ARTIST SAM LEACH WINS ARCHIBALD PRIZE AND WYNNE PRIZE
The Independent reports that Melbourne-based artist Sam Leach became the winner of the Archibald Prize, Australia’s oldest and most prestigious art award on Friday, March 26. His striking painting of singer/songwriter Tim Minchin drew the judges’ eyes away from the more than 840 other submissions. Leach was also named the winner of the Wynne Prize for 2010 for his painting Proposal for Landscaped Cosmos. The Wynne Prize is awarded to the best landscape painting or to the best example of figure sculpture by an Australian artist.
It is the second time in history that one artist has won both the Archibald and the Wynne prizes during the same year.
The Archibald Prize was set up by Australian journalist and publisher J. F. Archibald, whose primary aims were to foster portraiture, support artists, and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. Since its inception in 1921 the prize has been awarded to some of Australia’s most important artists, including George Lambert, William Dobell, and Brett Whiteley.
