Archibald Prize

Painting the Truth: My Archibald Portrait of John Silvester

There are some faces that carry the weight of stories untold, and John Silvester’s is one of them.

This year, I entered the Archibald Prize with a mixed media portrait of John Silvester—legendary Australian journalist and the creative force behind Underbelly. Known for peeling back the layers of organised crime and corruption in Australia, Silvester doesn’t just tell stories—he exposes what hides in the shadows. I wanted this work to honour that legacy.

Spray painted onto wood, this piece merges the raw chaos of street art with the composure of classical portraiture. It’s a tribute to the blurred lines between power and crime, journalism and justice. The layering, fragmentation, and texture speak to the tension between public truth and private consequence—echoing the very essence of the Archibald Prize: to capture not just a likeness, but the force of a life lived in the public arena.

This portrait isn’t just about the man—it’s about the system he’s spent decades unmasking.

In a world where silence is often safer, Silvester chose to speak.

So did I.

— The Silver Moth

Silver Moth Studio