COMING UP - INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION 'CONNEXIONS SILENCIEUSES' EYGALIÈRES, FRANCE

I’m very excited to be heading back to Eygalières in Provence France this month. After having finished a residency that I won with NG Art Creative Residency Program last November championed by the wonderful Nicky Ginsberg. I’m finally making the pilgrimage back to where it all started for the opening and vernissage of ‘Connexions Silencieuses’ an International Group Exhibition of artists from around the globe. I’m very proud to be showing amongst an amazing cohort of International talent including other wonderful fellow Australian artists and will be giving an artist talk as part of their public programs on the 5th of May 4-5pm at the 800 year old Elise Saint Laurent where the exhibition will be staged. If you are in France or heading to Provence you are very welcome to attend the opening and talks. Bisous!

Credit: Matthew Robertson

RECIPIENT - Georges River Council Artist-in-Residence 2020

It’s still some time away but I’m very pleased to have been recently awarded this fabulous artist residency with Hurstville Museum and Gallery for Carrs Park Cottage to create work for my next upcoming project in 2020. Thank you so much to Hurstville Museum and Gallery and Georges River Council for this fantastic opportunity. See more

WINNER - NG Art Creative International Art Residency Provence, France 2018

I'm so excited about this amazing opportunity...

I've been selected as the mid November candidate Artist-in-Residence with for an international Residency with NG Art Creative in Provence.

The NG Art Creative Residency Prize aims to discover and celebrate emerging and established creative talents from a variety of disciplines.

The Prize Winners will receive a free two-week placement at the NG Art Creative Residency in Eygalieres, Provence both in November 2018 and February 2019. This includes board and lodging, mentorship and residency-related outings, valued at up to AUD$2,000/ USD$1,435/ €1,244/ £1,106.

The Prize winners will have the opportunity to explore the Provence region, learn the native tongue and try their hand at traditional Provencal cooking. They will engage with fellow creatives and the local artistic community at evening soirées, feasts for the senses dinners and special events. They will also have the chance to exhibit their work in France in the 12th century Eglise St Laurent Eygalieres, for a 3 week exhibition in April 2019, attracting large international audiences.

The competition is multidisciplinary; It is open to artists, writers, poets, musicians, performers, filmmakers, photographers, academic scholars, and other creatives who seek to enrich their process, embark on imaginative endeavours and immerse themselves in an environment of reflection and creative freedom.

A very big thanks to Nicky Ginsberg and the team at NG Art Creative Residency. Read More

Mas des Pelerins - NG Art Creative Residency Eygalières, Provence, Southern France

FINALIST - INAUGURAL BAM NATIONAL ART PRIZE 2018

It’s wonderful to be selected as a finalist for the BAM (Byron Arts Magazine) NATIONAL ART PRIZE. Congratulations and best wishes to all the finalists selected.

Offering both $5000 prize money and a unique visibility opportunity, the new BAM Art Prize offers a significant opportunity. The winner will be featured on the cover of BAM. First Prize and Highly Commended Award winners will be featured in the summer 2018 issue of BAM. Open to all artists nationwide, this new, non-acquisitive prize is for works of art in any medium.The inaugural prize will be presented on November 9, 2018. A finalists exhibition will be held at Byron Bay's Thomgallery in November. Byron Bay’s leading art gallery, Thomgallery features contemporary art and sculptures from renowned local and international artists and sculptors. All Finalists will be featured digitally.

FINALIST - OPEN SECTION - FISHER'S GHOST ART AWARD 2018 CAC

One of the highlights of my art calendar year and I’m stoked to be a finalist amongst such a fine bunch of artists across all categories in this year’s Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize with my painting titled ‘#Sorrow’. Looking forward to a fantastic opening night at Campbelltown Arts Centre, they certainly know how to really turn up the party!

