Blaming Mame by Eliza Bertwistle

Abbie Chatfield is a television host, radio presenter, podcaster and influencer who first came to public attention on The Bachelor. Through her popular podcast It’s A Lot and her unfiltered political activism, she has become a significant force in Australian popular culture, sparking conversations about social justice, sexuality and women’s experiences.

In this portrait Eliza Bertwistle depicts Chatfield at the centre of a fiery hellscape, the composition in clear opposition around her, simultaneously referencing the perspectives of Chatfield as both victim and villain. “I wanted to make a tongue-in-cheek reference to the recurring demonisation of Chatfield, while also representing her as a victim of such a witch-hunt.”

The title of the work contains a double reference to the 1946 film Gilda’s famous soundtrack Put the Blame on Mame and John Singer Sargent’s scandalous portrait Madame X. “This double reference highlights historical patterns of women being blamed and shamed for resisting societal expectations.”