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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Lifestyle
Kelly Burke

Archibald prize 2025: Jason Phu portrait by Abdul Abdullah wins packing room prize

Abdul Abdullah AGNSW
A painting of Jason Chu on a horse in front of a snowy moutain, with brightly coloured birds flying around him
Abdul Abdullah’s winning portrait of Jason Phu, titled No mountain high enough. Both artists are among the 57 finalists up for the 2025 Archibald prize, but Abdullah has won the packing room category, judged by the staff who hang the paintings at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photograph: Jenni Carter

A portrait of the artist Jason Phu by Abdul Abdullah has won the $3,000 packing room prize at the annual Archibald prize.

Phu, who is also a finalist this year with his portrait of the actor Hugo Weaving, is depicted sitting astride a horse in Abdullah’s winning painting, titled No mountain high enough. The two artists are “best friends”, Abdullah told Guardian Australia on Thursday, with Phu having been the best man at his wedding.

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