Talking with Painters

Watch a 2 minute highlights video of this episode on the YouTube channel here

In this special episode of Talking with Painters, I’m bringing you my conversation with Richard Lewer recorded shortly after he was announced as the winner of the 2026 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Richard won Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize for his powerful portrait of artist and Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken, a striking full-length painting set against a powerful ochre background inspired by time spent with Iluwanti on country.

I also share some of my favourite parts from my longer 2025 conversation with Richard, where he talks about growing up in New Zealand, using art as a form of escape as a child, painting deeply personal works about family and grief, and creating his exhibition Steve, currently showing at the National Gallery of Australia. Along the way we also discuss this year’s Wynne and Sulman Prize winners, including works by Gaypalani Wanambi and Lucy Culliton.

Links

Video highlights on YouTube

Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes Exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW

‘Steve’ showing at the National Gallery of Australia

Full 2025 interview with Richard Lewer

Worse luck I’m still here, 2014, video and animation

Talking with Painters on Instagram

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Talking with Painters on Facebook

 

‘Iluwanti Ken’
Synthetic plolymer paint on canvas
198cm x 198cm
Winner 2026 Archibald Prize
Image: Art Gallery of NSW

‘The Waṉambi tree’ by Gaypalani Waṉambi
spray paint on etched steel
240cm x 240cm
Winner Wynne Prize 2026
Image: Art Gallery of NSW

‘Toolah, artist model’
by Lucy Culliton
oil on canvas
137.6 x 137.1cm
Winner Sulman Prize 2026
Photo: Art Gallery of NSW

‘We have grave concerns for your father’s health’, Richard Lewer
oil on epoxy-coated steel
80.5 x 141 cm
Finalist Sulman prize 2019

 

 

Watch a short highlights video of this episode on the TWP YouTube channel 

In this special International Women’s Day episode I speak with acclaimed artist, and previous podcast guest, Ann Thomson about building a career in the male-dominated art world of the mid-20th century.

Born in 1933, Ann’s art education took place during the 1950s and early 60s, a time when male artists like Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, John Brack and Charles Blackman dominated the Australian art scene.

Today Ann Thomson is one of Australia’s most respected and internationally acclaimed artists. A painter and sculptor, she has held more than 60 solo exhibitions, won numerous awards, and her work is represented in major public collections. As this episode is released, an exhibition of her work is also showing at Messums Gallery in London.

Links

Ann Thomson on Instagram

Ann Thomson at Messums

Talking with Painters YouTube channel

Talking with Painters on Instagram

Talking with Painters on Facebook

Maria Stoljar on LinkedIn

Sign up for the Talking with Painters newsletter

Podcast interview with Thomson on her life and art

Podcast interview with Thomson on Ian Fairweather

Podcast interview with Thomson in her 90th year

Video highlights of this episode

https://youtu.be/94aHBnKwR2w?si=SCWA0GDPvevSDMyM

Watch highlights from this conversation on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel

I loved this conversation with Mary Tonkin at the S.H. Ervin Gallery in Sydney, before the start of her survey exhibition Among the Trees (opening 3 January 2026). The show brings together paintings, drawings and ceramics dating from 2008, works that reflect Mary’s deep relationship with her family farm in Victoria’s Dandenong ranges and with painting from life.  Her painting ‘Ramble Kalorama’, measuring almost 19 metres long, is a magnificent meditation on what it is to be in the Australian landscape and was a huge hit at the 2022 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair.

Mary Tonkin has won many awards and her works are held in major public institutions and private collections. She is represented by Australian Galleries.

NB: When Mary speaks about her teacher Geoff in this conversation she is referring to Geoff Dupree.

Links

Mary Tonkin on Instagram

Mary Tonkin at Australian Galleries

‘Among the Trees’, S.H.Ervin Gallery, 3 January to 1 March 2026

Highlights YouTube video

My instagram reel of ‘Ramble, Kalorama’ at Sydney Contemporary (2022)

https://youtu.be/84JSU210-38?si=78SsLYUPGalbja-g

‘Ramble, Kalorama’ (2017–2019) at Sydney Contemporary, 2022
18.9m x 1.8m (21 panels)
Oil on linen

 

‘Coprosma Madonna, Kalorama’ 2021-22
oil on linen 320 x 610cm
Photographer Matthew Stanton

