Adam Goodes the face of anti-racism in Archibald portrait entry

It was back in 2013 when AFL star Adam Goodes was the subject of a racial slur, as a 13-year-old girl called him an "ape" from the sidelines.

Since then the retired Sydney Swans player has campaigned widely against racism, and now local artist Megan Adams has thrown her support behind it by painting the sportsman for the Archibald Prize.

"The portrait of Adam Goodes is called Colour Doesn't Matter, showcasing the point that colour doesn't matter when it comes to people’s skin colour," Megan tells Be.

"Everyone should be treated equally and with respect, regardless of their race," she continues, explaining the artwork will be sold on her website for $5,000, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the GO Foundation, founded by Goodes.

For Megan, a chance meeting with Adam in 2016 led to the Archibald creation she has produced today.

"When I bumped into Adam Goodes on the street I was thinking, 'This is Adam Goodes, the 2014 Australian of the year, anti-racism ambassador, champion AFL player…I would LOVE to paint him for the Archibald next year!'," Megan recounts of what went through her mind at the time.

"When I approached Adam I was very straight forward, starting with, 'Hi my name is Megan and I would like to paint you for the Archibald next year'," she continues.

"His response was, 'Have you painted before?'"

From there the pair got chatting, and after his manager was thrown into the conversation, official preparations kicked off.

The GO foundation is certainly a cause very close to Megan's heart.

"My friend’s indigenous son received a racial slur last year and that's what motivated me to call the artwork Colour Doesn't Matter," she tells Be.

Colour Doesn't Matter, showcasing the point that colour doesn't matter when it comes to people’s skin colour," Megan tells Be. Source: Supplied">

"The gorgeous boy was very upset by the remark. It hurt me to see him like that, especially when he is the kindest child you will ever meet.

"I think it is important to raise awareness about racism as it's more common than most people think and these words that are being flung around have an impact on the people they are directed at and when has that ever been ok?" she adds.

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Goodes founded the GO Foundation back in 2009 alongside Michael O’Loughlin and James Gallichan.

Since the it has strived to help Indigenous children across the nation, with their motto being, "Our burning desire is to create opportunities for indigenous youth through education".

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