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George Calombaris is Betina Fauvel-Ogden’s secret ingredient in her recipe for success for this year’s Art Gallery of New South Wales Packing Room Prize.
Adelaide-born Melbourne artist Betina Fauvel-Ogden has won the Art Gallery of New South Wales’s 2016 Packing Room Prize with her portrait of renowned chef, restauranteur and MasterChef Australia judge, George Calombaris. The winning portrait is artist Betina Fauvel-Ogden’s first time entering the Archibald Prize.
Fauvel-Ogden paints urban landscapes and occasionally portraits. Last year the artist set her sights on a portrait of Calombaris – despite at that stage never having met him.
“I was always interested in George Calombaris as a subject as I felt there was an intensity to his character,” said Fauvel-Ogden.
“After eight months pursuing him, George gave up his valuable time to allow me three sittings. I wanted to paint him in his chef¹s white jacket and black apron. In choosing the pose, George felt most comfortable with his hands on his hips. I kept the lighting simple and focused on capturing the determination in his eyes.
“I had always envisaged a vibrant yellow background for the portrait. When George gave me his cookbook Greek with its bold yellow cover, as a gift at the first sitting, that clinched it,” added Fauvel-Ogden.
The $1,500 Packing Room Prize is awarded to the best entry in the Archibald Prize as judged by the gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries.
The head of the Art Gallery of New South Wales packing room, Steve Peters, with 51% of the vote, gets the final say. A veteran judge, Peters has been part of thirty-four Archibald Prizes and awarded the Packing Room Prize the past twenty-five years.
Peters said Betina Fauvel-Ogden’s striking work made a strong impression on him on arrival at the Gallery.
“It is a very strong portrait. George Calombaris is looking directly at you. He means business,” Peters said.
“I’m hoping George will cook me a burger next time I am in Melbourne,” Peters added.
Finalists for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes were also announced, as were the finalists for the Young Archie competition.
With over 830 entries, 51 finalists were selected in the Archibald Prize. The full finalist list can be viewed here.
The Wynne Prize received 710 entries, reduced to 34 finalists. The full finalist list can be viewed here.
The Sulman Prize selected 25 finalists from the 533 entries.
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2016
Betina Fauvel-Ogden, George Calombaris, masterchef, oil on linen, 124.5 x 110cm
