We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of New South Wales stands.

Julia Gutman Head in the sky, feet on the ground

Archibald Prize 2023 finalist Julia Gutman 'Head in the sky, feet on the ground'

How many different fabrics and parts of clothing can you identify in this painting?

Julia Gutman has combined paint, embroidery and found textiles to create a portrait of her friend, the singer Montaigne. How long do you think the details of Montaigne’s face took to create? Notice the stitching, textures and shapes of the background. Do the paint marks follow the same pattern as the stitches?

How do you think Montaigne might be feeling in this portrait?