Australian Women Artists – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep. 40 Amber Wallis

Amber Wallis has carved out a distinctive space in contemporary painting with canvases that blend abstraction and figuration, intimacy and intensity. Her art often emerges from deeply personal narratives. 

Amber holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Canberra School of Art and a Master of Visual Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts. The VCA years were formative: she pushed an already fluid practice toward a deliberately unstable seam between figuration and abstraction, learning to let images “stain” their way into being on raw or lightly primed linen. 

In 2008 Amber won the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, one of Australia’s most significant awards for an emerging painter. The prize took her to Paris for a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts, and we had an interesting discussion on the affect that had not just on her, but on her art. 

By 2009, Amber's raw, expressive works were exhibiting regularly along Australia’s East Coast.  

By the mid-2010s, Wallis had consolidated a national profile. 

Amber's work entered more collections and she was shortlisted for major prizes: Sunshine Coast Art Prize, the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize and the Evelyn Chapman Art Award. In 2022, she won the inaugural Wollumbin Art Award and has been a finalist in numerous other awards including the Sir John Sulman Prize (twice), Bayside Painting Prize, Geelong Contemporary Art Award.

It was a really interesting conversation as we covered a lot of her life and art. 

Head to the link in my bio to hear this episode.

Amber is represented in Brisbane by Jan Murphy Gallery

Images

1. AW by Kate Holmes

2. Women 2020 oil on linen 120x150

3. Soft figure 2025 oil on linen 135x120

4. Glowing house structure 2025 oil on linen 135x120

5. Orange warm protective watchers 2024 oil on linen 150x120

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep. 39 Justine Kong Sing

A conversation with Monique Watkins (AGNSW)

A few of Justine Kong Sing's works are on display at the new exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW, Dangerously Modern, Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940. I had the privilege of sitting down with Monique Watkins to discuss this extraordinarily talented artist who has been largely overlooked in the Australian art canon.

.....My special guest today on the podcast is curator Monique Watkins, and this discussion took place in the Art Gallery of NSW. We were discussing the relatively unknown but brilliant, Justine Kong Sing.

Monique Watkins is a curator, writer and editor with experience working at leading cultural organisations in Sydney, including Kaldor Public Art Projects, White Rabbit Gallery and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. She contributed an essay on Justine for the accompanying book to the exhibition Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940. Monique's research has helped pave the way for a wider appreciation of Justine's work.

Justine Kong Sing grew up in rural New South Wales during the 1870s and 1880s. As the daughter of a Hong Kong Chinese miner, she navigated the (I guess the polite way of saying it is...) complex social landscape of late 19th and early 20th century Australia ...all the while establishing herself as a skilled artist whose work would eventually gain recognition in major galleries across Australia and Europe. It’s a fascinating story often overlooked. 

To hear our conversation head to the link in my bio above or head to wherever you find your podcasts.  

Instagram images

 1. Me, 1912

watercolour on ivory

Dimensions

6.1 x 4.5 cm

2. Chums 1911

Materials used

watercolour on ivory

Dimensions

9.5 x 7.4 cm 

3. Madame Sze, wife of the Chinese Minister
 (c. 1914-1916)

watercolour on ivory

Measurements
 9.5 × 7.7 cm

Australian Women Artists
 
 The Podcast
 
 Episode 28
 
 Artists of Influence: Carol Jerrems (influencing Tamara Dean, ep. 2)

Welcome to another edition of AWA artists of influence. 

For those who’ve heard some of these podcasts, you’ll remember that the last question I ask is: Is there an Australian woman artist who has inspired or influenced you and if so, who and how?

I’ve decided to explore a little further the artists who were named as influences by my podcast guests. 

In ep. 2 I asked this question of critically acclaimed Australian photomedia artist Tamara Dean. And her response was Carol Jerrems.

Carol Jerrems (1949-1980) stands as one of Australia's most significant photographers, despite a career tragically cut short. 

In her brief but prolific working life, she created an extraordinary body of work that captured the spirit, struggles, and raw beauty of Australian youth in the 1970s.

Head to the link in my bio to hear about Carol (or whichever platform you find your podcasts).

