Wendy Sharpe AM was born in Sydney, and currently lives and works between her two studios in Paris and Sydney. Sharpe graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Visual Art, from City Art Institute in Sydney, 1982, and then once again with a Master of Fine Arts from the College of Fine Arts, UNSW, in 1992. Wendy has been exhibiting with King Street since 1995.
Sharpe has been awarded Member [AM] of the Order of Australia [General Division] in the King’s Birthday Honours 2023.
Wendy Sharpe has featured in over seventy exhibitions nationally, with solo exhibitions in Sydney, Paris, Berlin, China and the UK; her work is held in public and private collections throughout Australia and internationally.
Wendy is also one of Australia’s most awarded artists. She has won the Archibald Portrait Prize, the Sir John Sulman Prize, the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship, the Mercedes Benz Travelling Scholarship, the Kedumba Drawing Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Award (twice), the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, the Manning Art Prize and the Calleen Art Prize, among many others. She has also been a finalist in the Archibald Prize eight times and in the Sir John Sulman Prize fourteen times (note: more than any other artist). Recently, Sharpe won the Gold Art Prize in Rockhampton.
Sharpe has also been awarded numerous artist residencies both in Australia and internationally, in China, Mexico, Egypt, the Arctic and Antarctica (twice), and at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris (twice).
Additionally, Sharpe’s major commissions include a commission from the City of Sydney to paint an Olympic size mural at Cook and Philip Park Aquatic Centre, Sydney, 1998. In 1999, Sharpe was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial as an Official War Artist for Australia. She was later invited to sit on the council of the Australian War Memorial for nine years.
Sharpe worked on a major portrait project with the Asylum Seeker Centre in Sydney, for which she is now an Ambassador. In 2018 she was awarded a ‘fellowship’ at the National Art School in Sydney, and in 2019 she was made a fellow of the Royal Society of NSW.
Vu iz dos gesele/ Where is the little street? Film by John Fotiadis with the stunning voice of Fay Sussman.
In July 2021, Archibald-winning Australian artist Wendy Sharpe took over the walls of Sydney Jewish Museum’s gallery space, using a large-scale painted mural to tell her family’s stories from their Ukrainian hometown of Kamianets-Podilskyi. Along with comments from Head Curator Roslyn Sugarman, Wendy tells us about the inspiration and artistic process behind her artwork.
Wendy Sharpe takes us through the creation of the mural section of her grandmother, Bessie.
Maria Stoljar takes you to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW
See Wendy Sharpe ‘at work’ in her studios in Sydney and Paris, and explore the importance of travel and culture to the artist. Produced by Catherine Hunter for the 2019 MAG&M exhibition.
Australian sculptor Paul Selwood, who is commenting on his latest work "Expanded Figure". The sculpture will be Kamstrup's new landmark at the headquarters in Denmark.
'Salient: Contemporary artists at the Western Front' is a group exhibition which is travelling across Australia opening at the New England Regional Art Museum in March 2018. A group of twelve leading Australian artists travelled to Belgium and France to the First World War battlefields of the western front. Historian Brad Manera, who had previously travelled with many of the artists to Gallipoli, and artists Wendy Sharpe, Euan Macleod and Amanda Penrose Hart talked with Maria Stoljar about the exhibition.
Award winning Australian artist, Wendy Sharpe, travels to Antarctica as a guest of the Mawson's Huts Foundation (January 2012).
