He Huang Artist Daniel H Kojta

A sculptor and landscape painter, He Huang admits that he was “sick and tired” of his normal work and decided to paint a portrait for a change. Having met Daniel H Kojta last year through a mutual friend, Huang was inspired by his strength and decided that Kojta would be his model. Having not painted many portraits, Huang was particularly excited by his selection in the Archibald: “Maybe I’ll continue!” he says.

Born in China, Huang studied painting and sculpture with a Chinese master who specialised in the Western style at Guangzhou University, where Huang was later a teacher himself. He arrived in Australia in 1988 and took up painting full time. In China, Huang has sculptures in the collection of the Museum of Guangzhou, in the People’s Square in Guangzhou and in the Museum of Revolution History in Canton.