HIDDEN FACES
The 2024 Victorian Salon des Refusés
This portrait was submitted to the 2024 Archibald Prize.
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Cat#32 Stephanie Ward
MASON COX Oil on Canvas 122 cm w x 91 cm h $4,000 Artist’s Statement My painting is of Collingwood AFL player Mason Cox. Mason is the first American to play in the AFL and has been on a personal journey from playing Basketball as a lad in America to now playing AFL for Collingwood football club in Melbourne, Australia. Last year he played in the 2023 Grand Final and was a part of the winning team, securing a win and is now a Premiership Player. He has adapted to the Australian lifestyle well and I believe he is a great example for others to “give it a go.” I had noticed that former paintings of football players were generally always portrayed wearing their complete footie uniform and either looking serious or it’s an action shot. There was a deliberate choice to portray Mason in a casual and relaxed way, wearing pants and a bomber jacket to contrast his favourite indigenous guernsey. If you have had the pleasure to meet Mason he is mostly always smiling and laughing and so after our first sitting I knew I wanted to portray him as genuinely as I could. It was a bit of a risk in selecting a reference where his eyes are closed, however, I believe he is truly caught in the moment having a laugh and smiling wide and celebrating his Premiership win. The backdrop is the MCG stadium. Although imposing and a monolith, my aim was to showcase the MCG in its entirety and in a way that is familiar with footy fans. |