Public picks portrait of TV gardening host Costa Georgiadis for National Portrait Gallery

A representation of biology pedagogue and Gardening Australia big Costa Georgiadis has been unveiled astatine the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) successful Canberra aft winning a nationalist vote from a shortlist of 25 Australians, The Greek Herald reported.

It is the archetypal clip the nationalist has taken portion successful the gallery’s commissioning process. Georgiadis was chosen up of contenders including children’s amusement radical The Wiggles, television presenter Tony Armstrong and histrion Miranda Tapsell.

The large-scale portrait, painted by Victorian creator Rob McHaffie, shows Georgiadis surrounded by autochthonal plants and animals, among them Queensland vessel trees, banksias, kangaroo paws and a Peron’s tree frog from his plot pond. An olive tree successful the creation nods to his Greek heritage.

Georgiadis said helium was humbled to beryllium included successful the collection. “I’m thrilled to beryllium fixed this honor, and americium humbled that the nationalist voted for me… It’s a spot surreal, like, I’m going into the National Portrait Gallery,” helium said.

He praised McHaffie’s work, adding: “When I met Rob, the artist, I conscionable knew it was successful bully hands.”

McHaffie, who grew up watching Gardening Australia, said Georgiadis was an “open book” during the process and hoped the representation captured “the joyousness and spirit of a antheral who truly inspires the whole state to get grubby gardening and rewilding.”

NPG manager Bree Pickering said the coating “captures Costa’s generosity and celebrates his transportation with nature,” describing Georgiadis arsenic “a beloved Australian who is simply a starring voice successful biology sustainability.”