A Filipino-Australian artist who turned to finger painting after a nerve injury has won one of Australia's most prestigious art awards with her remarkable portrait of an Aboriginal musician.

Loribelle Spirovski has been awarded the People's Choice Award for the 2025 Archibald Prize, Australia's most celebrated portrait art competition. Her winning artwork is a portrait of Aboriginal Australian musician William Barton, which she created using only her fingers after a nerve injury made traditional brush painting extremely difficult.

The artist, who has been a finalist for the Archibald Prize multiple times in previous years, expressed her overwhelming joy at being selected by the public for this special recognition. "It has been a difficult few years and this whole experience is the most beautiful reprieve and reward," Spirovski said in a statement released by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. "I am infinitely grateful to William for allowing me to paint him and so humbled by everyone's responses to the work."

Spirovki's journey to creating this award-winning piece began when she first met William Barton in October of last year. At that time, she was still recovering from a nerve injury that had significantly impaired her ability to paint using traditional methods. The physical limitations forced her to find an alternative approach to her artistic practice.

During the creation process, Spirovski immersed herself in Barton's music, playing his compositions while working on the portrait. This musical inspiration led to a breakthrough moment in her artistic technique. "As the music began, my hand set the brush aside and I dipped my finger into the soft, pliant paint," she explained. "Without a brush, painting was almost painless. As the portrait painted itself, I felt alive in a way I hadn't for a very long time."

Spirovki's personal background adds another layer of depth to her artistic journey. Born in the Philippines in 1990 to a Filipino mother and Serbian father, she moved to Australia with her family in 1999 when she was nine years old. She pursued formal art education, graduating from the College of Fine Arts in Sydney in 2012.

On her personal website, Spirovski describes how her multicultural background significantly influences her artistic vision. She explains that her work is "influenced by the contrasting images of both countries, as well as her parent's mixed European-Asian ethnicities." This diverse cultural heritage brings a unique perspective to her portraits and artistic expression.

The Archibald People's Choice Award represents a special category within the broader Archibald Prize competition. Unlike the main prize, which is determined by a panel of judges, the People's Choice Award is based entirely on votes collected from members of the general public who visit the gallery to view the finalist artworks. This democratic approach to art recognition makes Spirovski's win particularly meaningful, as it reflects genuine public appreciation for her work.

While Spirovski claimed the People's Choice Award, the main Archibald Prize of 100,000 Australian dollars (approximately $64,600 USD or £48,700) was awarded to Julie Fragar. Fragar's victory is historically significant, as she becomes only the 13th woman to win the prestigious award in its 104-year history, highlighting the ongoing gender disparities in major art competitions.

The Archibald Prize also includes another special recognition called the Packing Room Prize, which offers a unique perspective on the competition. This award is determined by votes from the gallery staff members who are responsible for receiving the portrait submissions and installing them in the exhibition space. This year, the Packing Room Prize was awarded to Abdul Abdullah for his portrait of fellow artist Jason Phu.

Spirovki's success story resonates beyond the art world, serving as an inspiring example of how artists can adapt and overcome physical challenges to continue pursuing their creative passions. Her innovative use of finger painting, born out of necessity due to her nerve injury, ultimately led to a distinctive artistic technique that captured both critical attention and public admiration.

The 2025 Archibald Prize exhibition, featuring all finalist works including Spirovski's winning portrait, continues to attract visitors to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where art enthusiasts can view the diverse range of contemporary Australian portraiture and understand why the public chose Spirovski's finger-painted tribute to William Barton as their favorite piece.