Hey, that portrait looks a lot like ... me
VISITORS to the Archibald Prize exhibition got an unexpected surprise yesterday when the subject of a portrait they were viewing sneaked up beside them.
Matildas soccer star Michelle Heyman joined the masses at Geelong Gallery to view artist Kim Leutwyler’s oil painting of her.
In town for the Australian women’s friendly against China at GMHBA Stadium tomorrow, Heyman said it was a thrill to fit in a visit to the exhibition, which is attracting an average of 1200 visitors a day.
“Walking in and seeing yourself is a weird feeling, but I love it,” she said.
“The tattoos are exactly the same. Everything is me, it’s amazing . . . I couldn’t believe how big it was.”
Leutwyler approached Heyman to sit for her after seeing her work as a positive role model in the LGBTQI+ community.
“We met up in Sydney one day, had some photos, went out for lunch and then she started sketching me and we have built this great friendship from it,” Heyman said.
The 152cm x 102cm work on canvas took months to complete, with Heyman following the progress via Instagram.
“Before I knew it, it was a spitting image of me,” Heyman said. “I can’t believe how well she has done it. It’s incredible.
“She said, ‘What are your favourite colours?’ and I said, ‘Everything, just make it happy and bubbly because that’s what I am’ and she really got it down pat.”
Heyman, who represented Australia at last year’s Rio Olympics, said she was feeling right at home in Geelong and had already found her favourite local brew at Coffee Cartel.
“I love Geelong, it’s perfect for me because it is a nice small town, just like Canberra,” she said. “I like less traffic and less people and this is on water, so it is winning in my eyes." “Before I knew it, it was a spitting image of me. I can’t believe how well she has done it. It’s incredible.”
MICHELLE HEYMAN
The 29-year-old said she hoped to see as many people as possible in the stands of GMHBA Stadium tomorrow.
“I think it’s going to be another good match. It’s nice to be in front of home fans. It’s something we hardly ever get to do. It’s nice not to have to travel 14 hours just to play a game,” she said.
The match kicks off at 4.30pm. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.au