Artist Peter Smeeth and his portrait of Lisa Wilkinsonhave won the Archibald’s Packing Room Prize award.
The picture shows Lisa looking stunning while reclining at home and is a partner piece to the artist’s 2010 painting of her husband, Peter FitzSimons.
Peter Smeeth told ABC that he has “no illusions of winning the big one,” or the Archibald Prize, the winner of which will be announced on July 28.
The Packing Room Prize is selected by the Art Gallery of NSW staff the ones who unpack and hang the entries and is a tremendous honour, with an award of $1,500.
“That kind of captures me at two o’clock in the afternoon as well,” Lisa can be overheard saying in various social media clips appearing online.
Today was the first time Lisa has seen the portrait, and she was reportedly blown away with the likeness.
“I cannot believe that my painting has been chosen. I’m so thrilled.
“This is Peter’s honour, not mine. I was just lucky that I was the one he chose to paint.”
NSW Gallery director Michael Brand read a statement from the artist who could not be there to accept his award today.
“The winning of this award is 99 per cent due to Lisa, and 1 per cent to the likeness,” it said.
“I know for sure that a portrait of me would never win, no matter how well it was painted, so I would like to acknowledge Lisa’s contribution and sincerely thank her for agreeing to sit and for being such a good sport and great subject.”
Lisa Wilkinson has been a TV regular since she took the reins of the TODAY show back in 2007.
2017 marked her 10 year anniversary with the show and earlier this year, her co-hosts helped her celebrate this important milestone by looking back on Lisa’s best moments, travelling back to Lisa high school in Campbelltown to film this very special moment.
And the emotional tribute was led by none other than her co-host Karl Stefanovic, who only had shining things to say about Lisa’s hard work and dedication to the show.
