Congratulations to Master of Fine Arts student Fiona Lowry who has been announced the winner of the 2014 Archibald Prize for her portrait of architect Penelope Seidler.

Lowry painted Seidler at her iconic house in Killara, which she designed with her late husband Harry Seidler in the 1960s. Lowry’s paintings are made using an airbrush in a soft colour palette.

The $75,000 Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s most prestigious and is awarded to the best portrait painting.

This is the third time Lowry has been a finalist in the Archibald Prize, last year with her portrait of Shaun Gladwell and in 2011 with her portrait of Tim Silver. She was also a finalist in this year's Sulman Prize.

UNSW Art & Design Dean Professor Ross Harley congratulated the artist on her win.

"Using her distinctive airbrush technique Fiona Lowry has created an evocative and sensitive painting that captures the ever thoughtful Penelope Seidler – truly one of Australia’s cultural and philanthropic luminaries. 

The UNSW Art & Design community is tremendously proud of Fiona’s achievements. As a current research student she joins a select group of artists that have won this celebrated prize," Harley said.

The finalists exhibition is exhibited alongside the Wynne and Sulman prizes at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which all feature work from various UNSW Art & Design alumni.

The exhibition runs from July 19 to September 28, 2014.