2023 ‘Wheel of Fortune’ King Street Gallery on William, NSW
2022-23 ‘A Dance to the Music of Time’ Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture, NSW
2022 ‘Her Shoes’, Fundraising Exhibition for Lou’s Place Women’s Refuge, Juniper Hall, Sydney, NSW
2021 ‘Paintings about Magic and Time Passing’ – Linton & Kay Gallery Perth, WA
2021 ‘Where is the little Street ?’ Sydney Jewish Museum, NSW
2021 ‘Pandora’s Box’, Nicholas Thompson, Melbourne, VIC
2020 – 2021 ‘Ghosts’, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2020 ‘MAGIC’, King Street Gallery on William, Sydney, NSW
2020 ‘Celebrating Women: Hamlin Fistula Foundation’, Macquarie Space Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2019 ‘The Most Northly Exhibition’, Artic Unveiled, Svalbard, Norway
2019 ‘Paris’, Linton and Kay Galleries, Subiaco, Perth, WA
2019 ‘Paris Stories’, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, VIC
2019 ‘Western Front WWI’, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, VIC
2018 ‘Paris Windows’ King Street Gallery on William. Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW
2018 ‘Secrets’ Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
2018 ‘Wanderlust’, Aarwun Gallery Canberra, ACT
2017- 2018 ‘Wendy Sharpe’, Clayton Utz, Bligh Street, Sydney, NSW
2017 ‘Wanderlust’, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, VIC
2017 ‘Burlesque and Circus’, Linton and Kay, Perth, WA
2017 ‘Burlesque and Circus’ Aarwun Gallery Canberra, ACT
2017 ‘House of Dreams and The Book of Constant Stars ‘, Juniper Hall, Sydney, NSW
2016 ‘Wendy Sharpe’, Linyi Contemporary Art Centre China
2016 ‘Cultural Exchange of Australia and China’, Qinghua Centre, Linyi China
2016 6th Shandong Cultural Industries Fair Jinan, China
2016 ‘China Stories’ Shanghai Cultural Centre and Art Gallery Shanghai China
2016 ‘CIRCUS’, King Street Gallery on William. Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW
2016 ‘Butt Naked Salon’, with the Australian Art Quartet. Yellow House, Sydney, NSW
2016 ‘Theatre of Dreams’, Drawing Projects UK, Trowbridge, UK
2016 ‘Wanderlust’ – Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah QLD
2016 ‘Beautiful Monsters’, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, QLD
2016 Prints Fire Station Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2015 ‘Theatre of Dreams’, Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2015 ‘Seeking Humanity – Portraits of Asylum Seekers’, The Muse, Ultimo TAFE, Sydney/ Belconnen Art Centre, Canberra/ Penrith Regional Gallery, Sydney, Mary McKillop Place Museum North Sydney, NSW
2015 ‘Painting for Antarctica’ (with Bernard Ollis), The Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, NSW
2014 ‘Le Regard de Deux Australiens’, Espace Beaujon, 75008 Paris, France
2014 ‘Night’, King Street Gallery on William, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW
2014 ‘Conversations with Matisse’, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, QLD
2013 ‘Wendy Sharpe’s Antarctica’, Long Gallery, Salamanca Art Centre, Hobart, TAS
2013 ‘Burlesque and Backstage’, Buratti Fine Art, North Fremantle, WA
2013 ‘Truth or Dare’, Muk Muk Fine Art, Darwin, NT
2013 ‘Make Believe’, Ecosse Gallery, Exeter, Southern Highlands, NSW
2012 ‘Burlesque’, King Street Gallery on William, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW
2012 ‘Wendy Sharpe’s Antarctica’, Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour Sydney, NSW
2012 ‘Artist & Model’, Buratti Fine Art, North Fremantle, WA
2012 ‘Walking Dream’, Ecosse Gallery, Exeter, NSW
2011 ‘Artist and Model’, MARS Gallery, Port Melbourne, VIC
2011 ‘Wendy Sharpe: The Imagined Life’ (major survey retrospective), S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2011 ‘Travel’, Philip Bacon Galleries, Sydney, NSW
2010 ‘Venice’, King Street Gallery on William, Sydney, NSW
2008 ‘Travel’, MARS Gallery, Port Melbourne, VIC
2008 ‘Intimacy and Solitude’, Adele Boag Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2008 ‘Paris’, King St Gallery on William, Sydney, NSW
2007 ‘Stories from the Studio’, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, QLD
2006 ‘Couples’, MARS Gallery, Port Melbourne, VIC
2006 ‘The Opera Series Paintings and Drawings’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
2006 ‘Million Dollar Mermaid’, Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, NSW
2005 ‘Artist & City & Spanish Series’, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2004 ‘Paintings’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
2004 ‘Travel Paintings’, Phillip Bacon Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2003 ‘Recent Paintings’, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2003 ‘Paintings’, Phillip Bacon Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2002 ‘Wendy Sharpe: a selection of works 1999-2002’, King Street Gallery on Burton at Span Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
2002 ‘New Paintings’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
2000 ‘New Beginnings-East Timor’, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
2000 ‘East Timor’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1999 ‘Drawings, Paintings and Mixed Media Works for The Annette Kellermann Mural’ (at Cook & Phillip Aquatic Centre, Sydney), King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1997 ‘Night Paintings’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1996 ‘New Work’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1995 ‘New Work’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1993 ‘Recent Paintings’, Michael Nagy Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1991 ‘Ghosts’, Pod Theatre, Sydney, NSW
