Bald Archy Prize Touring Exhibition – Coffs Harbour

The Bald Archy is an Australian art prize, a parody of the Archibald Prize, an important portraiture award. It usually includes cartoons or humorous works making fun of Australian celebrities. It is judged by Maude, a cockatoo. It was founded by director Peter Batey.

Although created as something of a joke, the Bald Archy Prize has become an icon on the Australian art calendar (albeit an eccentric one), particularly because of the absurdist nature of the event, calling for irreverent comic and satirical images of well-known Australians.

Each year the Bunker Cartoon Gallery in Coffs Harbour plays host to the infamous Bald Archy Prize touring exhibition.

Image: “Geoffrey” by Simon Schneider, Winner of the 2019 Bald Archy Prize.