Sydney artist Fiona Lowry was announced on Friday as the 2014 winner of the prestigious portrait prize for her painting of famous architect Penelope Seidler.

All artworks featured in this year’s Archibald Prize will be on show at MRAG between January 16 and February 22 next year.

Maitland beat out other galleries in the Hunter, including Newcastle, to host this year’s exhibit.

MRAG deputy director Brigette Uren said getting the chance to host the Archibald Prize exhibit showed that Maitland gallery had a good reputation on the regional circuit.

Ms Uren said it was exciting that the exhibit would be in the city for the ­summer school holidays.

“We are expecting the full ­exhibition,” she said.

“Generally speaking, galleries bid so there is not competition in the same market. A gallery might have the exhibition once every three to five years. 

“It certainly demonstrates the gallery’s position on the regional gallery circuit. We’re very excited – it is going to be huge.”

Newcastle City Art Gallery hosted the exhibit in 2012.

Regional art galleries at Mornington Peninsula, Gosford, Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Broken Hill and Griffith were also chosen to host the Archibald Prize works between October, 2014, and September, 2015.

There were 884 entries in this year’s competition.

Notable faces included Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes, musician Missy Higgins, Minister for Hunter Gladys Berejiklian and actor and writer Richard Roxburgh. 

The Archibald Prize was first run in 1921 and has become one of the nation’s oldest and most well-known art ­accolades and features the faces of Australian culture, including artists, celebrities, sports people and other ­public figures.

OPINION: Archibald’s return to Maitland a testament to gallery