Evert Ploeg (pronounced Ay-vert Plough; born 1963 in Sydney, New South Wales) is one of Australia's most highly regarded portrait painters, who has won a range of painting prizes, such as the 1999 and 2007 Archibald Prize (Category: People's Choice) and was awarded the highly coveted 'Signature Status' of The Portrait Society of America.[1]
Born and raised in Sydney in a family of Dutch heritage, Ploeg works from his self-designed studio on the city's Northern Beaches, which was featured on Nine Network's 'Our House' programme in 2001. He lives with his partner, film and television costumier, Ivana Daniele and their two daughters Aurora and Paloma.[2]
Working in a tonal realist style (mostly in oil), Ploeg's pictures bespeak an approach to portraiture that is inspired by documentary methods. Putting emphasis on visually encoding a personal narrative in any given portrait, he builds connection to his subjects through conversation and extended observation both during their sitting as well as in their engagements outside of the atelier.[3] In his early work, he explored alternative textures and surfaces, while today his direct and sculptural approach sees him coming back to and revisiting passages, building up character and emotion through tonal layering.[4] Rhythmical application delivers a dynamic sense of movement while maintaining a harmonious and expressive style.[5] A dominant feature in Ploeg's work is thereby the aesthetic rendition of hands, with their shape and posture rounding compositions and giving them their signature look.[6] Over the past decade, Ploeg has begun engaging more and more in plein-air painting, affording unique scenarios that lend his current style an 'Alla Prima' element.
Ploeg mainly works on a commission basis, with his work having been recognised with numerous (inter)national prizes and awards. It is held in many of Australia's major public and private collections as well as having received sustained international coverage, especially in the USA.[7] Aside from direct commissions, he has also participated in a plethora of special events, for example engaging in live painting on stage for acclaimed theatre projects, judging in art prize panels or lending his time as well as painting and sculptural skill to charity causes. He also guest lectures and conducts workshops and classes across the country.
Amid the most significant recognition of Ploeg's achievements are his three-time wins at Australia's most prestigious and often controversial Archibald Portrait Prize held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Having first entered the competition in 1997 with a controversial (and ultimately ruled out) submission of a portrait of the ABC's cherished cartoon characters Bananas in Pyjamas,[8] Ploeg has since won the coveted Archibald People's Choice Award in 1999 (subject: Australian Indigenous actress Deborah Mailman)[9] and in 2007 (subject: Australian conductor and musical director George Ellis),[10] as well as its Packing Room Prize in 2004 (subject: Australian journalist Jana Wendt).[11] Furthermore, Ploeg has been selected to the Salon des Refuses of Sydney's S.H. Ervin Gallery, termed the Alternative Archibald, three times with a People's Choice win there in 2000 (subject: Australian actor Richard Roxburgh[12]) ¬– concurrent to having had his portrait of Paralympian athlete Louise Sauvage competing in the 'Sporting' Archibald held in conjunction with the 2000 Sydney Olympics.[13] He has also entered paintings to the Archibald Prize of singer Ben Lee,[14] fashion identity Peter Morrissey, actor Richard Roxburgh and art collector and philanthropist John Schaeffer AO (in 2014).[15]
Australian Ballet School, MelbourneAustralian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian War MemorialCERA – Royal Victorian Eye & Ear HospitalFlorey Institute (Melbourne)Melbourne Cricket ClubNational Portrait Gallery of AustraliaSt John Ambulance (Canberra)The Australiana FundThe University of Melbourne – EconomicsThe University of Melbourne – Law School
Private School Collections (Victoria): Camberwell Grammar School Lauriston Girls SchoolQueens College
As well as numerous private collections in Australia, the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden & USA.[16]
