No mountain high enough by Abdul Abdullah won the Packing Room Prize for 2025 last week.
The artist painted his friend and fellow artist Jason Phu.
Alexis Wildman, a senior installation officer and part of the Art Gallery’s Packing Room team, mentioned that the gallery’s staff was “immediately captivated” by the painting.
“On a technical level, this portrait is very well painted,” she said.
“The artwork beautifully embodies the spirit of the subject, depicting a lone adventurer, a daring humorist, or a subdued hero traversing the challenging landscape of today’s social environment.
“This immediately sparked conversation among the Packing Room team.”
Abdullah said he was “honoured” to win the prize.
“I perceive it as a communal award, where the Packing Room team—comprising professional art handlers, many of whom are artists too—gets to choose a painting that resonates with them,” the artist commented.
“I am so glad they picked this one. It’s kind of like an artists’ pick, and I’m extra happy for that.”
The Packing Room Prize winner receives a $3000 cash prize. 
