Craig Ruddy (8 August 1968 – 4 January 2022) was an Australian artist, known for winning the Archibald Prize in 2004 with his portrait of Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil.
Early life and education
Ruddy was born on 8 August 1968, at Forestville, Sydney. He grew up near Ku-ring-gai Chase and Garigal National Parks. He was only allowed by his parents to participate in limited physical activity after a life-threatening illness.
In the 1980s he studied design and fashion illustration, turning to art and painting around 2001. The portrait of the Aboriginal actor won both the Archibald portrait prize and the People's Choice Award. Another artist, Tony Johansen, took legal action against the Art Gallery of New South Wales Trust over the portrait. Johansen argued that, because Ruddy predominantly used charcoal in his work, it was a drawing and not a painting and therefore was ineligible for the prize. However the Supreme Court of New South Wales dismissed Johansen's claim.
In 2010, Ruddy won the Archibald People's Choice Prize for his portrait of Warwick Thornton entitled The Prince of Darkness. He was an Archibald Prize finalist in 2011 with a portrait of athlete Cathy Freeman and in 2020 with his portrait of author Bruce Pascoe. He was survived by his partner of 20 years, Roberto Meza Mont.