Ploeg has painted portraits of clients with international renown, such as pop star Ben Lee,[17] fashion identity Peter Morrissey, film actor Richard Roxburgh, art collector & philanthropist John Schaeffer AO, the late 'Mr Movies' Bill Collins OAM and Dr Paul Scully Power - Australia's first astronaut in space. The lion's share of his assignments originates from commercial and corporate institutions,[18] which saw him paint, for example, Mrs Tamie Fraser AO for the Australiana Fund in 2018 [19] and Prof. Fred Hilmer AO, eighth Vice-Chancellor of The University of New South Wales and Deputy-Chairman of the Westfield Group, with the work included in the 20/20 exhibition at the Australian National Portrait Gallery (2018).[20] Before committing his entire career to portraiture, Ploeg worked as a trained illustrator for 13 years, having graduated East Sydney's Design College (now: National Art School) in 1984. His work was commissioned by prestigious department stores, international cosmetic companies, leading advertising agencies and major publishing houses and was regularly featured in editorial and advertisement spreads in fashion magazines of the day.[21] For example, he was commissioned to illustrate the re-publications of Australian classic children's stories, such as We of the Never, Never and Clancy of the Overflow by Australian poet Banjo Patterson (Angus & Robertson (1987, 1989 & 1990). For this kind of work, he received a coveted award from publisher Random House for Outstanding Cover in 1999. Following this success, publisher Hodder Headline enlisted Ploeg to illustrate the cover jackets for seven books of Geoffrey McSkimming's children's adventure series Cairo Jim (1996).[22]
In addition to his regular portraiture commissions, Ploeg has for the past decade been involved with Australian arts and social change company Big hART Inc., which conducts large-scale, long-term community development projects. In September 2010, he joined the cast of their highly acclaimed Namatjira production at Sydney's premier Belvoir Street Theatre, which relates the biographical story of late Western Aranda watercolor painter Albert (Elea) Namatjira (1902–59). Ploeg was painting lead actor Trevor Jamieson's portrait while he was performing his role live on stage, retelling the story of one of Australia's most famous Indigenous artists.[23] Over the season and its subsequent national tour (2012), Ploeg completed eight paintings, which were exhibited and sold at the Adelaide State Gallery & Museum together with other visual art created in the context of Big hART's project.Ploeg's association with the company has continued beyond the Namatjira Project, with him participating also in creative developments of their Yijala Yala Project in the Pilbara communities of Western Australia (since 2011) and in their seafaring project Blue Angel, which saw him spent a seven-day residency on board the oil tanker British Loyalty in 2014, painting crew members on their way from Sydney to Brisbane. Those works were first exhibited in the 2015 Tasmanian 10 Days on the Island Festival as part of a site-specific theatre production in Hobart's Astor Hotel, with a subsequent presentation having occurred at the Wooden Boat Festival at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on board the tall ship James Craig in 2016.In between these engagements with Big hART, Ploeg was also invited to sketch a live portrait of actor Kurt Sutton while performing in the play An Evening with Mark Twain at Elm Street Theatre in Woodstock (Atlanta, USA) in 2013.[24]
Internationally, Ploeg has had a long involvement with the Portrait Society of America.[25] First awarded in their 2005 International Competition, he has gone on to garner further awards including Best of Show (2011) and Certificate of Excellence (2017 & 2019). In the Society's Membership Only competition, he received Honourable Mentions and Merit Awards in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and twice First Place in the highly contested Commissioned category (2016 & 2018). In 2018, the Society granted Ploeg the highly prized lifelong Signature Status.In 2015, Ploeg was selected as one of 10 artists worldwide to compete in the New York Grand Central Academy's Alla Prima Portrait Competition, whose works were exhibited in a month-long show at Eleventh St Arts in Long Island. Earlier (in 2014 & 2005), he had participated in the Macquarie Bank-sponsored Portrait Artists Australia exhibition held in the Australian Embassy in Washington DC.Other international accolades include long-listed works in the BP Portrait Award in London, UK (2015 & 2016).[26] Nationally, in addition to his Archibald awards, he also won the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize (2005), has been a multiple finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, six-time finalist in the Black Swan Portrait Prize (Western Australia) and has three works in St John Ambulance, with the last one having been unveiled at Government House in Canberra in 2019.[27]
2019: Certificate of Excellence – International Competition (Portrait Society of America)
2018Lifelong Signature Status (Portrait Society of America)Semi Finalist – Doug Moran National Portrait PrizeWinner Members Only Competition – Commissioned Category (Portrait Society of America)
2017: Certificate of Excellence – International Competition (Portrait Society of America)Finalist – Black Swan Portrait Prize
2016: Long-listed BP Portrait Award, LondonWinner Hunters Hill Art PrizeFinalist Black Swan Portrait PrizeWinner Members Only Competition – Commissioned Category (Portrait Society of America)Finalist Art Renewal Centre – 12th International Salon
