Celebrating centenarians with portraits by Peter Wegner
The City of Whittlesea is excited to unveil two new portraits of residents aged over 100 years, created by Archibald Prize-winning artist Peter Wegner. These portraits are part of Wegner’s Centenarian Project, which honours the stories and lives of Australians who have reached 100 years and over.
One of the new portraits features Leila Joyce Worrall, known as Joyce, who turned 103 on 12 December 2024. Joyce has lived in Lalor for the past four years with her son and welcomed Peter Wegner into her home, where they shared tea and stories. Joyce’s warmth and humour inspired Wegner as he sketched her portrait, capturing her spirit and the connection she has with her family and community.
Joyce shared her reaction to seeing her portrait.
“When I saw the artwork, I couldn’t believe it was me. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I think it was wonderful,” Joyce said.
The second portrait tributes Peter Petrov from Bundoora, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Christmas Day 2024. Peter was born in Bulgaria and immigrated to Australia in 1954. Peter’s portrait joins Wegner’s project, which now includes more than 100 centenarians from across Victoria and New South Wales, paying tribute to their long and rich lives.
Residents also celebrated this collection through free workshops with Peter Wegner, offering a rare opportunity to learn from a renowned artist and engage with the stories behind his work.
The two portraits have been added to the City of Whittlesea’s Cultural Collection which preserves and shares the visual art and history that reflect the City’s diverse past and present. The portraits recently journeyed to Gippsland Gallery to be a part of the exhibition Peter Wegner: Centenarians from 8 March 2025 – 18 May 2025. This exhibition is the first time Wegner has showcased 100 portraits of centenarians in the same space.
Find out more about the exhibition by visiting the Gippsland Gallery website.
Watch the video featuring artist Peter Wegner and local resident Leila Joyce Worrall.
Discover more about The Centenarian Series on Peter Wegner website
Explore local events
Want to get involved in other exciting events and exhibits?
Explore local events
Subscribe to arts e-news