1990 ‘Magic Paintings’, DC Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1989 ‘Recent Paintings’, DC Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1987 ‘Selected Work’, Nidus Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1986 ‘Fire Inside’, First Impressions Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1987 ‘Lingering Images’, Visual Arts Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1985 ‘Sex and Death’, Nicholson Street Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1980 Winner, International Women’s Decade Poster, NSW
2023 The Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Stills, Coffs Harbour Regional Art Gallery, Coffs Harbour
Naked and Nude, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree
2022 Sulman Prize – Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW
2022 Grace Cossington Smith Art Award, Abbotsleigh, NSW
2022 The Gold Art Award Invitational Exhibition, Rockhampton Museum of Art, QLD
2022 Treasures from the Vault, Manly Art Gallery, NSW
2021 Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Geelong Gallery, Cairns Art Gallery, Art Gallery of SA, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Bathurst Reginal Gallery, Museum and Art Gallery of NT, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, 6 November 2021 – 28 January 2024
2021 9 x 5, Hill End Arts Council, Hill End, NSW
2021 Sydney Harbour: Treasures From the Vault, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney, NSW
2021 Portia Geach, S.H Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2021 Salon des Refuses David Roche Foundation, Adelaide, SA
2021 Kennedy Art Prize, Adelaide, SA
2021 DARK, Wendy Sharpe & Steven Cavanagh, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2021 The Figure, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, QLD
2021 Muswellbrook Art Prize 2021, NSW
2020 National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Gallery, Victoria2020 Burlesque Museum, Kensington Street Studios, Chippendale, Sydney, NSW, 19 November
2020 PANDEMIC!, The State Library of NSW, Sydney, 5 September – 24 January 2021
2020 The Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
2020 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman, Sydney, NSW
2020 Portia Geach, S.H Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2020 Self Portrait, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney, NSW
2020 Kilgour Art Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery, NSW
2020 Tradition and Transformation II: Taiwan-Australian International Watercolour Exhibition. Dadun Cultural Centre, Taichung City, Taiwan, 30 May – 17 June
2020 Eye to Eye, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2019 The Darling Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2019 Doug Moran Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
2019 Ravenswood Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
2019 Salon Des Refuses, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2019 Artist Book Award, Manly Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2019 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, NSW
2019 Calleen Art Award, NSW
2019 Dobell Drawing Prize, Sydney, NSW
2019 Muswellbrook Art Prize, NSW
2019 Australia Day Artist, Sydney Morning Herald
2018 Ravenswood Art Prize, Centenary Centre Gordon, Sydney, NSW
2019 ‘Inside/Outside’ King Street Gallery on William, Sydney, NSW
2018 ‘Destination Sydney’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2018 ‘100 years on’ King Street Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2018 ‘Salient : Contemporary artists at the Western Front’ Travelling Exhibition 2018– 2020
New England Regional Art Museum, NSW: 24 March – 3 June 2018
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, NSW: 10 August – 7 October 2018
Anzac War Memorial, Sydney, NSW: 21 October 2018– 17 February 2019
Bank Art Museum. Moree, NSW: 5 March – 29 April 2019
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, NSW: 11 May – 30 June 2019
Tweed Regional Gallery, NSW: 21 November – 16 February 2020
2018 New Galleries, State Library of NSW
2018 ‘Elsewhere – Travels through Morocco, Egypt, Syria Iran and Central Asia’, exhibition with Bernard Ollis
HR Gallop Gallery, CSU Wagga Wagga, NSW – 13 August to 7 September 2018
Griffith Regional Art Gallery, NSW – 29 September to 4 November 2018
Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, NSW: May – June 2019
The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie, NSW: 20 July – 29 September 2019
Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, NSW: 8 February – 22 March 2020
2018 Finalist, Grace Cossington Smith Art Prize, Abbotsleigh, NSW
2018 Finalist, Portia Geach Award, Sydney, NSW
2018 Finalist, Fishers Ghost Award, Sydney, NSW
2018 Finalist, Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, Nowra, NSW
2018 Finalist, Ravenswood Art Prize, Centenary Centre Gordon, Sydney, NSW
2018 ‘The Art of Friendship’, Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney, NSW
2018 Finalist, ‘Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2018 ’Salon des Refuses’, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2018 ‘Interiors’, Orange Regional Gallery, Orange, NSW
2018 ‘Salient – Contemporary Artists at the Western Front ‘
New England Regional Gallery, NSW 23 March-3 June 2018
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, NSW 10 August-7 October
The Anzac Memorial Sydney, NSW October 2018
17 February 2019, Bank Art Museum Moree 5 March- 29 April 2019
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre 11 May- 30 June 2019, Tweed
Regional Gallery 21 November- 16 February 2020.
