Australians can be creatures of habit and some visitors to this year’s Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes at the Art Gallery of NSW seem disoriented when directed through the latter two to reach the main event.

Soon enough (if they don’t find the shortcut to the portraits), they come across the Archibald winner.

The subject is artist and Zen Buddhist Lindy Lee, painted by Sydney artist Tony Costa floating cross-legged in a meditative state. Lee’s green rakusu draws the eye from her face and into the triangular composition formed by dark robes.

The background is the quiet star of the work, its softly layered peach, green and apricot tones reverberating around Lee’s figure, contrasting with the more heavily painted face and hands. It is a portrait of meditation as much as of Lee herself, though Lee is unmistakable with her signature half-bob, half-long hairstyle.