‘The power of advocacy’ conveyed in portrait
Falk told The AJN that her painting, A Man of Values, was "inspired by Mark Leibler's profound dedication to justice and advocacy".
Renowned Australian artist Vivian Falk is submitting her oil on canvas portrait of Mark Leibler to the Archibald Prize, which is considered the most prestigious portrait prize in Australia.
Falk told The AJN that her painting, A Man of Values, was “inspired by Mark Leibler’s profound dedication to justice and advocacy”.
“His unwavering commitment to causes such as Aboriginal and Israeli rights resonated deeply with me, fuelling the creation of a portrait that seeks to capture his integrity and leadership,” she said.
Falk’s paintings have been widely exhibited including at the Australian embassy in Washington and Parliament House in Canberra and Sydney. She won the 2021 Wallenberg portrait prize for her depiction of Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku, and the 2012 Clifton’s Australasia Art Prize for her portrait of racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse, and she has been a finalist in many prestigious art competitions including the Archibald.
Regarding her submission to the Archibald, Falk said, “I aim for viewers to be not only visually captivated by the portrait but also deeply moved by the profound message it conveys about the power of advocacy and the importance of standing up for what is right.”
Mark Leibler has been a towering figure in law, Aboriginal reconciliation, and Jewish affairs. He is the senior partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler and is the national chairman of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council and was co-chair of Reconciliation Australia.
Leibler has also served as a co-chair of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians, and other positions in the Jewish community include life chair of the federal United Israel Appeal (UIA) and a governor of the Australia–Israel Chamber of Commerce.
Commenting on the portrait, Leibler told The AJN, “Vivian is a talented artist, whose portraits have been recognised with significant awards over the years. So, when she approached me last year, asking to paint my portrait, I was really quite honoured.
“In terms of the finished product, I’m struck by the detail she’s captured of things that surround me when I’m in my office each day – documents, photographs, Aboriginal artwork, right down to the bottle of water placed on my desk.”
The finalists for the Archibald Prize will be announced on May 30, and the winner will be awarded on June 7.
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