The Bald Archy Prize

Australia’s premier satirical art prize, the Bald Archy Prize, is back for 2024. Celebrating the lighter side of art and the larrikin Australian spirit, we are looking forward to a host of portraits that will make you think, make you talk and most of all make you laugh.

Created in 1994 as a spoof of that more serious competition, the Bald Archy Prize provides artists of all styles and standards with a genuine opportunity to create portrait paintings of humour, dark satire, light comedy or caricature. Known internationally as the only art competition in the world to be judged by a sulphur-crested cockatoo named Maude, the satirical side of this event encapsulates the irreverent, larrikin Australian spirit in a way that appeals to people from all walks of life.

After the passing of Peter Batey in 2019, the administration of the Bald Archy Prize was handed over to the Museum of the Riverina, Wagga Wagga. Returning for its 28th year in 2024, the Bald Archy Prize is again calling for artworks to carry on the fine tradition of having a laugh while enjoying art.

Announcement of Winner

The winner of the $10,000 prize for the 2024 Bald Archy Prize has been announced at the Canberra Potters Watson Art Centre in Canberra.

The Prize has been awarded to artist Judy Nadin, for her work Flippin’ Kerfection (below), a satirical caricature depicting Australian professional soccer player Sam Kerr OAM’s iconic celebratory backflip in exaggerated action.

“I’m over the moon to have won the 2024 Bald Archy Prize and thrilled the Museum of the Riverina has kept Peter Batey’s legacy alive,” said winner Judy Nadin. “I painted the Aussie legend, that is the Matildas’ captain Sam Kerr, because like most of Australia I rode the Matildas wave during the 2023 World Cup. The joy and unity that our country felt, I wanted to capture that important moment in time for my entry. I painted Sam doing her trademark back flip, because the entire country was doing backflips after that quarter final match. Lastly, I’d like to thank Maude the Cockatoo (Bald Archy Prize judge), she’s obviously a Sam Kerr fan.”

History

Judged by Professor Maude Cockatoo, the world’s premier avian art critic, the Bald Archy prize gives a genuine opportunity to artists of all styles and standards to create portrait paintings of humour, dark satire, light comedy or caricature. In its’ first year the prize struck a chord with the public and a nerve with the arts establishment.

“It was meant to amuse – apparently a problem with people who believe audible laughter shouldn’t be permitted in an art gallery, let alone unsolicited conversation with a complete stranger”
- Peter Batey OAM, 2015

While the Coolac Festival of Fun was retired after 12 years, due to public demand the Bald Archy Prize lives on. It is now internationally known and has been exhibited across Australia. Winning subjects have included Kerry Packer, Shane Warne, John Howard, Pauline Hanson and myriad other Australian icons.

The Judging

The Bald Archy Prize is currently the only art competition in the world judged by a sulphur crested cockatoo.

With an online PhD from the Marilyn Munro University of Little Rock, Professor Maude Cockatoo is the most qualified art critic, avian or otherwise, in Australia (according to Maude). As Coolac’s Visual Arts Laureate, Maude has been the sole judge of the Bald Archy Prize from its inception at the 1994 Coolac Festival of Fun.

Maude’s number one rule for a prize-winner is that it must be funny. Her idea of humour, according to a 2015 interview includes, “wit, slapstick, satire, vulgarity, farce, black comedy, irreverence and everything else that falls between high and low comedy”. On the other hand, Maude loathes ‘hate portraiture’, or ‘soap box art’ as she calls it.

“It takes 11 galahs to judge the Archibald but only one cockatoo to judge the Bald Archy,”
- Peter Batey OAM, 2016