‘Madre, Kalorama’ 2008
oil on linen 244cm x 508 cm
Photographer John Brash

‘A scream, Kalorama’ 2023
oil on linen 214 x 366cm
Photograph Matthew Stanton

‘Regent, Kalorama’ 2012 charcoal on paper 241 x 271cm Photographer John Brash

‘Saint Anthony Beaten By Devils’ 24.5cm x 39.5cm
Sassetta, c1423, 1424
Pinacoteca Nazionale

 

A highlights video from this episode will also be coming soon to the Talking with Painters YouTube channel

In this episode, I visit the studio of acclaimed abstract painter Aida Tomescu just days before the opening of her exhibition Messiaen at Fox Jensen Gallery in Sydney. The exhibition continues until 20 December 2025.

Aida Tomescu on Instagram

Aida Tomescu website

Aida Tomescu at Fox Jensen Gallery 

Talking with Painters website

Talking with Painters on Instagram

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Previous TWP YouTube videos of Aida Tomescu:

Aida Tomescu – extended interview

Aida Tomescu talks with Maria Stoljar (uncut)

Aida Tomescu in her studio (2017)

Aida Tomescu talks with Maria Stoljar about ‘Tuckson: the abstract sublime’

Aida Tomescu’s 2019 show ‘The Open Wounds of White Clouds’

Previous podcast conversations with Aida Tomescu:

Episode 33 – Aida Tomescu

Episode 63 – Aida Tomescu on Tony Tuckson

Episode 116 – Aida Tomescu (uncut)

Messiaen II 2024
200x460cm
oil on Belgian linen
Photo: Jenni Carter

Messiaen III 2025
200 x 306cm
Oil on Belgian linen
Photo: Jenni Carter

Messiaen 2013
oil and pigments on canvas
184 x 153 cm
This is the work Tomescu refers to at the beginning of the episode

 

Watch an edited video version of this episode on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel here

Podcast listeners see the works we talk about here or go to talkingwithpainters.com (ep 169)

When I travelled to Hobart for the announcement of the Hadley’s Art Prize, I not only interviewed the winner, Sophie Cape (you can hear her in the previous episode), but also had the privilege of speaking with twelve of the other outstanding finalists (see images of works below)

At $100,000 the Hadley’s is Australia’s richest landscape art prize, and the calibre of work this year was outstanding. With 29 finalists in total, I would have loved to talk with every single one, but time was short in the lead-up to the celebrations! Even so, these conversations give you a  cross-section of artists and approaches to depicting the Australian landscape — from bold abstraction to meticulous realism.

In this episode, you’ll hear from the following artists: Michaye Boulter, Belinda Street, Neil Haddon, Valerie Sparks (Honourable Mention), Peter Griffen, Harrison Bowe (People’s Choice winner), Melanie McCollin Walker, Denise Lamby (Residency Prize winner), Julz Beresford, Raymond Arnold, Richard Klecociuk and Melissa Kenihan.

Links

YouTube video highlights of this episode

YouTube video of interview with winner Sophie Cape

Podcast interview with winner Sophie Cape 

Talking with Painters Newsletter

Talking with Painters on Instagram

Talking with Painters on Facebook

Maria Stoljar on LinkedIn

Hadley’s Art Prize website
Michaye Boulter
Atmospheres,
oil on linen 102 x 153

Neil Haddon
‘A view of water’
Acrylic oil and lacquer on aluminium
140 x 130

Valerie Sparks (Honourable Mention)
‘The Long View’
Pigment inkjet print on paper

Peter Griffen
‘Small Rocks and Wild Grass’
Mixed media on canvas 91 x 122cm

Belinda Street
‘Newcastle Harbour’
Oil on canvas 90 x 90cm

Harrison Bowe (Winner People’s Choice Award)
‘Of Peaks and Tides’
Oil and enamel and beeswax on linen

Melanie McCollin Walker
‘Quiet Refuge’
Acrylic on linen 156 x 156cm

Denise Lamby (Winner Residency Prize)
Memory of the Land
Recycle tea bags canvas 90 x 90cm

Julz Beresford
‘A Stillness at the Water’s Edge’
Oil on canvas 93 x 93

Raymond Arnold
‘The ‘blue,yellow’ Red Gum’
Digital print

Richard Klecociuk
‘Ancient light’
Coloured pencil and ink
108 x 83cm

Melissa Kenihan
‘Living Memory’
Oil on linen 55 x 155 cm