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Self-taught artist Claus Stangl has won this year’s Archibald Packing Room Prize for his hyper-realistic portrait of actor, director and all ‘round legendary human TaikaWaititi!
And yeah, this is kind of a big deal.
You see, the Packing Room Prize is judged by the Art Gallery of New South Wales staff who receive and hang entries and is part of the wider Archibald Prize, one of the most prestigious, long-running (and fun!!) art comps in Australia.
Stangl, who painted Waititi while he was in Sydney filming ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ says he’s “gobsmacked” by the win:
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“I wanted to create a portrait that captured Taika’s sense of humour and to execute it in a playful cinematic style, reminiscent of the movies of the 1970s and ’80s that were playing when he was a child. After sharing some concepts with Taika, we landed on the idea of making a 3D-style portrait using the reds and greens from retro cardboard glasses. Painting in 3D-style was the hardest thing I have ever painted, because there’s two of everything, two of each pupil, two noses, everything shifted. But I learnt so much and it was worth it.”
Next week, the winner of the official Archibald Prize will be announced.
(© the artist, Claus Stangl; 📸: Felicity Jenkins/ Art Gallery of New South Wales) 
