Heyman

Finalist entry in Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Australia.

Michelle Heyman is an openly gay athlete who proudly represented Australia at the Rio Olympics in 2016. I approached Michelle about a portrait after we’d both appeared on the LOTL Powerlist and Cosmo Rainbow List, each of which celebrated the most influential and inspiring LGBTQI+ and allied Australians. As a striker for the Matildas and Canberra United, Michelle is one of Australia’s most impressive sportswomen. She is passionate about being a role model for kids and openly speaks out against bullying, encouraging young people to be their authentic selves.

Archibald Prize 2017 exhibition: 29 July – 22 October 2017

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Born in America, Sydney-based Kim Leutwyler migrated to Australia in 2012. She works in a variety of media including painting, installation, ceramics, printmedia and drawing. Leutwyler holds concurrent bachelor degrees in Studio and Art History from Arizona State University, and additionally graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Painting and Drawing degree.Leutwyler's current body of work features paintings exploring notions of beauty, gender and queer identity. She has come to focus on painting as a medium because of its primarily masculine history in the western art canon. Her artwork has been exhibited in multiple galleries and museums throughout Australia and the United States.Some of Leutwyler's recent accolades include being selected as a finalist in the Archibald, Sulman and Black Swan Art Prizes, the Churchie national emerging art prize as well as the Portia Geach Memorial Award.