Both Tamara and I refer to Carol’s work, ‘Vale Street’ (1975). This platform prevents the image being reproduced but copy and paste this link in your browser to have a look.

https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/46.1979/

And while you’re looking at Carol’s work, take a look also at Tamara Dean’s photographic work and see if you can see the influences on her that she talks about. You can see more of Tamara’s work at www.tamaradean.com.au

Images

1.     CJ by Stuart Holmes

2.     Self Portrait, Kingsgate Hyatt Hotel Room, 1973 Kings Cross

3.     Rita on the couch at Killcare Beach, 1976 NGA

4.     Edols seeing Gulpilil with a bucket 1974 NGA

5.     Jenny Bonnette 1974 NGA

Australian Women Artists

The Podcast

Ep 29 Anne Ryan on artist Lesley Dumbrell

I was very lucky to have had the opportunity to have a fabulous conversation with Anne Ryan on the incredible Australian artist, Lesley Dumbrell. 

 Anne Ryan is one of Australia's leading art curators. She serves as Curator of Australian Art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where she oversees the prestigious collection of Australian prints, drawings and watercolours. She pursued her studies at the Univ. of Syd and NSW and served as the Sarah & William Holmes Scholar in the Depts of Prints & Drawings at the British Museum. 

 Anne has curated various exhibitions and publications focusing on historical and contemporary Australian art and artists with a particular interest in women artists. Amongst many other things, she has curated the annual Archibald, Wynne, and Sulman Prizes eight times since 2015. 

 Lesley Dumbrell is a pioneering abstract painter celebrated for her precise geometric abstract paintings and mastery of colour and rhythm. Over more than five decades, she has forged her own path in a male-dominated genre, becoming a leading figure in the country’s abstraction movement and a passionate advocate for women in art, notably co-founding the Women’s Art Register in 1976 which archives living female artists. 

 Lesley’s work explores the dynamic interplay between colour, perception, and environment, and is held in major national collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. 

 She very recently, at age 82, attended her first comprehensive solo exhibition at AGNSW...her first survey in a state art museum – curated by none other than my guest, Anne Ryan.

 It’s a fabulous insight and Anne was fortunate enough to have spent a great deal of time with Lesley in putting not only the exhibition Thrum together, but the amazing book that accompanied that exhibition. 

Head to the link in my bio to find the podcast.

Images – supplied by AGNSW

1.   LD 

2.   Solstice, 1974 liquitex on canvas, 173x296

3.   Spangle, 1977 liquitex on canvas 149x210

4.   Columbine, 2008 liquitex on canvas 172x228

Australian Women Artists

The Podcast 

Episode 28

Artists of Influence: Anne Ferguson (influencing Jo Bertini, ep. 1)

Hi everyone and welcome to a special edition of AWA. In light of a recent delay in recording of a podcast episode I came up with the idea of elaborating on an aspect of the podcast. 

For those who’ve heard some of these podcasts, you’ll remember that the last question I ask is:  Is there an Australian woman artist who has inspired or influenced you and if so, who and how?

And, because there were a lot of names given to me that I wasn’t aware of (which is no surprise to those who’ve listened to the podcasts – but that’s precisely why I’m doing this...to become more aware)...I thought it might be appropriate to then highlight those artists who were named as influences, by the artists I’ve had a conversation with...if that makes sense. 

And I wanted to do a bit of my own research on that influential artist as well as finding some of their art and putting it up on Instagram. So, if you’re interested I’d love it if you went over to the Instagram account (@australianwomenartists) and started following that and you could see the pieces being spoken about. 

So, the first time I asked this question was to Jo Bertini....

Images:

1. Anne Ferguson at work

2. Australian Servicewomen's memorial, 1999

3. and 4. Waterfall sculpture, 1977

Australian Women Artists

The Podcast

Ep. 27. Adrienne Doig

Adrienne Doig is one of Australia's most distinctive contemporary artists.

She has spent over three decades transforming the landscape of self-portraiture. Her art is celebrated for its wit, humour, and incisive social commentary, often realised through textiles, embroidery, video, and performance. 

She has an unwavering commitment to placing herself—literally and figuratively—at the centre of her creative practice. 

Her formative years were characterized by an early exposure to both traditional craft techniques and contemporary artistic movements. This dual influence would become a defining characteristic of her mature work. 

