Archibald Prize winner’s Tama pad for sale on Mardi Gras eve

Mardi Gras was a special time for the late Archibald Prize-winning portrait artist, Craig Ruddy, whose stylish ‘Glamorama’ apartment has just hit the market.

Late Archibald winner Craig Ruddy with partner, Roberto Meza Mont. Picture: Instagram

Mardi Gras was a special time for the late Archibald Prize-winning portrait artist, Craig Ruddy, who first met the love of his life, Roberto Mezo Mont, more than two decades ago.

“Craig and I locked eyes on a Sydney street a couple of days after the 2001 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras,” Roberto wrote in a piece published on The Guardian last June.

“He gave me a kiss so tender it felt like a stamp of love.”

Just days later, Roberto moved into Craig’s shared rental flat in Tamarama, and three years later, the artist won the Archibald Prize for his portrait Two Worlds of David Gulpilil.

“That changed our lives — we were able to buy the apartment next door,” Roberto said.

The one-bedroom apartment cost the rising artist $400k in what was then known as Glenview Court at 32/20 Illawong Ave.

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The “generous” terrace at 32/20 Illawong Ave, Tamarama has stunning ocean views.

Craig Ruddy's 2004 Archibald Prize and People Choice-winning artwork, Two Worlds, a portrait of Yolngu traditional dancer and actor David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM..

That apartment, in the recently refurbished block now known as Skye Tamarama, hit realestate.com.au on the eve of this year’s Mardi Gras with a $2.2m guide via Caroline Fagerlund of CBRE, a close friend of the couple.

It comes with a “generous” terrace with incredible views of the ocean, timber floors, a kitchen with sleek concrete finishes, premium appliances, custom joinery and a bathroom with a rainwater shower.

“High end finishes evoke the tranquility of a five-star spa,” the ad blurb says.

The kitchen with sleek concrete finishes, premium appliances and custom joinery.

The one-bedroom apartment has 69sqm of living space.

Craig sadly passed away from Covid in January, 2022 — in the Byron Bay hinterland where the couple had moved — and records show the apartment was later transferred to Roberto.

Local agents suggest it would be a good deal if the buyer can pick up the apartment for close to the $2.2m guide.

It’s considered a larger one-bedder than usual at 69sqm, and the two penthouses in the block have sold for big prices — $13m and $14m — both to the billionaire fund manager Will Vicars.

He’s renting one of the penthouses out at $6,500 per week.

The sales for the 270sqm penthouses equate to about $50k per sq metre.

Roberto is still based at the Byron Hinterland home that Craig loved so much.

“I see him in technicolor sunsets, in the rustling leaves and in the kookaburras whose easy laughter echoes around the bush,” Roberto wrote.

“I believe that Craig’s spirit remains in the natural world that surrounds me.”

Originally published as Archibald Prize winner’s Tama pad for sale on Mardi Gras eve