2018 Australian Women Artists’, Philip Bacon Galleries Brisbane QLD
2018 ‘Art from Our Souls’. New Chinese Australian Art Society, St Magdalen’s Chapel, Guest Artist, Wolli Creek, Sydney, NSW
2017 ‘Cabaret’, Guest Artist, Glen Street Theatre, Belrose, Sydney, NSW
2017 ’Salon des Refuses’, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2017 ‘Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis – Etchings’, The Fire Station Gallery Melbourne VIC
2017 Finalist, ‘Portia Geach Memorial Award’, S.H Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW
2017 ‘From the Collection: Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis: Life and Travels’ Blue Mountains City Gallery, NSW
2016 ‘Battle for Berrima Show’, Berrima Artspace, E2, Berrima, NSW
2016 ‘Prints from the Griffith Studio’, Wood Works Gallery, Bungendore, NSW
2016 ’Salon des Refuses’, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2016 Finalist, ‘Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2016 ‘The Collection’, The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba, NSW
2016 Drawing Exhibition, Untitled Factory, Rue Gabrielle 18eme. Paris, France
2016 ‘Self Portrait Exhibition’ Yellow House, Potts Point Sydney, NSW
2016 ‘WAR – A Playground Perspective’, Newington Armory Gallery, NSW
2016 ‘Collection: La Femina’, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW
2015 Gold Coast City Art Prize, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, QLD
2015 Finalist, Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Paddington, NSW
2015 ‘Escape to Antarctica, Shackleton’, Sydney Maritime Museum, NSW
2015 ‘The Art of Shakespeare’ with Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Opera House, Sofitel Melbourne, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT
2015 ’Salon des Refuses’, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW and Mornington Peninsula Art Gallery, Mornington, VIC
2015 ‘Mug Shot- Still Life Exhibition’, Ecosse Gallery, Exeter, NSW
2015 ‘Newtown Romantics’, Penny Contemporary Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania
2015 ‘Australian Masterworks’, Handmark, Hobart, Tasmania
2015 ‘Labourers, Luminaries & Lieutenants’, Muse Gallery, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW
2015 ‘Painting for Antarctica: Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis Follow Shackleton’, Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW
2015 ‘Shackleton: Escape from Antarctica’, Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW
2015 ‘The Australians’, 12Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2015 Finalist, ‘Muswellbrook Art Prize’, Muswellbrook Gallery, NSW
2015 ‘Private Lives – Artist as Collector’, S.H Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW
2014 Finalist, ‘Portia Geach Memorial Award’, S.H Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW
2014 Finalist, ‘The Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA)’, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW. Travelling to: Redcliffe City Regional Gallery, QLD, Broken Hill Regional Gallery, NSW and Tamworth Regional Gallery, NSW
2014 Finalist, ‘Grace Cossington Smith art award’, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Wahroonga, Sydney, NSW
2014 Finalist, Alice Prize
2014 ‘Forty Years’, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, QLD
2014 Australian Watercolour Institute Exhibition, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
2013 ‘Figurative Show’, Buratti Fine Art, Perth, WA
2013 ‘Auto Portrait’, Ecosse Gallery, NSW
2013 Finalist, ‘Mosman Art Prize’, NSW
2013 Winner ‘Manning Art Prize’, Taree, NSW
2013 Finalist, ‘Doug Moran National Portrait Prize’, NSW
2012 Finalist ‘Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, NSW
2012 Finalist ‘National Works on Paper Award’, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, VIC
2012 ‘Virtual Reality – Interpreting the Landscape’, King Street Gallery at Newcastle University Gallery NSW
2012 – 2014 Finalist ‘Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award’, Grafton Regional Art Gallery, NSW. Travelling to: Redcliffe City Art Gallery, QLD, University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, New England Regional Art Museum, NSW, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, QLD, Griffith Regional Gallery, NSW, Tamworth Regional Gallery, NSW, Bundaberg Regional Gallery, QLD Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, QLD, Gympie Regional Gallery, OLD
2012 – 2014 ‘In Two Art’, Artists Couples Exhibition: Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW, S.H. Ervin Gallery Sydney, NSW, Orange Regional Gallery, NSW, Goulburn Regional Gallery, NSW, Swan Hill Regional Gallery, NSW Wollongong City Gallery, NSW, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW, Dalby Regional Gallery, QLD
2012 ‘The Animal’, King Street Gallery on William, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW
2012 Finalist ‘Mosman Art Prize’, Mosman Regional Gallery Mosman, Sydney, NSW
2012 ‘The Archibald Portrait Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Travelling Exhibition: TarraWarra Museum of Art, VIC, Newcastle Art Gallery, NSW, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, NSW, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, NSW, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, NSW, New England Regional Gallery, NSW
