Podcast interview with Thomson on Ian Fairweather

Podcast interview with Thomson in her 90th year

https://youtu.be/94aHBnKwR2w?si=SCWA0GDPvevSDMyM

Watch highlights from this conversation on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel

I loved this conversation with Mary Tonkin at the S.H. Ervin Gallery in Sydney, before the start of her survey exhibition Among the Trees (opening 3 January 2026). The show brings together paintings, drawings and ceramics dating from 2008, works that reflect Mary’s deep relationship with her family farm in Victoria’s Dandenong ranges and with painting from life.  Her painting ‘Ramble Kalorama’, measuring almost 19 metres long, is a magnificent meditation on what it is to be in the Australian landscape and was a huge hit at the 2022 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair.

Mary Tonkin has won many awards and her works are held in major public institutions and private collections. She is represented by Australian Galleries.

NB: When Mary speaks about her teacher Geoff in this conversation she is referring to Geoff Dupree.

https://youtu.be/84JSU210-38?si=78SsLYUPGalbja-g

‘Ramble, Kalorama’ (2017–2019) at Sydney Contemporary, 2022
18.9m x 1.8m (21 panels)
Oil on linen

‘Coprosma Madonna, Kalorama’ 2021-22
oil on linen 320 x 610cm
Photographer Matthew Stanton

‘Madre, Kalorama’ 2008
oil on linen 244cm x 508 cm
Photographer John Brash

‘A scream, Kalorama’ 2023
oil on linen 214 x 366cm
Photograph Matthew Stanton

‘Regent, Kalorama’ 2012 charcoal on paper 241 x 271cm Photographer John Brash

‘Saint Anthony Beaten By Devils’ 24.5cm x 39.5cm
Sassetta, c1423, 1424
Pinacoteca Nazionale

A highlights video from this episode will also be coming soon to the Talking with Painters YouTube channel

In this episode, I visit the studio of acclaimed abstract painter Aida Tomescu just days before the opening of her exhibition Messiaen at Fox Jensen Gallery in Sydney. The exhibition continues until 20 December 2025.

Previous TWP YouTube videos of Aida Tomescu:

Previous podcast conversations with Aida Tomescu:

Messiaen II 2024
200x460cm
oil on Belgian linen
Photo: Jenni Carter

Messiaen III 2025
200 x 306cm
Oil on Belgian linen
Photo: Jenni Carter

Messiaen 2013
oil and pigments on canvas
184 x 153 cm
This is the work Tomescu refers to at the beginning of the episode

Watch an edited video version of this episode on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel here

Podcast listeners see the works we talk about here or go to talkingwithpainters.com (ep 169)

At $100,000 the Hadley’s is Australia’s richest landscape art prize, and the calibre of work this year was outstanding. With 29 finalists in total, I would have loved to talk with every single one, but time was short in the lead-up to the celebrations! Even so, these conversations give you a  cross-section of artists and approaches to depicting the Australian landscape — from bold abstraction to meticulous realism.

In this episode, you’ll hear from the following artists: Michaye Boulter, Belinda Street, Neil Haddon, Valerie Sparks (Honourable Mention), Peter Griffen, Harrison Bowe (People’s Choice winner), Melanie McCollin Walker, Denise Lamby (Residency Prize winner), Julz Beresford, Raymond Arnold, Richard Klecociuk and Melissa Kenihan.

Links

Michaye Boulter
Atmospheres,
oil on linen 102 x 153

Neil Haddon
‘A view of water’
Acrylic oil and lacquer on aluminium
140 x 130

Valerie Sparks (Honourable Mention)
‘The Long View’
Pigment inkjet print on paper

Peter Griffen
‘Small Rocks and Wild Grass’
Mixed media on canvas 91 x 122cm

Belinda Street
‘Newcastle Harbour’
Oil on canvas 90 x 90cm

Harrison Bowe (Winner People’s Choice Award)
‘Of Peaks and Tides’
Oil and enamel and beeswax on linen

Melanie McCollin Walker
‘Quiet Refuge’
Acrylic on linen 156 x 156cm

Denise Lamby (Winner Residency Prize)
Memory of the Land
Recycle tea bags canvas 90 x 90cm

Julz Beresford
‘A Stillness at the Water’s Edge’
Oil on canvas 93 x 93

Raymond Arnold
‘The ‘blue,yellow’ Red Gum’
Digital print

Richard Klecociuk
‘Ancient light’
Coloured pencil and ink
108 x 83cm

Melissa Kenihan
‘Living Memory’
Oil on linen 55 x 155 cm

Watch an edited video version of this conversation on the YouTube channel here

It’s a raw and visceral work on canvas made using rust, charcoal, soil, pigment and binder.

