The Bald Archy Prize 2024

The Bald Archy Prize 2024

2 February – 17 March 2024

Australia’s premier satirical art prize, the Bald Archy Prize, celebrates the lighter side of art and the larrikin Australian spirit, hosting 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.

2024 Bald Archy Portrait Prize Winner

The 2024 Bald Archy Prize was awarded to artist Judy Nadin, for her work Flippin’ Kerfection, a satirical caricature depicting Australian professional soccer player Sam Kerr OAM’s iconic celebratory backflip in exaggerated action.

“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,” said winner Judy Nadin.

Ms Nadin won the $10,000 prize for her painting after it was announced at the Canberra Potters and Watson Arts Centre on Friday 15 March 2024.

The 2024 Bald Archy winner Judy Nadin, ‘Flippin’ Kerfection’, 2024. Image: Museum of the Riverina.
The Bald Archy Prize 2024 winner Judy Nadin and Manager Museum of the Riverina Luke Grealy with the winning artwork ‘Flippin’ Kerflection’. Image: Museum of the Riverina.

Canberra Potters and Watson Arts Centre acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land where we meet and work, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people and other First Nations people who are connected with this land. We celebrate and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of the ACT and region. This is Aboriginal land. Always was always will be.