Whitney Duan | |
|---|---|
 Whitney Duan at the Art Gallery of NSW, 2025 | |
| Born | November 1994 Sydney, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | University of Sydney |
| Known for | Portrait painting |
| Website | whitneyduan |
Whitney Duan is an Australian visual artist and multiple Archibald Prize finalist. [1] Duan is known for her portraits which typically feature unusual textures including sand and polymer paint on reclaimed canvases. [2]
Whitney Duan was born in Sydney to Chinese migrants. She completed high school at Ravenswood School for Girls before attending the University of Sydney, majoring in art history in 2013. [3]
At the University of Sydney, Duan held a number of editor roles: as editor of Hermes in 2014, editor of Arna in 2015, and editor for student publication Pulp in 2016. [4] [5]
Duan's work often encompasses still life, landscapes, and portraiture. [6] Many of her works include textural elements and inclusions.
In 2024, Duan was a finalist in the Archibald Prize with a portrait of fashion designer Jordan Gogos, entitled Fluffy (Jordan Gogos). [7] The work was known for its use of polymer paint to emphasize the textural strokes of Gogos’ work. The painting received mixed reviews. [8]
In 2025, Duan was a finalist in the Archibald Prize with her portrait of singer and artist Rainbow Chan, entitled Banquet (Rainbow Chan). [9] This work featured gold leaf and sand mixed with oil paints on the canvas and received a positive reception upon exhibiting. [10]
Duan married writer Eden Caceda in Tuscany, Italy in June 2024. [11] She lives between Sydney, Australia and London, United Kingdom. [12]
