Natasha Bieniek Patricia Piccinini

Patricia Piccinini is one of Australia’s most acclaimed contemporary artists. She is recognised globally for her multidisciplinary art practice but is best known for her life-like figurative sculptures that intermix humans with animals and objects from everyday life.

‘In many ways, Patricia’s artwork is the polar opposite of my own. Her Skywhale, for example, is a 34-metre-long hot air balloon that can be seen from great heights. My portrait, on the other hand, is so small that it needs to be viewed at close range. Yet both artworks embody a strong sense of intimacy, and that intimacy is at the core of my portrait,’ says Melbourne artist Natasha Bieniek.

‘During our time together, I found Patricia to be kind and warm, yet, like most artists, she also carries a certain sensitivity and complexity. I intended my portrait to be subtle and ambiguous, but I also wanted to paint her honestly.’

Bieniek is an eight-time Archibald finalist. Her portrait of Wendy Whiteley was highly commended in 2016.