Official Opening Night and Award Announcement  Friday 2 November

Exhibition open to the public  Saturday 3 November – Thursday 13 December

All works will be available for purchase

‘#Sorrow’, oil on canvas, 220cm x 214cm

Sneak peek Installation at Campbelltown Arts Centre

SNEAK PREVIEW OF FOXTEL ARTS 'PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR' - SEASON 4 LAUNCH

It was so lovely and so much fun working with Foxtel Arts and Linda Leman on Season 4 Promo of 'Portrait Artist of the Year'. What an experience! and what a fabulous job they have done on this. So here's a sneak preview of part of the launch campaign for one of Foxtel Arts most watched series. A big thanks again to all at Foxtel Arts X

AUSTRALIA'S 'PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR' - NEW SEASON LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOXTEL ARTS

Here's something I've never done before! I got asked to feature in this years new season Australia's Portrait Artist Of The Year promo for Foxtel Arts. I'll be attempting a portrait of the wonderful Margaret Pomeranz, Australian film critic, writer, producer and television personality. It's going to be lights, camera, action! alongside two other wonderful Australia painters, Tony Costa and Adrian Lockhart. What a wonderful opportunity to be supported by the arts, should be heaps of fun! Thank you Foxtel Arts!

Foxtel Arts New Season Launch Campaign 'Portrait Artist Of The Year' 2018

FEATURE INTERVIEW FOR 'THE SILVER WOMEN' NEW YORK

What a wonderful experience to be interviewed for this amazing initiative for women all around the world. Here's little old me featured on The Silver Women, an inspiring New York website passionately lead by an incredible woman Simone Silverman. It's amazing to have my story around so many kick arse women. Massive thrill! Big thanks to the Silver Women for the opportunity. To read my story go to https://thesilverwomen.com/louisa-chircop/

2018 INAGURAL WINNER 'THE VINCENT ART PRIZE'

Ears some good news! So lovely to have won the inaugural Vincent Art Prize so proudly and totally supported by Art Van Go and hosted by the fantastic crew at Duckrabbit Gallery Redfern. To be judged alongside all my Australian artist heros and such a stellar finalist bunch by an art hero himself esteemed artist Alan Jones was an absolute treat and honour. The exhibition and prize was such a success that I know it will continue to grow for many years to come. Happy ten year anniversary Art Van Go it was a real pleasure to celebrate it with you in real support of the arts. A big thanks to Gilli Pepper Jewellery thank you for your stunning bronze trophy🏆 its the coolest I’ve ever seen! A Big congrats also to the amazing painter Paul Ryan who was runner up!  

Inaugural Vincent Art Prize Trophy

2018 Finalists

ARCHIBALD SITTING 2018 - JUZ KITSON

It's that time of year again where I like to challenge myself by taking on a portrait. A portrait for me is more than a mere representation of the sitter's appearance, expression or simple gestures of their biography. A portrait articulates the psyche between the sitter and the artist, presenting an opportunity to reveal the inner workings of the subject's mind through the artist's own intimate thoughts on life and doubt through an exploration of their existential being. Heartfelt thanks goes to Juz Kitson one of Australia's best contemporary artists for allowing me delve into her as a subject and for sitting for me for this painting titled 'Juz Kitson Imitating Venus'. I've been so privileged to be able to paint her.

'Juz Kitson Imitating Venus' oil on canvas, 220cm x 167cm, 2018

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE BUNDANON TRUST RECIPIENT FOR 2018

I am very pleased to announce that I am a 2018 recipient for an ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE at Bundanon Trust. Big heartfelt thanks to Bundanon Trust for this amazing opportunity and congratulations to all the other 2018 recipients of the residency award. I'm really, really looking forward to some fresh air and creativity. See you Bundanon in 2018!

The Bundanon artist-in-residence program is the largest program of its kind in Australia, welcoming around 350 artists each year. It is open to applicants from all disciplines and levels of experience, making it highly sought after by artists nationally. 2018 will see an impressive range of applicants from all genres: visual arts and new media, theatre and performance, dance, sound and music, and writing. https://bundanon.com.au/residencies/2018-residencies-list/

ARTISTS 'IN CONVERSATION' at Manly Regional Gallery and Museum

Please join me Sunday 19 November 3-4pm for Artists 'In Conversation' at Manly Regional Art Gallery and Museum with senior curator Katherine Roberts on a discussion about how the curated artists in the exhibition approached the concept of 'Land' as well as their creative processes in making the work for the exhibition. All welcome to come along! Please see the flyer for other listed events. Hope to see you there!

