SBCo WELCOMES CONTEMPORARY ARTIST & MUSICIAN CHRIS WATTS  AMID SYDNEY EXHIBITION & ARCHIBALD PRIZE BUZZ

SBCo is pleased to announce contemporary artist and musician Chris Watts as the agency’s newest client, as he prepares to unveil his Sydney solo exhibition WILD CARD  and awaits news on his Archibald entry of ex-West Coast Eagles sporting identity, Mitch Brown. 

Watts, known for his bold pop-art aesthetic and cross-disciplinary career spanning music and visual art, joins SBCo at a pivotal moment in his rising national profile. His work continues to attract attention for its cultural relevance, striking visual identity, and engagement with themes of identity, fame, and contemporary Australian life.

A major highlight of Watts’ current body of work is his portrait of former AFL player Mitch Brown, the first male AFL player to publicly come out as bisexual, which has been submitted for consideration in this years' Archibald Prize. The announcement of finalists is expected this week at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, further elevating anticipation around Watts’ practice.

Watts said he was drawn to SBCo for the agency’s deep-rooted connection across music, culture, fashion, and the arts, as well as its long-standing work with internationally recognised creative figures and institutions.

“I chose to work with SBCo because of the agency’s impressive track record across the cultural landscape,” says Watts. “SBCo’sexperience working with artists such as Lina Kay and Benjamin Shine, alongside collaborations with Sydney Dance Company, the Art Gallery of NSW and the La Prairie Art Awards, supporting artists such as fellow Melbournian, Atong Atem, speaks to a genuine understanding of contemporary artistic practice. That breadth of experience across music, fashion, and visual culture is exactly the world I move between.”

SBCo Director, Sally Burleigh, says Watts represents the kind of multidisciplinary talent the agency is committed to supporting.

“Chris is a rare creative force who moves seamlessly between music and visual art,” says Burleigh. “His work sits at the intersection of contemporary culture, design, and performance, and we are thrilled to support him at such a significant moment in his career.

“SBCo has also continually championed major cultural and entertainment moments, from Mel Gibson opening NIDA, to supporting the arts and design pillars of international fashion label, COSand the brand’s partnerships with Milan’s Salone del Mobile, London Design Week and hosting Australian media for a major event at the Guggenheim in New York; plus supporting internationally recognised creative forces such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for VIVID in 2026, launching Kylie Minogue and her wines, and a long-time relationship with design-force, CAMILLA”. 

Watts’ upcoming exhibition WILD CARD, opening 6 May 2026 at Art2Muse Gallery in Woollahra, reflects his signature fusion of pop-art influence, musical rhythm, and emotionally charged portraiture. The exhibition will be accompanied by a public Meet the Artist event on Saturday 9 May.

EXHIBITION DETAILS
WILD CARD
6–18 May 2026
Art2Muse Gallery
66 Queen Street, Woollahra NSW

Meet the Artist Event
Saturday 9 May 2026 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm