Evert Ploeg Jana Wendt

Evert Ploeg was hung in the Archibald for the first time in 1999 with a portrait of actor Deborah Mailman, painted on jute wool bales, which was voted the People’s Choice winner.

Ploeg left his 2004 Archibald entry to the last minute, and through friends gained the idea and introduction to paint Jana Wendt, one of Australia’s most high-profile television presenters/reporters. ‘She has a very distinct face, a good sculptural face.’ The sitting took place three weeks before the Archibald deadline. ‘I wanted something quite simple, very elegant and chic,’ says the artist.

‘I wanted the feeling that I was just having a conversation with her.’ Since the painting was still slightly wet on the deadline, he put it behind perspex – apposite given that we usually see Wendt on the small screen.

Born in Sydney in 1963, Ploeg caused quite a stir in 1997 when he entered the Archibald Prize for the first time with a portrait of B1 and B2, the Bananas in Pyjamas. The painting sparked a nationwide debate about its eligibility. Ploeg’s portrait of Paralympian Louise Sauvage, on a gold leaf-shaped panel, was selected for the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ 2000 Sporting Portrait Prize.