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Under grey skies in Sydney's CBD, the careful delivery and unpacking of this year's entries for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes has begun.
The loading dock of the Art Gallery of New South Wales buzzed with activity on Monday as artists and couriers dropped off the precious works selected for the 2023 competition.
The Sulman and Wynne Prizes are run concurrently with the Archibalds every year.
Considered Australia's most prestigious portraiture art prize for painting, the Archibald has been awarded since 1921.
The People's Choice Award category was added in 1988, with the now famous Packing Room Prize established in 1992.
The Packing Room Prize is judged by gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries, with the winner receiving a $3000 cash prize.
This year's judging will be headed by a new team of three unpackers dubbed the Packing Room Pickers, after the retirement last year of former head packer Brett Cuthbertson.
Unpacker and new judge Monica Rudhar said she felt privileged to carry on the legacy of the Packing Room Prize, after working with Mr Cuthbertson for four years.
"I want to do him proud and continue the tradition. It is quite unique. We get to meet the artists and get an insight into their work," she told AAP during a mid-morning coffee break.
"There is a lot of pride and nerves."
Two of the three new Packing Room Prize judges are women, which Ms Rudhar said adds diversity and makes the selection process more inclusive.
"All of us have different tastes, and we're looking for different things. I'm looking for a recognisable person. I think we'll see what gets here!"
She said artists came from all over the country to bring their precious works to the gallery, with the deadline for final delivery this Friday.
The exhibit opens from May 6 and runs until September 3.
