Biography
“I try to deal with the figure and the landscape together. For me, it’s about the relationship we have with our surrounds. The tension
between the two both visually and metaphorically is what makes it
interesting to tackle as a subject.”
B. 1971, Sydney, Australia
Lives and works, Sydney
Education
2004 Private study with Peter Howson, Glasgow
1998 The London Print Studio, UK
1991 New York Art Students League, USA
1988-91 Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Solo Exhibitions
2024 ‘The Figure Renewed’ Thomas VanDyke Gallery, New York City
2023 ‘Shapes For Gods’ Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane
2023 ‘Some Mysterious Way’ Penny Contemporary, Hobart
2022 ‘Encountered’ SH Ervin Gallery Sydney & Orange Regional Gallery
2022 ‘Crystalline’, Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2022 Steve Lopes, Bank Of America , 333Projects , Sydney
2021 ‘Sans Souci’, Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2021 ‘Steve Lopes’ Queenscliff Art Gallery, VIC
2020 ‘Still and Still Moving’ Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane
2020 ‘Pocket Views’ Linton and Kay , Perth
2019 “Tree Change’ Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2018 ‘Impossible Find’ Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2017 ” The Island of Misfits” Mitchell Fine Arts, Brisbane
2017 ” Far From Here” Colville Gallery, Hobart
2016 “The Late Riser” Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2016 “Open Cut” Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth
2015 “The Trip to Italy”- Fiumano Fine Art, London
2015 “Exit Town”- Gallery Smith, Melbourne
2015“Peaks and Valleys” Nock Gallery, Hong Kong
2015 “Gallipoli”- Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane
2014 “Outsider” – Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2013 “China Studies”- Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2013 ‘The Curious Watcher – Survey Exhibition of Paintings & Prints’ Coffs Harbour Regional Art Gallery
2012 ‘Changing Landscapes – Steve Lopes + Euan Macleod’ Fiumano Fine Art, London
2012 ‘Junk’ Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2010 ‘Doors to Drydock’ Colville Street Art Gallery, Hobart
2010 ‘Eternals’ Jon Dwyer Fine Art, Melbourne
2010 ‘Parc Life’ Fiumano Fine Art, London
2009 ‘Sons of Los’ Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2008 ‘Steve Lopes Prints’ Impressions on Paper Gallery, ACT
2007 ‘Ex Nihilo’ Michael Carr Gallery, Sydney
2006 ‘Silver Valley’ Gallery 482, Brisbane
2006 ‘Bundanon Paintings’ Harrison Galleries (formerly Brian Moore), Sydney
2005 ‘Passage’ Brian Moore Gallery, Sydney
2004 ‘Elemental Man’ Gallery 482, Brisbane
2004 ‘Ambergris’ Brian Moore Gallery, Sydney
2003, 05, 06 & 07, ‘Steve Lopes – New works’, Pollock Galleries, Melbourne
2002 ‘Introduced Species’ Gallery 482, Brisbane
2000 ‘The Arrivals’ Gallery Savah, Sydney
1996 ‘Access’ Toast II Contemporary Art Gallery, Sydney
Selected Exhibitions & Awards
2023 Archibald, Salon Des Refuses, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney NSW
2023 ‘Vibrations in Australian Drawing’ Macquarie University Art Gallery
2023 ’10 years, Art of Connecting’, Bank Of America, 333Projects , Sydney
2022 Kedumba Invitational Drawing Award, finalist
2022 Archibald, Salon des refuses, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2022 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Artist Profile and 333 Projects stand.
