Just weeks after the terror attack in Bondi, Michael Zavros painted a portrait of Alex Ryvchin, a Jewish community leader, that would go on to capture 45,769 public votes — the largest number in the Archibald Prize’s history. The painting, Alex with his tefillin in the sea, now holds the people’s choice award.
A portrait as a symbol
The portrait, created in early January on a Sydney beach, reflects Ryvchin’s role as a Jewish leader. The water in the painting carries deep symbolism, as does the tefillin — a small black leather box with scrolls from the Torah. For Ryvchin, it is a symbol of faith and continuity.
Zavros, who said he felt a likeness to Ryvchin, called him 'unmistakably and unashamedly Jewish.' The two men had met on the beach, and Zavros was inspired by Ryvchin’s voice in the Jewish community and the clarity with which he spoke about his people’s grief and fears.
Personal and cultural connections
The tefillin in the painting is not only a Jewish symbol but a personal one for Zavros. A few years ago, he took a DNA test and discovered he had Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. 'It’s something that binds us to our past, to our almighty, and to someone I lost at Bondi,' Ryvchin said.
Zavros said it was important to show cultural symbols in a context that could unite rather than divide. 'Too often, these symbols are used to harm, but they also express faith, history and belonging.'
A broader picture in the prizes
The 105-year-old Archibald Prize, which honors the best portrait of a notable figure, was won by Richard Lewer for his portrait of Iluwanti Ken. Sean Layh took the $3,000 packing room prize with a portrait of actor Jacob Collins.
This year’s entries were record-breaking: 2,524 works were submitted across the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes. The exhibition will run at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until 16 August.
Alongside the Archibald, the $50,000 Wynne Prize was won by Gaypalani Waṉambi for The Waṉambi tree, and the $40,000 Sulman Prize went to Lucy Culliton for Toolah, a painting of one of her greyhounds.