On May 1, 2025, Abdul Abdullah was awarded the coveted Packing Room Prize at the Archibald Prize for his striking portrait of fellow artist Jason Phu, titled No Mountain High Enough. The announcement was made at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), where Abdullah's work was selected from a competitive pool of 57 finalists out of 904 entries.
Abdullah, a Perth-born artist who divides his time between Melbourne and Bangkok, has previously been a finalist in the Archibald Prize seven times. His journey in the art world began early, as he became the youngest finalist in the history of the Archibald in 2011 with a portrait of Waleed Aly. This year, he once again showcased his talent through a piece that not only highlights Phu's artistic spirit but also reflects their deep friendship.
In a video played during the award announcement, Abdullah expressed his excitement, stating, "I’m stoked to have my work recognised by my peers in the AGNSW packing room." He reminisced about how he and Phu met a decade ago at The Friend in Hand pub after an art exhibition. "It’s kind of a funny meet-cute — I met him at the pub after an art exhibition. I didn’t know he was an artist. He was just a guy in a dishevelled suit, with his hair up in a bun and a manila folder with all this stuff falling out," Abdullah recounted.
Phu, who also made the list of finalists this year for his portrait of actor Hugo Weaving, is depicted in Abdullah's portrait astride a horse against a rugged mountain landscape, surrounded by colorful cartoon-like birds. "I imagined this wanderer on a horse who’s crossed a big desert landscape; he’s almost rust-colored, the same color as the horse because of the terrain that he’s crossed — and he’s not necessarily happy to be there," Abdullah explained.
The Packing Room Prize, valued at $3,000, is awarded based on the votes of the gallery’s packing and installation team, a unique aspect that differentiates it from other art awards. This year marks the 34th iteration of the prize, which has humorously been dubbed the "kiss of death" award, as no winner has ever gone on to win the main Archibald Prize.
Alexis Wildman, a senior installation officer at AGNSW, noted that the judges were instantly drawn to Abdullah's portrait for its technical quality and emotional depth. "On a technical level, this portrait is very well painted. It really captures the essence of the subject with the image of a lone ranger, an intrepid jokester or a quiet hero navigating the rocky terrain of today’s social climate," she stated.
This year's Archibald Prize has seen a significant shift in demographics, with male artists outnumbering female artists for the first time since 2022, featuring 30 men and 28 women among the finalists. Additionally, the number of First Nations artists has reached a record high of six, contributing to a total of 37 First Nations artists in the prize's 104-year history.
Among the 57 finalists, there are a dozen self-portraits and 22 portraits of other artists, reflecting a trend towards self-reflexivity in this year's entries. Notable sitters include actors Nicole Kidman and Miranda Otto, activist Grace Tame, and musician Costa Georgiadis.
The Archibald Prize, recognized as Australia’s most prestigious art award, offers a substantial $100,000 to the best portrait painted from life of a person distinguished in art, letters, science, or politics. The Wynne Prize, which honors the best landscape painting or figurative sculpture, is valued at $50,000, while the Sulman Prize, awarded for the best subject, genre, or mural painting, offers $40,000.
Winners for all three prizes will be announced on Friday, May 9, 2025, just before the exhibitions open to the public. The Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman Prizes 2025 exhibition will run from May 10 to August 17, 2025, at the AGNSW, with the Archibald finalists touring regional New South Wales and Victoria through mid-2026.
As the art community celebrates the achievements of its members, Abdullah's win serves as a reminder of the importance of friendship and collaboration in the creative process. "He’s one of the most kind-hearted, generous people that I know. He’s almost like … a reluctant hero, so that’s how I wanted to portray him," Abdullah said of Phu, highlighting the personal connection that informs his artistic vision.
In a year marked by a diverse array of artistic voices, the Archibald Prize continues to foster a vibrant dialogue within the Australian art scene, challenging both artists and audiences to reflect on the complexities of identity, culture, and community.
