Sydney-based artist Loribelle Spirovski has been awarded the Archibald Prize People’s Choice Award for her powerful portrait of musician and composer William Barton — a work that is as intimate as it is monumental.
Titled simply "Finger painting of William Barton", the portrait captures the acclaimed Kalkadunga man and yidaki virtuoso in a moment of still contemplation. Created with her fingers due to a long-term injury that has impacted her ability to hold a brush, the painting is both a technical and emotional triumph.
“I had been struggling physically and questioning my role as an artist,” says Spirovski. “When I began to paint William to the sound of his composition Birdsong at dusk, I instinctively put down the brush and used my fingers. The music led me through it — it was the first time in years painting didn’t hurt.”
The deeply personal creative process, combined with the subject’s cultural and musical resonance, clearly moved the public. Thousands cast their vote in favour of Spirovski’s portrait — a testament not only to her artistry, but to Barton’s enduring impact as a composer and cultural leader.
The Archibald People’s Choice Award remains one of the most closely watched categories in the prestigious portraiture prize, offering a rare window into the emotional connection between artist, sitter, and audience.
This is Spirovski’s third time as a finalist in the Archibald Prize, and her first time taking home an award.
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"William Barton is a virtuoso of the yidaki, also known as the didgeridoo. A proud Kalkadung man, he is a composer and producer who has expanded the horizons for his instrument through an engagement with classical music.
Loribelle Spirovski met him last year after one of his concerts. ‘I had heard him speak at a panel the day before, and was captivated by his humble wisdom. On stage, his presence was both serene and electric. He agreed to a portrait sitting, inviting me to his home,’ she says.
‘He told me about writing music during long walks. That’s what his music is like – a long walk, with the senses free to roam. When it came time to work on his portrait, I played his composition “Birdsong at dusk”.
‘For years, I’ve been recovering from an injury that has made painting difficult and painful. Many times, I’ve questioned my role as an artist,’ says Spirovski.
‘As the music began, my hand set the brush aside and I dipped my finger into the soft, pliant paint. I turned the volume up, the music guiding me. Without a brush, painting was almost painless. As the portrait painted itself, I felt alive in a way I hadn’t for a very long time." - Archibald Prize Statement (Loribelle Spirovski)
