Photo.Australian Portrait Artist Vicki Sullivan's painting of Jan Fran, titled "Peace Actually"

It has been an absolute privilege to be selected as a finalist in the 2026 Archibald Prize. It is the highlight of my career as an Australian portrait artist to be included among the finalists in our nation's most prestigious portrait prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

My portrait subject, Jan Fran, is one of Australia's most versatile journalists and content creators, seamlessly bridging traditional and social media.

A Walkley Award winner, Jan's 20-year media career spans television, documentaries, podcasts and comedy. She has hosted the ABC's Question Everything, as well as Channel 10's The Project and SBS's The Feed.

She is also a respected social commentator, widely recognised for her incisive video commentary and interviews on social media, where her work attracts millions of views.

Alongside her friend Antoinette Lattouf, Jan co-founded ETTE Media—an independent Australian media company created for a new era. ETTE equips audiences with the tools to question, decode and challenge the constant stream of information at a time when misinformation is widespread, algorithms shape our realities, and trust in mainstream media has never been lower.

While listening to podcasts in my studio, I discovered We Used to Be Journos, hosted by Jan Fran and Antoinette Lattouf. It was then that I decided to ask Jan to sit for my 2026 Archibald Prize portrait. I greatly admire her commitment to free speech, critical thinking and human rights.

Being part of the Archibald exhibition has been an unforgettable experience. Meeting fellow finalists, reconnecting with artists and taking part in the exhibition's celebrations has been a genuine joy. It is an honour to have my portrait hanging alongside so many outstanding works in this year's Archibald Prize.

Vicki Sullivan {left} With the Director of the AGNSW Maud Page and fellow artist Bettina Fauval-Ogden beside our Archibald Paintings