I don’t think it’s any exaggeration to say that Adrienne’s contribution to Australian contemporary art extends far beyond her individual works. Her innovative and pioneering use of traditional craft techniques has been instrumental in breaking down the hierarchies that traditionally separated craft from fine art. 

She’s had around 2 dozen solo exhibitions and is held in many public and private collections both here and overseas.

Head to the link in my bio to listen to our podcast conversation

Adrienne is represented by Martin Browne Contemporary and some of her works are available there.  

Images:

1.        AD supplied

2.        Feminist Cliche (Dresden Plate), 2012 Patchwork, applique and embroidery on linen 99 x 77 cm

3.        Self-portrait as Aphrodite, 2023, Mixed Media 67.5 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm

4.        Scene 1, 2020, embroidery, applique and paint on needlepoint 59 x 94 cm

5.        Extra, 2018, Embroidery on tapestry, 42 x 45 cm

6.        On the Edge, 2015, Acrylic, fabric, patchwork, applique and embroidery on canvas, 110 x 84 cm

7.        Jenny Kee, Flamingo Park, 2022, Acrylic on wood, Dimensions variable

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep. 26. Kim Anderson

Kim Anderson’s artistic journey began in Ballarat, Victoria, where she was born and raised. Her formal artistic education commenced at the University of Ballarat, where she pursued her Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours.

During these formative years, she began developing her distinctive approach to drawing and exploring the themes that would later define her mature work.

Her art demonstrates a deep understanding of drawing as both a technical discipline and a means of emotional expression. She has stated that her work “has always primarily been inspired by images of the body, both its exterior surfaces and delicate inner structures.”

In 2020 Kim was a finalist for the National Works on Paper Award, the Wyndham Art Prize, the Swan Hill Drawing Prize, the Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, and the Kedumba Drawing Award. And subsequent years provided many more accolades.

In the last 5 years or so Kim’s work has gained increasing recognition within the Australian art world to the point where recently she was listed among the Top 100 Australian Collectable artists of 2025.

We had a great discussion on her influences including 17 years as a dancer, international residencies and the emotional impact on not only creating these artworks, but then walking into an exhibition where they all hang together.

Kim is represented by the fabulous @flinderslanegallery

NB the artwork that I found so evocative I incorrectly named in the conversation. I meant to say ‘Protection’

Head to my bio for the link to our podcast conversation.


Kim Anderson images:

1. KA photo supplied
2. Fugue #2, 2024, Ink, graphite, charcoal and cold wax on paper, mounted on board
100 x 60cm finalist in the Paul Guest Drawing Prize at Bendigo Art Gallery
3. The Dance II, 2023 Ink, charcoal and graphite on paper 75cm x 75cm
4. Protection, 2018 ink, charcoal & pastel on paper, 116cm x 80cm
5. Metamorphosis 2023 Ink, charcoal and graphite on paper 75cm x 105cm
6. Only Breath and Shadows, 2022, Ink, charcoal and graphite on paper, 100cm x 64cm finalist Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep. 25  Amber Boardman

Amber Boardman is an American-born artist who would eventually establish herself as a significant figure in the contemporary Australian art scene. 

Her early life was shaped by the cultural landscape of the US, which would later inform her artistic exploration of social dynamics and digital culture. Her artistic development was informed by her dual interest in traditional fine arts and emerging digital media. And, as a result, her work developed to blend classical painting techniques with contemporary concerns about internet culture and social media's influence on human behaviour. 

Her formal art education began in the US, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Georgia State University, continued her studies with a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York, and after migrating to Australia, completed a PhD in Fine Art at the University of New South Wales in 2018. 

So, as I see it, Amber’s life and art seem defined by a number of things: the interaction between painting and animation, American and Australian influences, and how the internet shapes social norms and individual identity. 

Over the past two decades, she has exhibited her work internationally, with shows in New York, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Miami, Atlanta, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane

Amber is represented by Chalk Horse Gallery (Sydney), Sophie Gannon Gallery (Melbourne) and Sandler Hudson Gallery (Atlanta, USA)

Head to the link in my bio to listen to our podcast conversation.

