Lauren Kennedys' paintings unveil her sensitive observations and personal interpretation of awe-inspiring Landscapes.
Employing fluid, organic mark-making, often disrupted by the outdoor elements, Lauren is devoted to creating raw, honest paintings that embody her experience of place. Using tools and methods to relinquish control, she encourages spontaneity to move into new territory and stay engaged. Responding intuitively as a dancer would to rhythm.
Collecting inspiration in the everyday rhythms and nuances of rural life in Midwest WA, where she currently lives and works. B. 1988, Lauren grew up in Geraldton and laid the foundations for her art career at Edith Cowan University Perth, graduating in 2012 with a BA in Visual Arts and Textiles.
Lauren was the overall winner of 'Heart of the Bush' National Art Prize in 2023 and has been named a finalist in many prestigious prizes, including the Glover Art Prize, The National Emerging Art Prize in NSW, Royal Perth Art Prize for Landscape, Midwest Art Prize and Melville Art Prize.
Her paintings serve as a form of meditation, escaping monotonous responsibilities and re-grounding into visceral depictions of her surrounding environment.
Currently, Lauren is working on a body of work that depicts abstract domestic/interior landscapes, speaking of the simple pleasures in life, such as sharing conversations over coffee, nurturing a garden, or arranging flowers that can impact the soul of your home.
CV
b.1988
Education
BA Contemporary Arts, (Hons) Visual Arts & Textiles, Edith Cowan University, Mt Lawley, WA, 2008-2012
Solo Exhibitions
12/7/2024 ‘Terra Ochre’, RedBill Studio, Broome, WA
3/11/2022 ‘Slow Dance’ Doghouse Gallery, South Fremantle, WA
29/10/2021 ‘Awe & Angst’ Sometimes Gallery, South Fremantle, WA
3/9/2021 ‘Walking Wurdimarlu’ Fervor Food, Outdoor Dining Experience, Kalbarri Skywalk, WA
Group Exhibitions
7/3/2025 ‘Glover Art Prize’ Evandale, Tasmania
9/11/2024 ‘Tread Softly’ PS Art Space, Fremantle, WA
13/7/2024 ‘Royal Art Prize for Landscape’ Wilkinson Gallery, Claremont, WA
17/11/2023 ‘Grey Matter Soiree’ Fundraiser, Art Gallery of WA, Perth WA
21/10/2023 ‘Painting B-Side’, Studio Nyistor Gallery, Melville, WA
14/10/2023 ‘Dirt’, Stala Contemporary, Perth WA
7/10/2023 ‘Beat of The Land’, CSC Gallery, Flinders, VIC
7/10/2023 ‘Art Station’, Michael Reid, Murrurundi, NSW
20/1/2023 ‘Heart of The Bush’, National Art Prize, Goondawindi, QLD
28/10/2022 ‘Melville Art Prize’, Wireless Hill Museum, Perth WA
18/7/2022 ‘Cossack Art Prize’, Town of Cossack, WA
30/6/2022 ‘Kalgoorlie Boulder’s Art Prize’, Kalgoorlie, WA
14/6/2022 ‘The Grey Matter Soiree’ Hillaries, WA
24/5/2022 ‘Incognito Art Show’, Sydney, NSW
21/05/2022 ‘Visual Conversations’, Nyisztor Gallery, WA
2/4/2022 ‘Art for Floods, ’Virtual Exhibition, Online
27/11/2021 ‘Midwest Art Prize’, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, WA
12/11/2021 ‘Arte Ricca’, Mosman Park, WA
5/11/2021 ‘National Emerging Art Prize’, Michael Reid, Sydney, NSW.
1/8/2021 ‘Paper Mountain 10th Birthday’, Northbridge, WA
20/7/2021 ‘Cossack Art Awards’, Town of Cossack, WA
17/06/2021 ‘Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award’, Lethbridge, VIC
14/05/2021 ‘Incognito Art Show’, Sydney, NSW
6/12/2020 ‘My Place’, Australian Landscape Painters, Online
20/11/2020 ‘Pindan Toes’, with Gabrielle Scott, South Fremantle, WA
10/01/2020 ‘Aspiring 2020’ Live Painting & Exhibition for Zebra Creative, Raine Square, Perth, WA
AWARDS
7/3/2025 Hangers Choice Winner, Glovers Art Prize, Evandale, TAS
20/1/2023 Winner (overall), ‘Heart of The Bush’, National Art Prize, Goondawindi, QLD
13/7/2024 Finalist, ‘Royal Art Prize for Landscape’ Wilkinson Gallery, Claremont, WA
7/10/2023 Finalist ‘Art Station’ , Michael Reid, Murrurundi, NSW
28/10/2022 Finalist, Melville Art Prize, Wireless Hill Museum, Perth WA
27/11/2021 Finalist, Midwest Art Prize, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, WA
5/11/2021 Finalist, National Emerging Art Prize, Michael Reid, Sydney, NSW.
FIELDTRIPS & PUBLIC PROJECTS
9-11/10/2024 Public Mural, Rocks Laneway, Geraldton Commissioned by Geraldton Regional Art Gallery
14-23/09/2024 Geraldton Open Studios Participant
23-29/6/2024 Pilbara Field Trip With WA Artists, Cheela Plains, Pilbara, WA
11/04/2024 Artist Talk, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery
7/10/2024 Artist Talk, Michael Reid Gallery, Murrurundi
7-14/8/2023 Pilbara Field Trip With WA Artists, Cheela Plains & Karijini, Pilbara, WA
2023 ‘Beyond Distilling’ Artwork Collaboration for Gin Labels, Busselton, WA
2022 ‘The Design of Grounding’ Design x Artwork Collaboration for Branding, Red Cloud Build Co. WA
3-9/7/2022 ‘Landscape Artist Field Trip’ Australian Landscape Painters, Macdonnell Ranges NT
10/01/2020 Live Painting in Perth City for Zebra Creative, Raine Square, Perth, WA
2023 Life Drawing Host, Bobs Bar, Geraldton
2019 Life Drawing Host, Shared Studio space, North Fremantle
PUBLICATIONS
October 2024 Jessica Howard, Terra Chroma, Hardcover Book
November 2024 Jessica Moroney, Wildflower Art Brightens Up Rocks Laneway, Geraldton Guardian
July 2024 Emily Holgate, A Low-Fuss Retro Beach Shack In Horrocks, Western Australia, The Design Files
October 2023 Stephanie Gardiner, The WA artist finding beauty in the wild and unruly, The Canberra Times
April 2023 Chloe Gordon, Beyond Distillings Gin’s Packaging is a Testament to the beauty of their craft, DieLine
March 2023 Jessica Howard, Heart of The Bush Exhibition, The Bush Journal, Volume 6
November 2023 Marcus Rosenwax, Slow Down-Take a Breath, Fabric Quarterly
November 2021, Jade Jurewicz, Seroja Colours Solo Art Show, Geraldton Guardian
October 2021 Jade Jurewicz, In Awe of Nature, Story, STM MAGAZINE
March 2020 Tanya MacNaughton, Aspiring 2020 sees eight artists display works to raise money for Raine Medical Research Foundation, The West Australian