Archibald prize 2026: portrait of Jewish leader after Bondi terror attack wins people’s choice award
Summary
Artist Michael Zavros won the 2026 Archibald people’s choice award for his portrait of Alex Ryvchin, a Jewish community leader, painted shortly after the Bondi terror attack. The portrait features Jewish cultural symbols and reflects on faith, history, and the impact of recent events on the community.Key Facts
- Michael Zavros won the $5,000 people’s choice prize for his portrait of Alex Ryvchin.
- Alex Ryvchin is co-head of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
- The portrait was created weeks after the Bondi terror attack.
- The painting includes tefillin, a Jewish religious item with verses from the Torah.
- Zavros and Ryvchin met at a Sydney beach before the portrait was made.
- Zavros discovered Ashkenazi Jewish heritage in his background after a DNA test.
- The main Archibald prize ($100,000) was won by Richard Lewer for a different portrait.
- A record number of 45,769 votes were cast for the people’s choice award this year.
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