In 2024, the Australian public selected landscape architect, environmental educator and TV presenter Costa Georgiadis to feature in a new portrait for the National Portrait Gallery collection through The People’s Portrait initiative. Host of the ABC series Gardening Australia, Georgiadis grew up in North Bondi with his Greek grandfather’s market garden inspiring his holistic approach to gardening, sustainability and regenerative agriculture. Voters loved Georgiadis’ positivity and passion for the environment, and his ability to connect with people of all ages.
In this portrait, artist Rob McHaffie has captured Georgiadis’ exuberant character and love of nature. McHaffie’s paintings are playful observations of everyday life, with his sitters often embedded in lushly detailed surrounding environments. Here Georgiadis is presented in an Australian landscape overflowing with plants including Queensland bottle trees, banksias and kangaroo paws. The olive tree that peeks in from the right-hand side is a nod to his Greek heritage, while in the lower left is a Peron’s tree frog from Georgiadis’ own garden pond.
‘Making art is similar to creating a garden, in that it requires research, planning, creativity and lots of time and patience,’ Georgiadis said. ‘I’m thrilled to be given this honour, and am humbled that the public voted for me.’
The People’s Portrait campaign was supported by the Sid & Fiona Myer Family Foundation.
Commissioned with funds provided by lead donor, Tim Bednall, and the support of Hayley Baillie and James Baillie, Charles Curran AC, Marilyn Darling AC, Liz Dibbs, Peter James, Katrina Savage and Chris Savage, and Kim Williams AM
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