2021 Kings School Art Prize, Invited artist & 2021 winner, Kings School, Sydney
2021 River to the Sea, Grafton Regional Art Gallery
2021 Archibald, Salon Des Refuses, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney NSW
2020 Archibald, Salon Des Refuses, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2020 ‘Percival Portrait Painting Prize’, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Townsville
2020 ‘Director’s Choice’ & ‘Primavera’ Mitchell Fine Art Brisbane
2020 ‘Summer’ Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2020 ‘Art Aid’ Gippsland Art Gallery , VIC
2019 ‘At Home with Art” Guy Warren, Steve Lopes, Merran Esson, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2019 ‘Outback Art Awards’ Broken Hill Regional Gallery
2019 ‘Calleen Art Awards’ Cowra Regional Art Gallery
2019 ‘Geelong National Print Awards” Geelong Regional Art Gallery, VIC
2019 ‘Peebles Print Award’ Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop, VIC2019
2019 ‘Brisbane Portrait Prize’ Powerhouse Museum Brisbane QLD
2019 ‘Tattersals Landscape Prize’, Tattersals Club, Brisbane, QLD
2018/19 ‘Salient’ Contemporary Artists on the Western Front, ANZAC Memorial, Sydney, NERAM Regional
Gallery, Bathurst Regional Gallery, Tweed Regional Gallery
2018 ‘Lest We Forget’ Parliament House Canberra
2018 ‘Broken Hill Outback Art Prize’ Finalist- Broken Hill Regional Gallery
2018 ‘The Art of Friendship’, Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios
2018 ‘Jamberoo Mountain Road’, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery NSW
2018 ‘Paddington Art Prize” Finalist, Menzies Art Brands NSW
2018 ‘Tattersalls Club Landscape Art Prize’ Finalist, Brisbane
2018 ‘Percival Portrait Painting Prize’, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Townsville
2018 ‘Western Front’ Australian Club, Melbourne, curated by Bill Nuttall
2018 ‘Mosman Art Award ‘ Finalist, Mosman Art Gallery, NSW
2017 ” Phantom” Group Touring Show, Newcastle Art Gallery, Australian Galleries,
2016 ‘Kilgour Figurative Art Prize ‘ Finalist, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
2016 ‘Percival Portrait Prize’ Finalist, Townsville Regional Gallery QLD
2016 ‘Rick Amor Drawing Prize’ Finalist, Ballarat Regional Gallery, VIC
2016 ‘Archibald, Salon Des Refuses’, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2016 ‘Mosman Art Award ‘ Finalist, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2016 ‘Parliament House Plein Air Painting Prize’ Finalist , Parliament House Sydney
2015 ‘Your Friend The Enemy’ Gallipoli Commemoration Exhibitions,
SH Ervin Gallery- Sydney, ANU Drill Hall Gallery Canberra, Bathurst Regional Gallery, Pataka Gallery Wellington NZ
2015 ‘Parliament Plein Air Landscape Prize’, Parliament House NSW
2014 ‘Blow In Art Collective’, Broken Hill Regional Gallery
2014 ‘Kilgour Prize Finalist’, Newcastle Regional Gallery
2014 ‘Doug Moran Portrait Prize’ Finalist, Juniper Hall, Paddington, Sydney
2014 ‘First China-ASEAN Art Biennale’ International Cultural Center, Nanning, China.
2013 ‘ Doug Moran Portrait Prize’ Finalist, Juniper Hall, Paddington, Sydney
2013 ‘Archibald – Salon de Refuses’ S.H Ervin Gallery Sydney
2013 ‘Not the Way Home’ Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill
2013 ‘Insight Radical’ Griffen Gallery, London
2013 ‘Summer Show’ Fiumano Fine Art, London
2013 ‘Mosman Art Award’ Finalist, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
2013 ‘Eutick Memorial Still Life Award’ Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, NSW
2013 ‘Gallery Artists’ Group exhibition, Colville Gallery, Hobart Tasmania
2012 ‘Not the Way Home’ S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2012 ‘Fowlers Gap’ Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney
2012 ‘Salon des Refuses’ S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2012 MAF 12 Melbourne Art Fair, Artist Profile Magazine, Melbourne VIC
2012 ‘Larapinta Trail’ Group exhibition, Nowra Regional Gallery, NSW
2011 ‘On This Island, Meeting and Parting’, King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2011 ‘Kilgour Figurative Art Award’, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle
2011 ‘Kedumba Drawing Prize’, Finalist
2011 ‘Stations of the Cross, invited artist, St Ives Uniting Church, Sydney
2011 ’30 to Collect, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2011 ‘AIR’, Taronga Zoo Artists in Residence, Newcastle University Gallery, Newcastle
2010 ‘En Plein Air’, Bowen Galleries, Wellington, New Zealand
2010 ‘Kilgour Figurative Painting Art Award’, Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, Newcastle
2010 ‘On This Island, Meeting and Parting’, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, Bathurst
2010 ‘On This Island, Meeting and Parting’, Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery, Sydney
2010 ‘Kings School Art Prize’, Invited Finalist,
2010 ‘Adelaide Perry Drawing Award’, Finalist, Sydney
