‘For our Mumma’: The emotional portrait of a Hollywood star left fans in tears
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Family, art, and legacy came together in a deeply personal moment for one of Australia’s most beloved stars.
A special portrait, painted under emotional circumstances, has captured hearts and earned national recognition.
Behind it lies a powerful final wish that continues to resonate with those closest to her.
A moving tribute to family, art, and memory came to light as Big Little Lies star Nicole Kidman revealed the emotional significance behind a new portrait that featured her and her sister.
Painted by artist Jaq Grantford, the portrait was completed on Christmas Eve and became a finalist in the 2025 Archibald Prize.
Nicole, 57, and her younger sister Antonia, 54, posed together in Sydney for the artwork just months after their mother Janelle Kidman passed away in September 2024.
The late matriarch’s final wish had been for her daughters to have their portrait painted—an idea they brought to life during their first Christmas without her.
‘One of Janelle’s dying wishes was to have this portrait painted to celebrate her daughters’ close family bond,’ Grantford shared in a statement from the Art Gallery of NSW.
Nicole and Antonia were shown nestled together, wrapped in green brocade material, a visual nod to both childhood imagination and timeless Hollywood glamour.
‘Grantford draped material around them as a reference to children playing make-believe and a way to unite the sisters, showing their close relationship,’ the gallery’s statement read.
The chosen fabric featured floral patterns that their mother had loved, while the fading edges of the painting evoked old photographs and distant memories.
‘This was their first Christmas without her, which must have been difficult,’ added Grantford, a three-time Archibald finalist.
She described their sitting on Christmas Eve as ‘a Christmas miracle’ in Nicole’s words, and felt honoured that the sisters agreed to it.
‘The sitting for this portrait of sisters Antonia and Nicole Kidman took place in Sydney last Christmas Eve,’ the gallery statement continued.
‘The painting is a tribute to their mother, Janelle Kidman, who passed away in September 2024.’
Grantford uploaded the portrait earlier this month to social media ahead of the Archibald Prize’s opening night.
‘It was an honour to paint such amazing women,’ she wrote in the caption.
‘The portrait was at the request of their remarkable mother, Janelle Kidman, who recently passed away.’
‘It was one of her final wishes to see the portrait of her two daughters together.’
Nicole also shared the portrait on social media, captioning it simply: ‘For our Mumma.’
In another recent post, Nicole marked Mother’s Day with a throwback photo of her mum taken in front of Uluru.
The image included Nicole and her daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith Margaret, 14, who were toddlers at the time.
She also shared a second photo of Janelle walking beside her granddaughters near the sacred site.
Nicole shares Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret with her husband of 18 years, singer Keith Urban.
She is also mum to Bella, 32, and Connor, 30, from her previous marriage to actor Tom Cruise.
‘My mother and my daughters in Uluru, beautiful memories…Always Happy Mother’s Day,’ she wrote in the caption.
In a previous story, we explored how Nicole Kidman’s recent red carpet appearance sparked a heated discussion.
Fans and critics alike were quick to weigh in on the star’s candid comments.
If you missed it, head over to catch up on the full story.
With such a touching tribute to their mother and a celebration of sisterhood captured on canvas, how do you think this portrait will be remembered in Archibald history?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A special portrait, painted under emotional circumstances, has captured hearts and earned national recognition.
Behind it lies a powerful final wish that continues to resonate with those closest to her.
A moving tribute to family, art, and memory came to light as Big Little Lies star Nicole Kidman revealed the emotional significance behind a new portrait that featured her and her sister.
Painted by artist Jaq Grantford, the portrait was completed on Christmas Eve and became a finalist in the 2025 Archibald Prize.
Nicole, 57, and her younger sister Antonia, 54, posed together in Sydney for the artwork just months after their mother Janelle Kidman passed away in September 2024.
The late matriarch’s final wish had been for her daughters to have their portrait painted—an idea they brought to life during their first Christmas without her.
‘One of Janelle’s dying wishes was to have this portrait painted to celebrate her daughters’ close family bond,’ Grantford shared in a statement from the Art Gallery of NSW.
Nicole and Antonia were shown nestled together, wrapped in green brocade material, a visual nod to both childhood imagination and timeless Hollywood glamour.
‘Grantford draped material around them as a reference to children playing make-believe and a way to unite the sisters, showing their close relationship,’ the gallery’s statement read.
The chosen fabric featured floral patterns that their mother had loved, while the fading edges of the painting evoked old photographs and distant memories.
‘This was their first Christmas without her, which must have been difficult,’ added Grantford, a three-time Archibald finalist.
She described their sitting on Christmas Eve as ‘a Christmas miracle’ in Nicole’s words, and felt honoured that the sisters agreed to it.
‘The sitting for this portrait of sisters Antonia and Nicole Kidman took place in Sydney last Christmas Eve,’ the gallery statement continued.
‘The painting is a tribute to their mother, Janelle Kidman, who passed away in September 2024.’
Grantford uploaded the portrait earlier this month to social media ahead of the Archibald Prize’s opening night.
‘It was an honour to paint such amazing women,’ she wrote in the caption.
‘The portrait was at the request of their remarkable mother, Janelle Kidman, who recently passed away.’
‘It was one of her final wishes to see the portrait of her two daughters together.’
Nicole also shared the portrait on social media, captioning it simply: ‘For our Mumma.’
In another recent post, Nicole marked Mother’s Day with a throwback photo of her mum taken in front of Uluru.
The image included Nicole and her daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith Margaret, 14, who were toddlers at the time.
She also shared a second photo of Janelle walking beside her granddaughters near the sacred site.
She is also mum to Bella, 32, and Connor, 30, from her previous marriage to actor Tom Cruise.
‘My mother and my daughters in Uluru, beautiful memories…Always Happy Mother’s Day,’ she wrote in the caption.
In a previous story, we explored how Nicole Kidman’s recent red carpet appearance sparked a heated discussion.
Fans and critics alike were quick to weigh in on the star’s candid comments.
If you missed it, head over to catch up on the full story.
With such a touching tribute to their mother and a celebration of sisterhood captured on canvas, how do you think this portrait will be remembered in Archibald history?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
