Australian artist Jane Allan faces plagiarism accusations over Basquiat-influenced portrait prize work
Jane Allan, an Australian artist, is under fire after winning the 2022 Darling portrait prize for her artwork Weight of the Mind's Periapt. The National Portrait Gallery pointed out that her piece bears a clear resemblance to Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1982 piece Untitled (Two Heads on Gold). Although the gallery's art handlers recognized this similarity during the award presentation, they opted not to elaborate. Allan's painting, which won her the $2,000 Art Handler's award, features a figure reminiscent of Basquiat's style. Furthermore, her $20,000 Doyles art award-winning piece, Seaside Explorers, is accused of echoing Nicholas Harding's Two Estuary Figures. The Doyles committee is taking these claims seriously, and Gold Coast councillor Glenn Tozer has confirmed legal discussions about recovering the prize money. Allan hasn't commented yet. Harding, a notable artist, died in 2022, while Basquiat passed away in 1988.
Key facts
- Jane Allan's Weight of the Mind's Periapt was a finalist in the 2022 Darling portrait prize and won the $2,000 Art Handler's award.
- The National Portrait Gallery noted the work was 'clearly influenced' by Jean-Michel Basquiat's Untitled (Two Heads on Gold) (1982).
- Allan's Seaside Explorers won the $20,000 Doyles art award in 2023 but was accused of being an imitation of Nicholas Harding's Two Estuary Figures (2011).
- The Doyles committee said the allegation is taken 'very seriously' and lawyers are discussing recovery of the prize money.
- Gold Coast councillor Glenn Tozer confirmed legal discussions regarding prize money recovery.
- Nicholas Harding, a nine-time Wynne prize finalist and Archibald prize winner, died in 2022.
- Jean-Michel Basquiat, a neo-expressionist artist, died in 1988.
- The Doyles committee is entirely voluntary and plans to investigate the judging process.
Entities
Artists
- Jane Allan
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Nicholas Harding
Institutions
- National Portrait Gallery
- Doyles art award
- Darling portrait prize
- Art Handler's award
- Wynne prize
- Archibald prize
- The Guardian
- ABC
Locations
- Lennox Head
- Australia
- Gold Coast
- New York