Vincent Fantauzzo, the acclaimed Australian artist known for his striking portraits, returns to ABC TV’s “Australian Story” this Monday, but this time, the canvas he’s unveiling is his own life. In 2019, Fantauzzo appeared on the program to discuss his experience with dyslexia, a story that resonated deeply with viewers. Now, he’s back with a far more personal and painful revelation.
Following the death of his father, Fantauzzo found himself confronting long-buried truths about his childhood, a past he had kept hidden, even from his wife, actress Asher Keddie. “Home Truths” explores Fantauzzo’s decision to finally break his silence, a decision that Keddie describes as breaking “that cycle of dysfunction.”
Fantauzzo’s journey into the public eye began in 2008 when his portrait of Heath Ledger, painted just a month before the actor’s tragic death, won the Archibald People’s Choice award. The win thrust the artist into the spotlight, but it also forged an unexpected connection. Kim Ledger, Heath’s father, and Fantauzzo formed a bond, each finding solace in the other’s loss. Kim describes Vincent as his “surrogate son in Melbourne,” a testament to the depth of their relationship. This search for father figures, a recurring theme in Fantauzzo’s life, underscores his desire to create the kind of paternal relationship he yearned for.
“Home Truths” is a look into the life of an artist wrestling with personal demons, finding healing through truth, and ultimately, striving to become the father he always wished he had. The episode airs Monday, 3 March at 8pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
