They’re off and running in the art show that stops the nation

They’re off and running in the 2025 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes.

The first of more than 2000 hopefuls, ranging from unknowns to household names, began to arrive on Monday morning at the loading dock of the Art Gallery of NSW, clutching entries for the art event that stops the nation.

Luan Nguyen was the first artist to arrive with his artwork titled “Still Loadin’“.Credit: Rhett Wyman

They arrived in cars and in taxis, on foot and even on bicycles to hand over their precious cargo to the gallery’s packing room team.

First out of the gate was first-time entrant Luan Nguyen, of Kogarah, who arrived right on 8am with his carefully packaged Sulman entry in hand.

Nguyen was surprised and a little delighted to learn he was the first through the door and, technically speaking, at least for a minute or so, a dead cert for this year’s $40,000 first prize.

“I didn’t know I was first. I just have to get to work, but must be good luck, right?” he said.

Nguyen’s entry is a large, colourful work called Still Loadin’.

“It’s kind of a bit of abstract,” he said. “It’s more digital because I’m a designer and I took inspiration from my design work.”

Rafaela Mori’s entry is inspired by her native Brazil.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Nguyen began making art during the pandemic.

“It was more like something for me to relax, and then eventually when I started to practise and explore more of my style I felt there’s something more I want to say. I try to reflect the world that we live in, instead of just painting for hobby.”

Hot on Nguyen’s heels was Bella Fenton, who had travelled from Bathurst with her Archibald entry carefully wrapped in a pillowcase. A second-time entrant, Fenton’s work is an expression of “how you sort of lose your mind on night shift”.

It’s a topic she knows plenty about, having spent the past 10 years working in a pet food factory after graduating with an arts degree from the University of Wollongong.

Fenton was sanguine about whether this could be her year to at least be hung in the prize.

“I’m hopeful. That would be great,” she said.

By about 8.15am, the trickle of artists arriving began to turn into a steady stream. Among them Rafaela Mori, with a large, colourful canvas depicting “imaginary fruit” that was inspired by her native Brazil, and Brandi Stevens, who had travelled down from Morisset that morning with her young son.

The subject of Stevens’ portrait is Simone Baird, family support co-ordinator for the charity DEBRA Australia.

A professional artist and photographer, Stevens said she has wanted to enter the Archibald Prize for well over a decade and had finally fulfilled her ambition.

When we suggested it might have been easier to send her painting by courier than making the long train trip from home she was adamant.

“No way!” she said. “I had to make sure it got here.”

Entries for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes will be accepted all week. The finalists are announced on May 1 and the winners on May 9.