Who will win the Archibald Prize?

I can't say it's something I know an awful lot about, I'm more of an "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like" sort of person. But it's an interesting market to gaze over nevertheless - the Archibald Prize.

REDDY FAVOURITE FOR SECOND ARCHIE

A portrait of Northern Territory filmmaker Warwick Thornton by former winner Craig Reddy has been installed as the favourite for the 2010 Archibald Prize at Sportingbet Australia.

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said this year’s field looked to be very open with many first time finalists but the portrait of Thornton seemed to attract the eye of many experts who had seen the exhibition.

“We have made Craig Ruddy favourite at $8.00 as the portrait has a lot of presence and he is a past winner with his portrait of David Gulpilil in 2004,” Sullivan said.

“The fact this portrait is quite similar to his 2004 winner could count against him though.”

Sportingbet have the Ian Smith portrait of 1984 Archie winner Keith Looby as second pick at $11 with 2005 and 2006 finalist Jasper Knight third favourite at $12.

“The portraits by Ian Smith and Jasper Knight are the type of paintings that have been successful in the Archibald’s in recent year and look certain contenders,” Sullivan said.

“The Packer’s prize winner, Nafisa’s portrait of Glen A Baker is also well in the market at $16 but it would have to break the trend of the Packer’s prize never having won the Archie.”

2010 Archibald Prize
Sportingbet Australia Market
Craig Ruddy - The Prince of Darkness - Warwick Thornton 8.00
Ian Smith - Keith Looby Alfresco 11.00
Jasper Knight - Bill Wright AM 12.00
Apple Yin - The Previous Life 14.00
Adam Chang - Two Eyes - Closing To Open (Simeon Kronenberg) 16.00
McLean Edwards - Tim Storrier 16.00
Khue Nguyen - Unleashed 16.00
Rodney Pople - Stelarc Triptych 16.00
Nafisa - Glenn in Black & White 16.00
Chi Kordelya - Mr Walker 18.00
Sam Leach - Tim Minchin 18.00
Nick Stathopoulos - The Bequest 18.00
Kevin Connor - Self Portrait 21.00
Peter Clifton Kendall - Underdog 21.00
Pobert Malherbe - The squire - portrait of Luke Sciberras 21.00
Victor Rubin - John Olsen - A Diptych - Part I Seated: Part II in his Bath 21.00


Greg Somers - Self Portrait with the Picture of Dory in Frey 21.00

Nigel Milsom - Adam Cullen (Bird as Prophet) 21.00

Adam Cullen - Gareth at the Country Fair 23.00

Paul Newton - Self portrait #2 – Dark Night of the Soul 23.00

Marc de Jong - Janice Petersen 26.00

Robert Hannaford - Malcolm Fraser 26.00

Paul Ryan - Danie Mellor, True Blue Country 26.00

Peter Smeeth - Peter FitzSimons, author 26.00

James Money - The Lord Mayor of Melbourne 26.00

Kate Beynon - Self Portrait with Guardian Spirits 31.00

Cherry Hood - Michael Zavros 31.00

Alexander McKenzie - Andrew Upton 31.00

Martin Ball - Jacqueline Fahey 34.00

Dean, Shane & Reilly Bowden - I Wake up with Today! 34.00

Christine OHagan - Kate Ceberano 34.00

I Wang - Bishop Elliott and Lady Jacqueline 34.00

Giles Alexander - The alternative ambassadors 41.00

Carla Fletcher - CW Stoneking 41.00