2009 ‘Edinburgh Art Fair’, Fiumano Fine Art UK, Scotland
2009 ‘Black Swan Portrait Prize’ Finalist, Perth
2008 ‘Kilgour Figurative Art Prize’, Finalist, Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, Newcastle
2008 ‘Summer Exhibition’, Fiumano Gallery, London UK
2008 ‘Doug Moran Portrait Prize’, Finalist, National Tour
2008 ‘About People’, John Miller Galleries, Newcastle
2008 ‘City of Albany Art Prize’, Albany Regional Art Gallery, WA
2008 ‘Stanthorpe Art Award’, Finalist, Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, QLD
2007 ‘Manning Prize,’ Finalist ‚ ‘Images of the Human Body’, Manning Regional Gallery
2007 ‘Kilgour Figurative Art Prize’, Finalist, Newcastle Regional Gallery
2007 ‘Conrad Jupiters Art Prize’, Finalist, Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2007 ‘Painting 2007’, group show, John Gordon Gallery, Coffs Harbour NSW
2006 Bundanon Residency, Arthur Boyd Studios, Bundanon, NSW
2006 ‘Doug Moran’, Finalist (two works selected), National Tour
2006 & 04 ‘Kedumba Invitational Drawing Award’, Finalist
2005 London Art Fair, Battersea, Farmillo Fiumano Gallery, London
2005 Art on Paper, Hazelhurst Art Award finalist
2004 ‘Salon des Refuses’, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2004 ‘Kedumba Drawing Award’, Finalist, Blue Mountain
2003 ‘Metro 5 Art Prize’, Finalist, Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne
2002 ‘Small Gems’, Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne
2002 ‘Jacaranda Drawing Prize’, Grafton Art Gallery
2002 ‘Waverley City Art Award’, Finalist, Sydney
2003, 02 & 2001 ‘Hills Grammar Award’, Finalist, Kenthurst
2002, 01 & 1999 ‘Mosman Art Award’, Finalist, Sydney
2001 Alice Art Prize, The Araluen Centre Alice Springs
2001 ‘Conrad Jupiters Art Prize’, Gold Coast City Art Gallery
2001 & 2000 AGNSW Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship Finalist
2001 & 2000 ‘Salon de Refuses’,, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2000 ‘Doug Moran Portrait Prize’, Finalist, National Tour
2000 ‘Lloyd Rees Youth Art Award’, Finalist, Atrium Gallery, ABC Centre
2000 ‘Shell National Print Awards’, Fremantle, WA
1999 & 2001 ‘Carnivale Arts Festival’, Artists on Norton, Sydney, First Prizes
1998 ‘Royal Institute of Oil Painters’, Mall Galleries, London
1997 ‘Royal Institute of Oil Painters’, Young Artist Award, Mall Galleries, London
1997 ‘Sothebys Art Auction’, New York. Drawings.
1995 Orange Regional Gallery, NSW
1990-95 ‘Black & White Artists Exhibition’, NSW State Library
1991 University of New South Wales, College of Fine Arts, Graduates Exhibition
Collections
Australian Parliament House Art Collection, Canberra; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; BHP Billiton, Art Collection Australia; The Bundanon Collection; New South Wales State Library, Sydney; University of Wollongong Art Collection; The University of Melbourne Library; The University of Sydney Art Collection: Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery: Broken Hill Regional Gallery, ANU Drill Hall Gallery: Canberra, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery NSW, Grafton Regional Gallery, Waiheke Regional Gallery New Zealand, Time Warner, New York; Rolls Royce, London; British Biotech, London; Psion Communications, London; Cable & Wireless, UK; Winsor and Newton Collection Australia and Private collections in Australia, UK, Italy and USA
Awards & Residencies
2021 Winner, Kings School Art Prize NSW
2020 Artist in Residence , River to the Sea, Clarence Valley, Grafton Regional Gallery NSW
2018 Winner, The Gallipoli Art Prize, The Gallipoli Club
2018 Artist in Residence , Jamberoo , Selected Artists exhibition, Shoalhaven Art Gallery NSW
2018 Artist in Residence, Carss Park Artist Cottage, NSW
2017 Western Front, Invited Artist, Artist in Residence to Battlefields of France and Belgium. National
Touring exhibition, NERAM, Bathurst Regional Gallery, ANZAC Hyde Park Memorial
2017 Winner, Georges River Art Prize Local Artist, Hurstville Museum and Gallery
2017 Artist in Residence Arnhem Land/ Kakadu, NT. Exhibition, Selected Artists – Mitchell Fine Art
2016 Nock Art Foundation, Painting Residency, Queenstown, New Zealand
2016 Artist in Residence, Moonee Beach, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery NSW
2015 Nock Art Foundation, Painting Residency. Hong Kong And Yellow Mountain, China
2014 ‘Your Friend the Enemy’ Invited Artist Painting residency to Gallipoli, Turkey. National touring
2014 Exhibition and Documentary Film, SH Ervin Gallery Sydney, ANU Drill Hall Canberra
2014 Artist in Residence Waiheke Island, Waiheke Regional Gallery New Zealand
2012 ARC Centre -Free Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology Artist Residency
Bio21 Institute School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne
2011 ‘Not the Way home’ UNSW Fowlers Gap Research Centre, Broken Hill, Invited Artist Expedition.
