THE ART EDIT, WITH THE ARCHIBALD PRIZE FINALISTS FOR 2019

Head to The Art Gallery of New South Wales this weekend to check out the finalists of the Archibald, Waynne and Sulman Prizes. The high profile, eagerly anticipated and often controversial prize can be seen from Saturday the 11th of May until Sunday the 8th of September.

The Archibald this year features 51 finalists out of 919 entries; the prize dates back 98 years and is a big event for the Australian art world. Featured below is the Packing Room award, which this year went to West Australian hyperreal artist, Tessa MacKay, for her work of David Wenham titled Through The Looking Glass.

Here we take you through our top picks from this years diverse Archibald Prize.

Winners will be announce on May the 10th, keep your eye out.

Tessa MacKay of David Wenham | Through the looking glass

Mirra Whale | 'Leigh' (detail) | Oil and acrylic on board 42x42cm Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling Sitter: Leigh Sales - Australian journalist and author

Jasper Knight | 'Jason Phu' Enamel, gloss acrylic, aluminium, plywood and metal sign on board, 153 x 153 cm Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling Sitter: Jason Phu - artist

Anh Do | 'Art and War' Oil on linen with found prints and other objects, 240 x 200 cm Sitter: George Gittoes - artist

Jessica Ashton | 'Akira' Oil on board | 56.5 x 46.5 cm Photo: AGNSW, Mim Stirling Sitter: Akira Isogawa - fashion designer

Keith Burt | 'Benjamin Law: Happy Sad'

Oil on canvas, 59.5 x 59.5 cm Photo: AGNSW, Jenni Carter Sitter: Benjamin Law - author, journalist and broadcaster

Blak Douglas | 'White shells, black heart'

synthetic polymer paint and shells 195 x 195 cm Photo: AGNSW, Felicity Jenkins Sitter: Aunty Esme Timbery - artist

Kirpy | 'Dylan'

Acrylic and aerosol on canvas, 156 x 105 cm

Photo: AGNSW, Jenni Carter

Sitter: Dylan Alcott - wheelchair tennis player, Olympic gold medalist (wheelchair basketball), author, motivational speaker, radio host, TV show host, event organiser and founder of the Dylan Alcott Foundation