Young Archie Mudgee

20 March – 3 May 2026

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Celebrating the Region’s Young Portrait Artists
The Young Archie Mudgee Exhibition showcases the talent, imagination and heartfelt stories of budding young artists from across the region. Presented in conjunction with the Archibald Prize 2025 Touring Exhibition, this vibrant display features the finalists of the Young Archie Mudgee Competition – an initiative inviting artists aged 3 to 18 to create a portrait of someone special in their lives.

Inspired by Australia’s most prestigious portrait award, the Young Archie Competition encourages entrants to celebrate someone meaningful to them through portraiture. From heartfelt depictions of family and friends to expressive portraits crafted from memory or sittings, the exhibition highlights the creativity and originality of our community’s youngest artists.

The Young Archie Mudgee Exhibition invites visitors of all ages to enjoy the creativity and honest expression of young local artists. Whether you are attending alongside the Archibald Prize 2025 Touring Exhibition or visiting specifically to support our region’s youth, this is a joyful and inspiring celebration of portraiture and community.

 

Exhibition Highlights

Finalist Works on Display
All entries received in the competition have been placed on display in a Young Archies Mudgee exhibition. Up to five finalists from each of the competition’s age categories were selected and judged by local artists Sam Paine and Kim Harding, based on merit and originality. One winner from each age category has been awarded a prize provided by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, recognising exceptional skill, creativity and storytelling. These finalist portraits have been framed for the exhibition, with winners to be announced at the opening of the Archibald Prize 2025 Touring exhibition on Friday 20 March from 5pm. 

Finalists

2 – 4 Years / Preschool Finalists

CATEGORY WINNER
Alice Boonruangtarvorn 
5 years
My Mama
I chose Mum because no one else is around.

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Archer Leven 2 Years
love Daddy
That’s Dad. It’s about Dads’ photo. His hair’s big.

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Holly Bryant 5 years
Aunty Katie
I have painted my Aunty Katie because I love her.

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Brice Pointon 4 years
Nani
I painted Nani because I love her and she loves me.

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5 – 8 Years Finalists

CATEGORY WINNER
Naru Robbie 6 years
My Nanny Bear 
I painted Nanny Bear because she makes me hot chocolates and has a cute dog named Daisy

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Alice Wurth 7 years
Bel
I painted Bel because she is my friend and we have fun in class.

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Angus Marshall 7 years
The Only One
I drew Mum because I love her and she means the whole world to me

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Daisy Grover 5 Years
Heidi
Mum – she is a special person and I love her

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Donnie Lewbridge 6 years
My Grandad
I painted my Grandad because he colours in with me.

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9 – 12 Years Finalists

CATEGORY WINNER
Chelsea Mobbs 10 years
Cuddly Cooper
My name is Chelsea and I am 10 years old. I live in Hill End with my Nan, my Aunty Hayley, Uncle Pete, my cousin Cooper and my two sisters. I chose to paint my little cousin Cooper because I think he is handsome. Cooper is 4 years old and he has autism. I like to play with him as it makes him laugh and that makes me happy. I take Cooper for walks around the village, and he loves to collect pinecones and rocks.

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Freyja Neilson 11 years
Aidan the Canadian
My Canadian cousin Aiden – He is fun and always happy. Although he lives far away, I always feel connected to him

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Beatrix Gregory 10 years
Attitude
I have chosen my sister Floss because she’s got a lot of attitude and is just a really important person in my life.

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Sofia Hanson 10 years
My friend
I painted my friend Maris because I’ve been her friend since I was 2 weeks old. I used Autumn colours because she seems like an Autumn girl to me. We have wild fun together.

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Phoebe Unicomb 12 Years

Mum
I did a portrait of my Mum because she is always there for me and always trying to help with all she can do. She is the best Mum she can be to me. I love her.

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13 – 15 Years Finalists

CATEGORY WINNER
Kylie Tidcombe 13 Years
Mr Bennie
I chose Mr Bennie because he is old and grumpy and he is one of my favourite teachers

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Simrat Kaur 14 Years
Putt Punjab Da
In my portrait, I chose to draw my brother-in-law, Randhir because he has always been there and always treated me like I had always been his younger sister. Whenever I was in a bad mood he would always comfort me, not like how others would.

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Des Smith 14 Years
In deep thought
I scrolled through the camera roll in my phone. The photo of my friend was the best composition so I used it as a reference.

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Ryan Platt 13 Years
Bennie from Ryan
Mr Bennie is my teacher sometimes. He is alright most of the time.

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Jessica Hargraves 15 years
Forever in My Heart
My artwork, Forever in My Heart, was created to honour and remember my late Grandad. Using charcoal and pencil, I used soft shading and strong contrasts to reflect both the sadness of losing him and the strength of his memory. The charcoal helped me express deep emotion through dark tones and texture while the pencil allowed me to include gentle details. Creating this piece helped me reflect on the love and guidance he gave me. Even though he is gone, his memory and the impact he had on my life will always stay forever in my heart.

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16 – 18 Years Finalists

CATEGORY WINNER
Emma Godfrey 16 years
Jodi
I chose Jodi because she is my favourite

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Key Dates

Winners Announced & Exhibition Opening: 
Friday 20 March 2026, 6:00pm – 8:00pm at Mudgee Arts Precinct 
(celebrating both the Young Archie Mudgee finalists and the arrival of the Archibald Prize 2025 Touring Exhibition)

The Young Archies Mudgee exhibition will be exhibited upstairs at Mudgee Arts Precinct in the Community Gallery until 5:00pm Sunday 3 May.

 

YOUNG ARCHIE MUDGEE
20 March – 3 May 2026
Upstairs at Mudgee Arts Precinct, running parallel with the Archibald Prize 2025 Touring Exhibition.

 

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