KAB Gallery Artist Andy Collis Named Finalist in Archibald Prize 2026

KAB Gallery is pleased to share that artist Andy Collis has been named a finalist in the Archibald Prize 2026, presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

His selected work, titled A.K.A. Sophadopha, is a portrait of Sophia Begg, a 22-year-old entrepreneur and digital creator whose public identity is shaped largely through social media. With over two million followers and recognition including a TikTok Business Award and Forbes 30 Under 30, Begg represents a generation for whom visibility and identity are closely tied to the digital space. Sophia is a young entrepreneur who turned her TikTok following into a multi million dollar brand. 

For Andy Collis who doesn’t use social media, the sitter exists beyond this digital sphere and he wanted to represent her in tangible paint. 

Known to him simply as ‘Soph’, Begg is a regular presence in his families life. This duality between public persona and private familiarity became the central idea behind the work. While millions engage with her online image, Collis approached the portrait through direct observation, valuing the depth and nuance that comes from working with a live sitter.

The painting itself reflects this tension. Constructed within a hand-made wooden iPhone, the portrait is scaled to the dimensions of a social media post, measuring just 15.3 x 8 cm within a 30 x 30 cm base. Collis further developed the concept through collage elements that reference the format of an Instagram feed, reinforcing the digital framework in which the sitter is typically viewed.

Yet the work resists the fleeting nature of that space.

Where digital images are quickly consumed and replaced, the painting “A.K.A. Sophadopha” encourages a slower and more deliberate engagement. The viewer is invited to look beyond the surface, to return, and to reconsider what is being seen.

This emphasis on observation and connection is central to Collis’ practice. His doctoral research, titled The Human Touch, explored the value of the artist and sitter relationship in contemporary portrait painting. In contrast to the immediacy of digital imagery, his work prioritises time, presence and the subtle exchanges that occur during the act of painting from life. 

The sittings for this portrait became an important part of that process. They offered a space for conversation and mutual understanding, bridging the gap between two very different perspectives on image-making and identity.

Created specifically for the Archibald Prize, the work marks Collis’ first time as a finalist after several previous entries. It represents both a personal milestone and a timely exploration of portraiture in an age shaped by screens.

In a moment that reflects the work’s quiet humour, Collis recalls arriving at the gallery with the painting, only for staff to come out expecting a large-scale piece. Instead, they were presented with a work measuring just 30 x 30 cm, a subtle nod to the idea of scale in a digital world where small images can carry enormous reach. Andy told me that he was incredibly concerned the painting could be misplaced and lost forever within the delivery dock. 

As a finalist in the Archibald Prize 2026, A.K.A. Sophadopha positions Collis within a broader conversation about how we see and understand one another today, both online and in person.

Congratulations Andy Collis! Myself and everyone at KAB Gallery are incredibly proud of this well-deserved Finalist position in the Archibald Prize. I look forward to the Winner announcement next week! 

About the author

Kerry-Anne Blanket

Director & Curator - KAB Gallery

KAB Gallery’s Kerry-Anne Blanket holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and two Masters degrees (Hons) from the University of Sydney. With an extensive career in art education along with the management of museums and investment art galleries, Kerry-Anne can offer premier art consulting to her clients and source specially requested works. 

She has a keen eye for detail, comprehensive art market knowledge and a love of all things beautiful. Kerry-Anne works directly with artists and collectors alike to curate interesting and eclectic exhibitions.