2011 Red Gate Gallery, Artist in Residence Programe, Redgate Studios, Beijing, China
(Awarded, Australian Embassy Beijing – Artist Merit Grant)
AIR, Taronga Zoo Artist in Residence programe, Sydney, NSW
2009 ‘On This Island – eleven prominent artists paint New Zealand”, Invited artist painting residency of
Wellington, Castlepoint, Tongariro National Park. New Zealand.
2006 Bundanon Residency, Arthur Boyd Studios, Bundanon, NSW
Selected Bibliography
Ann Ryan,’ Steve Lopes Encountered’, Artist Profile, Issue 58, p160-161, Autumn 2022
John McDonald, ‘Encountered’ Review Sydney Morning Herald / Age, April 15, 2022
Kon Gouriotis, ‘Steve Lopes -Uncomfortable Beauty’ Cover & Feature Article Issue 52 Spring 2020
John McDonald, ‘Steve Lopes’ Review Sydney Morning Herald / Age, Good Weekend, July 28, 2018
Ashleigh Wilson Pilgramage Lights Path to Gallipoli Prize, The Australian, pg.6 Nation, 2018
Nick Galvin At the end of the day he remembers, April 19, pg. 9 The Sydney Morning Herald, 2018
Brad Manera, The Western Front 100 years on:March 23, The Australian Financial Review, 2018
Lena Owen, Fitting in with Misfits, The Creative Issue June 16, 2017
Lesley Conran Steve Lopes as Printmaker, Artist Profile Magazine issue 39, 2017
John McDonald, Anzac 100, Artists Experience Inner Battle Sydney Morning Herald / Age, Spectrum April 28, 2015
Fiona Purdon, Battle Lines, Steve Lopes, Sunday Mail Brisbane, September 10 2015
John McDonald Your Friend the Enemy 100 year Anzac commemoration publication, 2015
Joel Meares, James Unlocks Heart of Suburbia Art and Entertainment – Sydney Morning Herald, Age May 31, 2014
Sue Forster, China Studies –Steve Lopes’ new collaboration with Duck Print, Imprint Magazine, summer pg19, 2014
Sue Forster, China Studies –Steve Lopes’ new collaboration with Duck Print, Imprint Magazine, Summer pg19, 2014
Chris Wallace, Reclaiming Art, Canberra Times, 7 December, 2013
Leah Haynes, Art Monthly, Steve Lopes China, Art Notes, December, 2013
Steve Lopes- Guest Editor of Artist Profile magazine Issue 25. 2014- artists edition.
Lynne Dwyer, ‘Junk’, Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald, 4– 5 August, p.12, 2012
Idris Murphy, ‘Steve Lopes: Junk’, Art Almanac, July, pp. 40 – 41, 2012
Lynne Dwyer, ‘Fowlers Gap’, Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 – 10 June, p.13, 2012
John McDonald, ‘Outback inspiration’, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June, 2012
Owen Craven, Insight Radical, Artist Profile, Issue 23
Cherie McDonald, Cornish Miners Stir Artist’s Imagination, Interview: ABC Rural Radio, 3 April, 2013
Idris Murphy, Junk – a review, Art Almanac, July Issue, 2012
Artist Profile Magazine, Perspective columnist since launch issue, 2007-present
Owen Craven, Not the Way Home, Artist Profile, Issue 18, 2012, pp 92-93
Owen Craven, On This Island, Meeting and Parting (exhibition catalogue), 2010, pp 20-23
Paul Flynn, Sons of Los catalogue, 2009
Jill Stowell, Kilgour’s Debut, Newcastle Herald, December 16, 2006
Alison Harper, Art Market News, The Australian Art Market Report, Issue 16, Winter 2005
Alexandra Wilcox, The art of making money out of art, (listed as top 10 investment artist), Herald Sun, 6 March 2005, p6
John McDonald, In love with Archibald, The Financial Review, 1 April 2004
Patricia Anderson, Faces in the crowd, The Weekend Australian, April 10 2004
Valerie Lawson, A Judge of Character, The Sydney Morning Herald, 13-14 March 2004
Dominique Angeloro, Critic’s Picks, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 2004
Alice McCormick, Tiny Paper Walls, The Australian Art Market Report, Issue 11, Autumn 2004
The Australian Art Market Report, front cover image, Issue 10 Summer, 2004
Geoff Elliott, Marketwatch, The Australian, 3 March 2004, p25
Andrew Taylor, Spotlight Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 Feb 2005, p11
Tom Gilling, Ambergris, Paintings of Steve Lopes, The Artisan Press, 62 page book, 2004
The Australian Art Market Report, front cover image, Summer Issue, Dec 2003
The Age, News Section, May 25 2002
Joyce Morgan, Drawn Hung and Quartered, Sydney Morning Herald, 3-page Summer Times artist profile, January 5 2000
Sebastian Smee, Sydney Morning Herald, Metro (review) feature, April 5 1996