Archibald Prize

The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize, and is the most prominent of all arts prizes, in Australia. It began in 1921 after a bequest from J F Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin, and is awarded annually by the Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales for "the best portrait, preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics, painted by an artist resident in Australasia during the 12 months preceding the date fixed by the Trustees for sending in the pictures." In 2005, the prize awarded was $35,000.

Winners of the Peoples Choice Award

• 1988 - Fred Cress - painter John Beard
• 1989 - Vladas Meskenas - painter Donald Friend
• 1990 - Reg Campbell - Self portrait
• 1991/92 - Robert Hannaford - Portrait of Hugh Stretton
• 1992/93 - Jennifer Little - artist Victor Sellu
• 1993/94 - Bill Leak - portrait of Malcolm Turnbull
• 1995 - Josonia Palaitis - painter Bill Leak
• 1996 - Robert Hannaford - self portrait
• 1997 - Mathew Lynn - television producer Jeanne Ryckmans
• 1998 - Robert Hannaford - academic Rolf Prince
• 1999 - Evert Ploeg - actor Deborah Mailman
• 2000 - Esther Erlich - Never been better (portrait of painter Bill Leak)
• 2001 - Paul Newton with his portrait of John Doyle and Greig Pickhaver, more popularly known as their characters, Roy Slaven and HG Nelson
• 2002 - Jan Williamson, portrait of singer/songwriter Jenny Morris
• 2003 - Dalu Zhao - diplomat Lao Fei Stephen Fitzgerald
• 2004 - Craig Ruddy - David Gulpilil, two worlds
• 2005 - Nicholas Harding's work "Bob's Daily Swim"