Ep 75: Nicole Kelly

Nicole Kelly is one of Australia’s most interesting emerging artists. Her landscapes and portraits are filled with reminiscence and emotion.

She’s had 10 solo shows, has won the coveted Brett Whiteley travelling art scholarship, Hurford Hardwood portrait prize, as well as other prizes, and has been finalist in many others.

I spoke with her in her studio in Sydney where she was creating work for her November show with Arthouse Gallery in Sydney. We also filmed some video on that day which will be uploaded to the website soon.

Nicole grew up in the Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney and now lives in Thirroul, south of Sydney.  She didn’t paint or draw much as a child and in fact was more interested in photography in high school and particularly the work of Bill Henson.

After school, encouraged by photographer and academic Ella Dreyfus, she decided to apply for the National Art School.

Press play beneath the feature photo above to hear us talk about her time at National Art School, in Paris and a lot more about her paintings and process.

Upcoming exhibitions

• Solo show, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney, 7-23 November 2019
• Group show, Portia Geach Memorial Award, SH Ervin Gallery Sydney, current until 15 September 2019
• Group show, ‘Southern Swell’ Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney, 23 November 2019 to 2 February 2020
• Group show, ‘Love’, Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillimbah, 6 September to 17 November 2019

Show Notes

• Nicole Kelly
• Nicole Kelly on Instagram
• Nicole Kelly at Arthouse Gallery
• Nicole Kelly at This Is No Fantasy
• Bill Henson
• Ella Dreyfus
• Willem De Kooning
• Chaim Soutine
• Alberto Giacometti
• Frank Auerbach
• Rembrandt
• El Greco
• Tom Carment