William Mackinnon Rich Lewer, friend and rival in sport and art

William Mackinnon’s subject is fellow artist Richard Lewer. Both are four-time Archibald finalists, while Lewer is represented in this year’s Sulman Prize and was one of the artists commissioned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales to produce work for the Sydney Modern Project.

‘I have known Rich for many years. We have shown at some of the same galleries and have often been finalists in the same prizes. Over the last few years, we have found a shared love of sport and have a rolling competition going on between tennis, padel [a racket sport] and surfing,’ says Mackinnon.

‘Rich’s altruism is legendary. He is constantly supporting other artists and has helped me catch a break several times in my career. He devoted a decade of unpaid hours to train amateur boxers, who had no idea what a big figure he was in the artworld.

‘There is another side to Rich that few see: his indomitable work ethic and determination to push himself. He has the inner mongrel to fight his way to the top. In January [2023], he destroyed three months of work as “it just wasn’t good enough”.’

‘Every artist needs a rival to push them to greater heights. Freud had Bacon, Manet had Degas, Picasso had Matisse. I have Rich Lewer.’