Australian artist Jane Allan has become the centre of a growing controversy after allegations emerged that a second award-recognised artwork bears striking similarities to an existing work by another artist. The claims come just days after Allan was accused of submitting an imitation of a painting by late Australian artist Nicholas Harding that went on to win a major Queensland art prize.
The latest allegations concern Allan's 2022 artwork Weight of the Mind's Periapt, which was a finalist in the Darling Portrait Prize and received the Art Handler's Award. Critics have pointed to strong visual similarities between Allan's work and Untitled (Two Heads on Gold), a 1982 painting by celebrated American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Both artworks feature comparable human-like figures, facial structures, line work and compositional elements.
The controversy follows revelations that Allan's painting Seaside Explorers, which won the $20,000 landscape category at The Doyles Art Award in 2025, closely resembled Harding's 2011 work Two Estuary Figures. Organisers of The Doyles subsequently described Allan's work as an "imitation" and began investigating legal options, including the potential recovery of prize money.
Art historian Sasha Grishin told ABC News that both contested artworks appeared to rely heavily on existing works by well-known artists. He argued that the similarities went beyond artistic inspiration and raised serious questions about originality.
The National Portrait Gallery, which awarded Allan's work in 2022, acknowledged that staff had noted the artist was "clearly influenced" by Basquiat when the prize was judged. However, the gallery stated that artists are required to declare that submitted works are original creations and confirmed that Allan's artwork is not part of the gallery's permanent collection.
The allegations have sparked wider debate within Australia's art community about originality, intellectual property and the distinction between influence and imitation. Artists frequently draw inspiration from predecessors, but critics argue that direct replication of distinctive compositions, figures or visual styles can undermine artistic integrity and the credibility of major awards.
Representatives of The Doyles have indicated they are reviewing their judging and verification processes to prevent similar incidents in the future. Organisers say the discovery has prompted questions about how potentially copied works can pass through major competitions undetected.
Allan has not publicly commented on the latest allegations. Neither the Basquiat estate nor Allan's representatives had issued formal responses at the time of reporting. The controversy continues to attract attention across Australia's arts sector as award organisers, galleries and artists consider the implications for future competitions.