Images

1.        AB supplied by artist

2.        Coffee Extremist, 2023, oil on canvas 152.4 x 121.9 cm

3.        The Rock of Sysyphus, Chasing Gains 2023 oil on canvas 152.4 x 182.9 cm

4.        Black Friday Sale 2019 oil on linen 213.4 x 182.9cm

5.        Crowd Surfing 2019 oil on linen 213.4 x 182.9cm

6.        Massive Touch Network 2019 oil on polyester 274.3 x 182.9cm

7.        Self-care exhaustion 2018 acrylic on polyester 183 x 183 cm

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep. 24 Leila Jeffreys

Leila Jeffreys is a distinguished contemporary artist renowned for her captivating photographs, moving image works, and installations that primarily feature birds. 

Leila moved to Australia from PNG and pursued formal training in photography which helped her create her unique approach...to animal portraiture. 

Her extraordinary photographs were loved by the public and she gained international recognition and featured alongside the world's most respected photographers as part of Civilisation: The Way We Live Now, a 2023 exhibition at London's Saatchi Gallery.

We talked about her early days as a photographer for Rolling Stone and how she never felt like she could get what she really wanted from the photos she took of people. And then a lightbulb moment when she followed her instincts and started photographing birds. But in a way no one had before – as portraits taken in studios. 

The resulting photographs are breathtaking. She loved photographing birds of prey. They seemed to exude a confidence (even arrogance!) that comes with being at the top of the tree. Have a look at the last couple of photos in the insta carousel to see what she means. 

Head to the link in my bio to have a listen.

Images:

1.        LJ supplied by artist. Image by Cameron Bloom

2.        Celery, 2019 Giclée print on archival fine art paper
 112 x 89 cm Series: High Society

3.        Redmond Red-Capped Robin, 2015 Giclée print on archival fine art paper
 52 x 61 cm Series: Songbirds

4.        Topper – burrowing owl. 2014, Giclée print on archival fine art paper

91x72

5.        Banded Stilt egg, 2024 Giclée print on archival fine art paper
 110 x 86 cm  Series: Stillness

6.        Red-head, 2022, Giclée print on archival fine art paper
 110 x 71 cm140 x 90 cm Series: The wound is the place where the light enters

7.        Burnt Branch, 2022, Giclée print on archival fine art paper
 86 x 110 cm Series: The wound is the place where the light enters

8.        Soren, Wedge-tailed Eagle 2014, fine art inkjet print on archival cotton rag paper
 44 x 35 inches Series: Prey

9.        Darcy Brown Falcon 2014, fine art inkjet print on archival cotton rag paper
 44 x 35 inches Series: Prey

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep. 23    Yvette Coppersmith

Yvette Coppersmith stands as one of Australia's most distinctive contemporary artists.

Her career has been marked by a profound exploration of portraiture, identity, and the human condition. She has challenged traditional boundaries between painting and photography while examining themes of gender, representation, and psychological depth. 

She graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts and won the inaugural Metro Prize in 2003 and has previously been selected as a finalist in the Darling Portrait Prize, Arthur Guy Memorial Award, Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Award. 

And, in 2018, after multiple Archibald finalist hangings, she became the 10th woman to win the Archibald Prize for her painting Self Portrait, after George Lambert. 

It’s been said that her sophisticated exploration of portraiture has contributed to a renewed interest in this traditional genre. I can vouch for the fact that it has had that effect on me.  

It was a fascinating discussion where we spoke about her amazing portrait of Gillian Triggs which (somehow) didn’t win the Archibald and, of course, her self-portrait the following year, which did! We talked about her fascinating process and how she creates these portraits that seem to me to go well beyond the surface image. 

Her work is held in numerous public and private collections and she is represented in Australia by Sullivan + Strumpf. 

 Head to the link in my bio to hear this podcast conversation. 

Images

1.        YC. Supplied by artist. Taken at Hong Kong Art Basel, 'Heirloom' solo show

2.        Yvette Coppersmith Self-portrait, after George Lambert (winner Archibald                   prize 2018) oil and acrylic on linen 132 x 112 cm

3.        John Safran (Archibald finalist 2009) oil and acrylic on plywood 120 x 180                   cm

4.        Professor Gillian Triggs (Archibald finalist 2017) oil on linen 137.5 x 110 cm

5.        Banded Field, 2022, Oil on jute, 99cm x 122cm, Finalist Ravenswood                             Women’s Art Prize

6.        Self-portrait with Egret, 2018 Oil on linen 107 × 87 cm