Ep 147: Ann Thomson in her 90th year

Watch an edited version of this conversation (4 mins) on the YouTube channel here

Ann Thomson, one of Australia’s most important artists, might be in her 90th year but she shows no signs of putting down the brush.

A powerful collection of works is currently hanging in a solo show at Sydney’s Defiance Gallery and Ann is looking forward to a busy 2024. A major survey show to be curated by Terence Maloon will open at the S.H.Ervin Gallery in Sydney and travel to Orange Regional Art gallery in country NSW and solo shows at Messums in London and with Stephane Jacob in Paris are also in the calendar.

Although Ann resists the label ‘abstract artist’, it’s her masterful use of colour and her superb mark making that will most likely catch your attention – those luscious brushstrokes and drips. But subjects often emerge; a landscape, tribal elements, creatures of the ocean.

You’ll also see collaged passages. Ann is well known for using a textured ‘tarred paper’ which was used by builders. Although it’s in scarce supply (she believes she has bought up all remaining rolls in existence!) she doesn’t treat the material as a precious commodity. If you look closely at ‘Calypso’ for example, you’ll see the section of collaged paper is splattered with drips of paint. That’s because it had previously been lying on the floor of Ann’s studio like a drop sheet. She later pasted the paper onto the canvas where it exists surrounded by bright colours, its own history intact.

It was wonderful to catch up with Ann to hear her thoughts on creativity and studio life. She has been a guest on the podcast twice previously – in 2018 talking about her life and art and in 2020 talking about her memories of meeting Ian Fairweather (links below).

Ann is represented by Defiance Gallery in Sydney, Mitchell Fine Art in Brisbane, Charles Nodrum Gallery in Melbourne, Messums in London and Stephane Jacob in Paris.

To hear our conversation press ‘play’ beneath the above photo and scroll down for images of selected works included in the show.