Orange Regional Gallery will be the first stop as Australia’s most celebrated portraiture prize, the Archibald Prize 2024, embarks on its regional tour.

From September 21 to November 17, this year’s winning portrait of Tim Winton by Laura Jones, and the Packing Room Prize winner – a portrait of musician Baker Boy, titled Rhythms of heritage by Matt Adnate will be shown alongside the 55 other finalists at the Orange Regional Gallery.

The finalists were selected from an astonishing 2371 entries, and visitors to the exhibition will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice Award.

An Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition, the Archibald Prize 2024, will also be shown in the Southern Highlands, Casula, Alice Springs and Lismore.

Orange Mayor Jason Hamling said this was a great opportunity for regional audiences to see works by some of the country’s most talented and best-known artists right here in Orange.

“Every year the Archibald Prize features portraits of some of the country’s most notable Australians including entertainers, politicians, artists, activists and sportspeople, and this year’s offering is no different, featuring a who’s-who of Australian culture,” Mayor Hamling said.

“Everyone should come and see the exhibition while it’s here in our own backyard.”

First awarded in 1921, the Archibald Prize was established following a bequest from former Art Gallery trustee and founder of The Bulletin magazine JF Archibald (1856–1919), whose aim was to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians.

In conjunction with the Archibald Prize 2024, Orange Regional Gallery will also display portraits by budding young local artists in the Young Archie Central West 2024 exhibition.

The exhibitions will be officially opened at Orange Regional Gallery at 6pm on Friday, September 20 by Sally Webster, Director of Program Delivery at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.