Sally Ryan

Archibald Prize 2025 finalist
Sally Ryan
Lette loose
oil on board
© the artist

The indefatigable author Kathy Lette rose to fame with her iconic 1979 novel Puberty blues, set amid Cronulla’s surfie culture in Sydney’s south. Co-written with Gabrielle Carey, it was made into a film and became a cult classic.

‘Kathy’s subsequent novels are often credited with pioneering the ‘chick lit’ genre. However, her work is more than just light-hearted entertainment – it’s rooted in strong feminist themes that have evolved with each stage of her life: from teenage angst to motherhood, and now the world of menopause,’ says Sally Ryan.

‘Through it all, Kathy has championed women’s issues, with a cheeky sense of humour and a sharp, insightful perspective. As someone who enjoys a good laugh and shares Kathy’s age demographic, I felt I could relate to her. So, I was thrilled when she agreed to be my sitter.

‘It was an absolute joy to capture her essence – full of energy and mischief – with her Cronulla roots serving as the perfect theme for my composition. At her request, I added some sharks into the mix – a playful reference to her most recent novel, The revenge club.

‘However, Kathy isn’t swimming with the sharks; she is on top of the water, in control and keeping them at bay.’