In this episode I talk with Sophie about what winning the prize means for her at this point in her career. She also tells me about her incredible path to painting — from training as an elite athlete with Olympic ambitions to finding her way into the art world after injury changed the course of her life.

Sophie has received multiple awards and residencies over her career. She has exhibited in over a dozen solo shows and her work is held in many public and private collections. She is represented by Olsen Gallery.

A highlights video from this conversation will be up on my YouTube channel soon. I also spoke with 12 of the other finalists, and those conversations will be heading to YouTube shortly as well.

During my time in Hobart, I was a guest of Hadley’s at the beautifully restored Hadley’s Orient Hotel (built in 1834) and is the venue for the exhibition. The show runs until 21 September, accompanied by a series of talks – you can find more information on their website here .

Links

Thunder Shifts the Shivering Sands
Rust, charcoal, soil, pigment and binder on canvas
2024
148cm x 160cm

Romper Stomper, 2014, oil, acrylic, bitumen, charcoal, and soil on canvas, 209 x 203cm
Winner, Portia Geach Memorial Award, 2014

Watch an  edited video version of this conversation on the YouTube channel here

It’s one of the most thrilling days on the Australian art calendar—and this year, Julie Fragar has taken out the Archibald Prize with a captivating portrait of fellow artist and colleague Justene Williams.

Her large scale portrait of Justene, appearing to float in space and surrounded by model figures and structures drawn from Justene’s creative universe, commands the viewer’s attention.  Julie talks with me about the portrait and its elements, her approach to colour and her tips for a productive sitting. This episode also includes Julie’s moving acceptance speech.

Also announced today:

Jude Rae, winner of the Wynne Prize (and two-time podcast guest)

Gene A’Hern, winner of the Sulman Prize (video interview coming soon!)

Scroll down for images of the winning works

https://youtu.be/h4NfQDN803I

Julie FragarFlagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)
oil on canvas
240 x 180.4 cm

Jude Rae
Pre-dawn sky over Port Botany container terminal
oil on linen
200 x 150.4 cm

Gene A’Hern
Sky painting
oil and oil stick on board
240 x 240 cm

Watch this interview on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel here 

Richard doesn’t look away from life’s toughest stories. From the deeply personal — like the final days of his father’s life — to the harrowing and socially charged, including the tragic death of an Indigenous child in custody and the haunting Snowtown murders, he takes it all on. But never with shock tactics. His work is quietly powerful — full of feeling, sensitivity, and a surprising touch of humour. And the surfaces he paints on? Anything but traditional — think steel, aluminium, formica table tops, even billiard tables.

Richard is a multi-award-winning artist whose work has appeared in major public and private collections. He’s been a finalist multiple times in the Archibald and Sulman Prizes, and his recent acquisition by the National Gallery of Australia will soon be part of an upcoming exhibition and tour.

This was the perfect time to sit down for a deep conversation — just ahead of his new show ‘The stories that persist are not always true’ opening on 10 April at Hugo Michell Gallery.

Richard is also represented by Jan Murphy Gallery in Brisbane and Suite Gallery in New Zealand.

https://youtu.be/4bei8rp-Tto?si=VJHHvFMwMcg6_2oU

‘We have grave concerns for your father’s health’
oil on epoxy-coated steel
80.5 x 141 cm
Finalist Sulman prize 2019

I’m not the boy who cried wolf, 2025
80 x 120 cm
acrylic on laminate tabletop

Richard’s medical disasters
acrylic on linen
181.5 x 152.7cm
Finalist Sulman prize 2023

NGV Confessions (one wall of several)
Acrylic on pegboard

The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals that God had made. He said to the woman ‘Did God really say that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?’. She replied ‘We may eat fruit from all the trees in the garden except for the…, 2022, acrylic on canvas, 153 x 153 cm

‘The 2006 Granny’ 2024
acrylic on linen
200.0 x 200.0 cm

‘The 2006 Granny’ 2024
acrylic on linen
& 41.0 x 31.0 cm

https://youtu.be/Du-Lad05_vk?si=lW4hXdAYI9jmNEfo

Body of work ‘Steve’ acquired by the National Gallery of Australia

Catch up on the latest YouTube videos and Instagram reels, and don’t miss the chance to be part of my next Loading Dock interview at the Art Gallery of NSW!