The Young Archies are the junior section of the Archibald Prize and are highly distinguished. James is selected as one of only six finalists in the 13-15-year-old section.
James said of his portrait, which depicts his creative mentor and founder of the Possibility Project Kath Davies, “Kath glows an energy of possibility, light, nature, and love. The best beauty is found within, and my artwork demonstrates what it is like to know Kath Davies.”
James was also the winner of this year’s Mosman Youth Art Prize. Jess Saliba, another Year 9 student at St Leo’s, also entered the competition with her work selected to be exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales along with James’s.
Jess commented, “My artwork was inspired by society’s ideals of beauty and being yourself regardless of what people think of you.”