2015: Long-listed BP Portrait Award, LondonFinalist Doug Moran National Portrait PrizeMerit Award Members Only Competition – Commissioned Category (Portrait Society of America)
2014: Finalist Archibald Portrait Prize Finalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait PrizeFinalist Black Swan Portrait Prize2nd Place Members Only Competition – Non-Commissioned Category (Portrait Society of America)Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
2013: Honourable Mention Portfolio Submission (Portrait Society of America)Finalist Black Swan Portrait Prize
2012: Honourable Mention Members Only Competition – Non-Commissioned Category (Portrait Society of America)Certificate of Excellence – International Competition (Portrait Society of America)Finalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
2011: Winner Best of Show – International Competition (Portrait Society of America)Highly Commended Mortimore Prize – Small CategoryFinalist Black Swan Portrait Prize
2010: Honourable Mention Members Only Competition – Oil Category (Portrait Society of America)Finalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait PrizeFinalist Kilgour Art Prize for Figurative PaintingWinner Ex Arte Equinus IV – Painting Category (International Equine Art)
2009: Highly Commended Black Swan Portrait PrizeFinalist Mortimore Art Prize
2008:Finalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait PrizeFinalist ANL Maritime Art Award (Mission to Seafarers)Commended Berkelouw Self Portrait Prize
2007: Winner Archibald Prize – People's Choice Category
2006: Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait PrizeFinalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
2005: Winner International Portrait Competition – Exceptional Merit Award (Portrait Society of America)Winner Shirley Hannan National Portrait PrizeCommended Inaugural Berkelouw Portrait Prize
2004: Winner Archibald Prize – Packing Room PrizeHighly Commended Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize 2003: Winner People's Choice (Portrait Artists Australia) Honourable Mention Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
2000: Winner 'Salon Des Refuse' – Holding Redlich People's Choice Award (S.H Ervin Gallery)Finalist Sporting Portrait Prize of Australia (Art Gallery of New South Wales)Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
1999: Winner Archibald Prize – People's Choice Winner Listener's Choice Award (2BL Radio)Winner Listener's Choice Award (2CR ABC Radio)Winner Outstanding Cover Award (Random House Publishing)
1998 3rd Place 'Salon Des Refuse' – People's Choice Award (S.H Ervin Gallery)[28]
In addition to the (often nationally travelling) exhibitions as part of the above-named art prizes, Ploeg's work was shown on many occasions, including the following:
2018:20/20 Celebrating 2O Years – National Portrait GalleryMonday Nights – Northern Beaches Creative Space
2017: Cabaret – Glen Street TheatreLand – Manly Gallery & MuseumWorld Polo Championship Art Exhibition – Sydney Polo ClubExpresso Yourself CupART
2016: Wooden Boat Festival – Australian Maritime MuseumMystery Art Sale Donation – Portrait Society of AmericaHunters Hill Art PrizeVirtual Connections – No.1 Martin Place Sydney
2015: Imago Mundini – global art project initiated by Luciano BenettonEleventh St Arts, Grand Central Atelier (New York, USA)Saltwater – Manly Art Gallery & MuseumProject 504 – Sydney 2014: Portrait Artists Australia – Australian Embassy (Washington DC, USA)
2013: Keeping Company – Manly Art Gallery & MuseumMulticultural Australia – NSW Parliament House (Portrait Artists Australia)Mystery Art Sale Donation – Portrait Society of AmericaNgurratjuta Many Hands Art Center, Alice Springs
2012: Adelaide Festival – ArtSpaceAdelaide State Gallery & Museum 2011: Mystery Art Sale Donation – Portrait Society of AmericaFundraiser Donation Art57 – Manly Selective CampusInglis Equine Art Prize – Sydney Inglis Sales ComplexMelbourne OaklandsMortimore Art PrizeScots College – Orange, Mudgee, Byron Bay, Canberra, Murwillumbah, BendigoAll the World's a Stage – Victorian Art Society (Portrait Artists Australia)
2010: Face –Off – MLC Gallery, Sydney (Portrait Artists Australia)Mystery Art Sale Donation – Portrait Society of AmericaThe Artist Muse – Arthouse Hotel, SydneyKilgour Figurative Painting Prize – Newcastle Regional Gallery
2009: In Paradise: Artists of the Northern Beaches – Manly Art Gallery & Museum 2008: The Art of Healing – Arthouse Hotel, SydneyNew works & Collectors – DeHavilland Gallery, Wollongong
2007: Intimate Studies – Texture and Form – Catalina Gallery, Avalon
2006: Mosman Art Prize – Mosman Art Gallery
2005: Fur and Feathers – Arthouse Hotel, Sydney
2004: Courtroom and Street Antics – Arthouse Hotel, Sydney 2003: Unhung Heroes – Made for Australia Gallery, Canberra
2002: Warringah Art Exhibition, Brookvale
1995: Mask of Myth ¬– Annandale, Sydney[29]