Radio queen Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has revealed the breathtaking portrait after being selected as the subject of a finalist piece in this year’s prestigious Archibald Prize.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the KIIS FM star, 50, shared a video of the hyperrealistic painting, which captures her in a striking pose wearing an ethereal blue gown with layers of tulle fanning around her like a dream.
The artwork, created by celebrated artist Kelly Maree, is painted on a dramatic black backdrop and features Jackie with her signature blonde locks cascading over one shoulder and an intense, soulful expression on her face.
‘One year ago, I was at the Archibald Prize exhibition, standing in front of a painting that completely mesmerised me,’ Jackie wrote in a heartfelt caption.
‘I couldn’t stop looking at it, it wasn’t just a painting, it was so much more than that. The artist, Kelly Maree, didn’t just capture the incredible likeness of actor Josh Heuston she gave us something deeper… his pain, his soul. She made you feel the painting.’
Radio queen Jackie ‘O’ Henderson (pictured) has revealed the breathtaking portrait after being selected as the subject of a finalist piece in this year’s prestigious Archibald Prize
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the KIIS FM star, 50, shared a video of the hyperrealistic painting, which captures her in a striking pose wearing an ethereal blue gown with layers of tulle fanning around her like a dream
Jackie went on to reveal the serendipitous moment that followed her encounter with Maree’s previous work.
‘I remember thinking, God, what a dream it would be to have this woman paint me,’ she recalled.
‘Fast forward a few months, I’m in New York, still talking about that painting with friends, still in my mind. The very next day, an email lands in my inbox. It’s from Kelly!!!!! Out of the blue.’
‘She wanted to know if I’d be open to being painted for her Archibald next year. You could have knocked me over with a feather. Was this real? What serendipity. Turns out we were drawn to each other.’
The two finally met in Sydney over coffee and quickly formed a creative bond.
‘She was every bit as warm and beautiful as her art,’ Jackie said.
‘A few weeks later, Kelly captured me in a series of moments, each one raw, real, layered. Then she spent the next several months pouring her soul into this piece.’
‘To say I’m honoured doesn’t even come close. It’s truly one of the great highlights of my life to have been chosen as her subject and now to see her once again named a finalist (and rightly so). The level of skill, emotion, and patience this took… I’m still in awe.’
Jackie finished the post with a heartfelt thank you to the artist: ‘Thank you @kellymaree.artist – you are truly extraordinary’.
The artwork, created by celebrated artist Kelly Maree, is painted on a dramatic black backdrop and features Jackie with her signature blonde locks cascading over one shoulder and an intense, soulful expression on her face
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The portrait has quickly drawn admiration online, with fans praising both the emotional depth of the painting and Jackie’s vulnerable storytelling.
The Archibald Prize, awarded annually by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is one of the country’s most esteemed accolades, celebrating portraiture and artistic excellence.
It comes after Jackie hit back after the $5million construction of her ‘dream home’ inspired fury among her neighbours.
The radio star insisted she was shocked that a neighbour had called her ‘disgusting’ in a recent interview on the renovations.
‘The funny thing is that every neighbour has gone out of their way to say how great my builders are and how thoughtful and considerate they are,’ Jackie said on the Kyle and Jackie O radio show this week.
When asked by a producer if she felt bad about the worksite caravans she had parked in the street, Jackie was apologetic.
‘It’s really unfortunate and I hate that I would ever be putting people out,’ she added.
Addressing recent comments from an angry Neighbour, Jackie said to her co-host Kyle Sandilands: ‘She did say that we are disgusting, you and I’.
‘You can’t blame people for thinking we’re disgusting,’ Kyle joked.
Jackie taken on the ambitious project that will see a complete transformation of an oceanfront Clovelly house she purchased at open auction in March 2023.
It is located in one of Sydney’s most sought-after suburbs.
It comes after Jackie hit back after the $5million construction of her ‘dream home’ inspired fury among her neighbours. The radio queen insisted she was shocked that a neighbour had called her ‘disgusting’ in a recent interview on the renovations