Kim Leutwyler Kim

‘In historical art, queer women have largely been left out altogether. I enjoy using historical norms of portraiture to upend heterosexual norms of identity and sexuality,’ says Kim Leutwyler.

‘Gender roles are constantly evolving, and there are so many permutations of LGBTQI identity around the globe that the concept of capturing the spirit of the times seems like an impossible task. Nonetheless, my work always explores the boundaries between realism and abstraction as a subtle vernacular to portray the fluidity and complexities of identity.

‘While this is a self-portrait, I’ve left the face unpainted and used brushstrokes that suggest a figure, allowing viewers to see themselves or someone they know in the work.

‘The harness is a nod to my fellow queers. I’m very interested in the idea of “signalling”, which is a discreet means for the queer community to share their proclivities with others.’

Born in the United States in 1984, Leutwyler migrated to Australia in 2012 and now lives in Sydney. Her current body of work explores notions of beauty, gender and queer identity. This is her fifth time as an Archibald finalist.