Matthew
People's Choice
Claire B. Cusack
Matthew (detail) 2024
Portrait of Matthew Wimhurst, Alice Cusack, Victoria Cusack
Oil on canvas
76 x 61 cm
About the Artwork
This is a portrait of love, but also of sorrow and pain. It is a tribute to my brother Matthew, who has faced many challenges, from a learning disability to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, from a heart attack to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Now in palliative care, he relies on a machine to breathe. He is a fighter, a survivor, a hero.
My daughters Alice and Victoria adore their uncle and share a special bond. They have seen him struggle and suffer, but also smile and laugh. They have learned the value of life and the power of love. They are his angels, his joy, his hope.
This is a portrait of us, a family that has been through so much, but still stands together. We have cried many tears for Matthew, but we also celebrate his life and spirit. We are inspired by his strength and resilience. We are grateful for his love.
Matthew passed away on Sunday, 7 April 2024 – I am honoured to have had Matthew as my big brother.
About the Artist
Claire Cusack loves to capture her surroundings and paint contemporary portraits of people and places in her life. Faces fascinate her; different expressions, the way eyes capture certain emotions or just the slight tilt of a head can say so much. Claire won first place in Silver is Gold COTA ACT Art competition in 2021 and 2022, and has been a finalist in a number of art competitions, including the Gallipoli Art Prize (2023) and The Percivals (2022). Through her art, Claire seeks to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Claire believes that art has the power to inspire, uplift, and connect people. Claire’s work seeks to be testament to the power of creativity and the human spirit.