Archibald People’s Choice Portrait Acquired by Sydney Sewish Museum

Public favourite finds permanent home:
SJM acquires Michael Zavros’ Archibald Prize 2026 People’s Choice award winning portrait

Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM) has announced the acquisition of Alex with his tefillin in the sea (2026), the acclaimed portrait by leading Australian artist Michael Zavros, which won the Archibald Prize 2026 ANZ People’s Choice award. The SJM acquisition has been made possible thanks to a generous major gift.

The large-scale hyperrealist oil painting depicts author, lawyer and Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, standing in the sea wearing tefillin, the traditional Jewish ritual prayer scrolls, box and straps. The work evokes themes of identity, belonging and connection – and its popular choice has been widely welcomed as both healing and reassuring in a time of fractured social cohesion.

The portrait resonated strongly with visitors to the Archibald Prize 2026 exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where the People’s Choice this year attracted its highest ever number of voters.

Sydney Jewish Museum Board President Greg Shand AM highlighted the cultural significance of the acquisition and the important themes it represented.

“At a time of heightened concern about antisemitism in Australia, the public response to this portrait carries particular significance. Through its thoughtful exploration of identity and community, Alex with his tefillin in the sea invites Australians to engage with the lived experience of Jewish Australians in a deeply human way. Its selection as the People’s Choice award winner demonstrates the enduring capacity of art to build understanding between people. It is also an uplifting reflection of the empathy that exists within the broad Australian public for the values of inclusion, respect and mutual understanding that underpin our multicultural society.”

Artist Michael Zavros was honoured that the work would now become part of a public collection.

“This portrait began with an unexpected connection and grew into a conversation about the things that unite us. Alex and I discovered common ground through our shared experiences as Australians, fathers and sons of migrant families. I am deeply honoured that the work has resonated with so many people and grateful that it will now have a permanent home where its story can continue to be shared.”

Ryvchin said the acquisition ensured the portrait’s themes would remain accessible to future audiences.

“This work captures a moment that is deeply personal, but it also speaks to broader ideas about memory, resilience and social cohesion. I am honoured to have sat for Michael and delighted that the portrait will enter a public collection, where it can encourage reflection, understanding and dialogue among visitors from all backgrounds.”

Background to the work, the artist, the subject and the award

Completed in 2026, Alex with his tefillin in the sea was selected as a finalist in the Archibald Prize 2026 before being chosen by exhibition visitors as the recipient of the ANZ People’s Choice award. The portrait emerged from an unusual connection between artist and sitter, after friends and family repeatedly remarked on their st riking physical resemblance. Inspired by Ryvchin’s public leadership and advocacy, Zavros created a work that he has described as being as much about understanding and connection as physical likeness.

At a moment when Australia is grappling with questions of racism, social cohesion and national identity, Alex with his tefillin in the sea holds particular cultural significance. Created in the wake of a series of antisemitic incidents that have prompted widespread concern, the portrait of Alex Ryvchin transcends traditional portraiture to become a meditation on identity, resilience and the role of leadership during periods of social tension. As the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion examines the challenges facing communities across the nation, the portrait offers a nuanced contribution to the national conversation, demonstrating powerfully how art can foster empathy, encourage reflection and support greater understanding across communities.

About the Archibald Prize 2026 ANZ People’s Choice award

First awarded in 1988, the People’s Choice award is one of Australia’s longest-running and most prestigious audience-voted art prizes. Presented as part of the annual Archibald Prize exhibition, it is determined entirely by public vote, giving visitors to the Art Gallery of New South Wales the opportunity to select the portrait that resonates most strongly with them. The award has become an important measure of public engagement with contemporary art and this year attracted the largest ever number of votes.

About the artist

Michael Zavros is one of Australia’s most acclaimed contemporary artists, renowned for his technically accomplished hyperrealist paintings that explore identity, beauty and aspiration in contemporary culture. Based in Brisbane, he has exhibited extensively across Australia and internationally and is a seven-time finalist in the Archibald Prize.

About the artwork

Alex with his tefillin in the sea (2026)
Oil on canvas; 205.2 x 137.9 cm
Winner, Archibald Prize 2026 ANZ People’s Choice award

The artist is represented by gallerists Danielle & Ryan Renshaw of The Renshaws Sydney.