2017 WINNER OF THE FISHER'S GHOST JAMES GLEESON AWARD FOR SURREALISM

It's not every day you get to win the same prize twice. Still shell shocked, I'm pleased to announce that I'm the '2017 Winner of the James Gleeson Award for Surrealism' at Campbelltown Arts Centre. The judging panel included esteemed art professionals, Daniel Mudie-Cunningham (Senior Curator of Art Bank, artist and writer), Ben Quilty (artist and AGNSW board of Trustee Member) and Tess Allas (artist, curator and writer). I would like to thank Campbelltown Arts Centre for putting on an amazing evening and to the judges for finding my work worthy and honouring me the award. I would also like to thank the sponsors of the award Michael and Marilyn Reardon-Small for purchasing my work for their collection which will become part of Campbelltown Arts Centre's collection in future years to come. For all other category winners please visit Campbelltown Arts Centre website http://c-a-c.com.au/fishers-ghost-art-award-2017/

Notice board announcement - 'I Fucked with Matta and Van Gogh' Oil on canvas, 167cm x 167cm (purchased by the Sponsors Michael and Marilyn Reardon-Small for their Collection)

DOUBLE FINALIST - FISHER'S GHOST ART AWARD CAC 2017

Doubly pleased to be a finalist in two categories at Fisher's Ghost Art Award at Campbelltown Arts Centre this year. My Painting 'Existential Void' is a finalist in the Open section whilst my painting 'I fucked with Matta and Van Gogh' is a finalist in the Contemporary section. Looking very forward to the opening on the 3rd November as this one always draws a big crowd!

'Existential Void', Oil on Canvas, 250cm x 166.5cm

PORTIA GEACH FINALIST 2017

I'm over the moon that my painting of 'Jane Caro' is a finalist in this years prestigious Portia Geach Memorial award at the SH Ervin Gallery! To be exhibited alongside such an amazing bunch of Australia women artists is such an honour.

The Portia Geach Memorial Award is Australia’s most prestigious art prize for portraiture by women artists. The Award was established by the will of the late Florence Kate Geach in memory of her sister, Portia Geach. The non-acquisitive award of $30,000 is awarded by the Trustee for the entry which is of the highest artistic merit, ‘…for the best portrait painted from life of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, or the Sciences by any female artist resident in Australia during the twelve months preceding the closing date.

The Exhibition will open Fri 20 October 2017 until Sun 26 November 2017. 

ARCHIBALD SITTING 2017 - JANE CARO

Done and dusted! Delighted to have finished my 2017 Archibald portrait of Jane Caro. Thanks Jane for being so patient and allowing me to work around your very tight schedule. You are a wonderful human being and person and so worthy of being painted. I hope the judges love it just as much as you do.

ARTIST PROFILE AUSTRALASIAN PAINTERS 2007 - 2017

It's one month away and I'm really thrilled to be heading off to Orange Regional Art Gallery in July to be apart of Artist Profile's 10th Anniversary landmark exhibition 'Australasian Painters 2007-2017' curated by Kon Gouriotis and Lucy Stranger. It's such an honour to be invited and it's going to be a fantastic opening! for full list of artists and opening night details click here

'Land' at Manly Art Gallery and Museum 3 Nov- 3 Dec 2017

I'm thrilled to have had my proposal submission accepted by senior curator of Manly Art Gallery and Museum Katherine Roberts for an exhibition themed 'Land'. The curated exhibition will feature 43 artists from Sydney using a broad range of media in responses to the theme 'Land' for inspiration. I'm looking forward to producing the work and being showcased later in the year. More details to come!

Upcoming! 18 June at Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre

I have been invited to host another fantastic opportunity for Mixed Media on Paper Masterclass at Hazelhurst Gallery. If you would like to join me on a paper and mixed media discovery I would love to help you and have you join us in some fun. To enroll, or for more info, click here.

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26th April 2017

'3 Painters' Group Show

It's wonderful to be showing alongside two of my colleagues and fellow painters for an upcoming group show at the McGlade Gallery ACU Strathfield, Sydney. The last time our works were seen together was when we were all finalists in The Dobell Prize for Australian Drawing at the Art Gallery of NSW, so this is very special. The show will be officially launched on the 26th of April by the lovely Nick Vickers, independent curator, please join us for drinks.

Hardcopy invite