From FCMG to the Archibald: not our first rodeo

Published on 15 June 2026

Artists connected to Fairfield City Museum & Gallery are currently being recognised on Australia’s biggest art stages — including the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, and internationally at the Venice Biennale.

From emerging voices to internationally recognised practitioners, these artists reflect the calibre and diversity of contemporary work exhibited at FCMG.

For FCMG, it’s not about a single moment or milestone, it’s about being part of the broader contemporary art conversation. And seeing artists connected to the Gallery recognised on these stages? It’s not our first rodeo. It’s a reflection of what FCMG has been doing all along.

Artists featured in the Archibald Prize

Kean Onn See

Kean Onn See, who exhibited at FCMG’s 2025 exhibition Within Heaven and Earth, is now featured in the 2026 Archibald Prize with a portrait of William Yang. His work explores identity and community, themes that continue to resonate across both gallery exhibitions and national portraiture platforms.

Marikit Santiago

Western Sydney artist Marikit Santiago, who exhibited new work in FCMG’s We Eat this Bread exhibition, has gone on to gain international recognition, including winning the La Prairie Art Prize, which led to a European residency and participation in the Art Fair at Basel. In 2026, Marikit is featured in both the Archibald Prize, with a portrait of Fairfield-based artist Khaled Sabsabi, and the Wynne Prize with her work Bahay, continuing her exploration of home, identity and heritage.

Loribelle Spirovski

Loribelle Spirovski, a former FCMG Artist-in-Residence who grew up in Fairfield City, has built a strong national profile through her portrait practice. Her exhibition Diaspora at FCMG captured portraits of residents, reflecting the area’s diversity and character. Loribelle has been exhibited in several Archibald Prize exhibitions over the years, and in 2026 is both an exhibiting artist and the subject of a portrait by Tsering Hannaford.

Tom Polo

Artist Tom Polo, a Smithfield local who grew up in the area, is also represented in the Archibald Prize. With an established national practice, Tom has been recognised as one of Australia’s notable contemporary artists, with strong ties to Western Sydney shaping his work and perspective.

Artists featured in the Wynne Prize

Louise Zhang

Louise Zhang’s work Apple Resting on a Stone, commissioned by FCMG for her 2025 exhibition Celestial Tapestry, is now featured in the Wynne Prize. The work draws on her Chinese heritage and references Fairfield City's history of market gardens, connecting personal and local narratives to broader artistic themes.

Marikit Santiago

In addition to her Archibald Prize work, Marikit Santiago’s Bahay is also exhibited in the Wynne Prize, continuing her exploration of family, home and cultural identity through richly layered painting.

Vipoo Srivilasa

Vipoo Srivilasa, whose work Venditus the Deity of Sales featured in FCMG’s 2024 exhibition Within Heaven and Earth, is represented in the Wynne Prize with Guardian Light. His practice blends playfulness with deeper reflections on culture, identity and contemporary life.

Catherine O’Donnell

Catherine O’Donnell’s Wynne Prize work Postcard from Home continues her longstanding engagement with place and architecture. Her FCMG exhibition Drawn in Fairfield (2016) documented local homes and streetscapes, capturing the changing character of Southwest Sydney through detailed observational drawing.

International recognition: Venice Biennale

Khaled Sabsabi

Fairfield-based artist Khaled Sabsabi is representing Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale, one of the most significant events in the global art calendar. His works Khalil (featured in the In Minor Keys exhibition) and Conference of Oneself (Australian Pavilion) position him as a leading voice in contemporary art. Khaled has been a long-time collaborator with FCMG, exhibiting major works including Knowing Beyond (2024) and curating the group exhibition We Are All Affected in 2017.

Together, these achievements highlight FCMG’s role as a platform for contemporary artists at every stage of their practice — from emerging creatives to internationally recognised practitioners. The Gallery continues to bring together local, national and global perspectives, creating space for artists to present significant work and engage with audiences in Western Sydney and beyond.

Visitors are encouraged to explore current and upcoming exhibitions and discover the artists shaping contemporary art, right here in Fairfield City.