2011 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing 2011’, Finalist Exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2011 ‘Prints from the Griffith Studio’, Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2011 ‘Zoo Residency Exhibition’, Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2011 ‘Arkaba Station’, King Street Gallery on William, Sydney, NSW
2011 Finalist, ‘Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize’, Finalist Exhibition, The Croydon PLC, Sydney, NSW
2010 ‘Slow Burn – A century of Australian woman artists from a private collection’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2010 ‘Tales from the City’, Wendy Sharpe & Bernard Ollis, Orange Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2009 ‘The Grand Tour’, Two person show with Bernard Ollis, United Galleries, Perth, WA
2009 ‘In the Wings’ Touring exhibition from The Arts Centre Melbourne, VIC
2009 ‘Collections’ Hawkesbury Regional Gallery Windsor NSW
2009 ‘Salon des Refuses’ S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2009 Finalist, ‘The Doug Moran Portrait Prize’, Finalist Exhibition, State Library of NSW, Sydney and travelling
2009 Finalist, ‘The Sulman Prize’, Finalist Exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2009 Finalist, ‘Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize’, Finalist Exhibition, Adelaide Perry Gallery, Croydon, Sydney, NSW
2008 Finalist, ‘Jada Drawing Prize’, Finalist Exhibition, Grafton Regional Art Gallery and Travelling
2008 ‘Urban Myth’, Two Person show with Bernard Ollis, United Galleries, Perth, WA
2008 ‘Drawn Encounters’, Wimbledon College of Art, London, UK
2008 ‘Sordid Tales’, NG Art Chippendale, Sydney, NSW
2008 Finalist, ‘Jada Drawing Prize’, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW and Travelling
2007 ‘Cuisine and Country’, curated by Gavin Wilson travelling Australian regional galleries
2007 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’ Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2007 ‘9 x 5 Show’, The Savage Club, Melbourne, VIC
2007 ‘Dusk til Dawn’, Delmar Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2007 ‘Squared’, Greenhill Galleries, Perth, WA
2007 ‘Group Therapy’, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2006 Finalist, ‘Grafton Drawing Prize’, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW
2006 ‘Redlands Art Prize’, Mosman Regional Gallery, NSW
2006 Finalist, ‘Kilgour Painting Prize Finalist Exhibition’, Newcastle Region Gallery, NSW
2006 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Drawing Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2006 ‘Defiance Drawing Show’, Defiance Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2006 ‘Mining the Archive’ Hillend Art Gallery, Curated by Gavin Wilson, NSW
2006 ‘The Art of the Operatic’ The Arts Centre Melbourne, VIC
2006 ‘The Salon Des Refuses’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2006 ‘The Delmar Codex’, curated by Nick Vickers Delmar gallery Sydney, NSW
2006 ‘Exhibition of Drawing Prize Finalists’, Adelaide Perry Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2006 Finalist, ‘The Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2006 ‘The Big Picture’, curated by Nick Vickers, Delmar Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2006 ‘Australian Art’, Hongik University Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2005 – 2007 ‘Fireworks’, tracing the incendiary in Australian Art, curated by Gavin Wilson travelling exhibition
2005 ‘Witness to War’, Mornington Regional Art Gallery, VIC & Travelling Exhibition
2005 ‘The Defiance Drawing Show’, Defiance Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2005 ‘The Salon Des Refuses’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2005 ‘Gold Coast City Art Prize’, QLD
2005 ‘Walking the Line’, National Art School, Sydney, NSW
2005 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2004 Finalist, ‘The Wynne Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2004 Finalist, ‘The Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2004 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2004 ‘Drawcard’, National Art School, Sydney, NSW
2004 ‘2004 The Year in Art’, National Trust, S.H. Irvin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2004 Finalist, ‘Mosman Art Prize’, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2004 ‘Spectrum 2004’, FONAS, Parliament House, Sydney, NSW
2004 ‘Westpac Art Prize’, Sydney, NSW
2004 ‘Reg Richardson Collection Exhibition’, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2003 ‘The Salon Des Refuses’ S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2003 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2003 Winner, ‘The Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2003 ‘Art Gallery of New South Wales – 50th Anniversary Exhibition and Auction’ Sydney, NSW
2003 Winner, ‘Allen Gamble Memorial Art Prize’ (in conjunction with Mosman Art Prize), Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2003 ‘Ned Kelly-Framed’, National Trust of Australia, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2002 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2002 ‘Exhibition’, King Street Gallery at Span Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
2002 ‘Kedumba Drawing Prize’, Kedumba Gallery, Wentworth Falls, NSW
2002 Finalist, ‘Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2002 ‘Erotica’, Metro5, Melbourne, VIC
2002 ‘Salon des Refuses’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, NSW
2001 ‘Federation’, curated by John McDonald National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
2001 ‘A Studio in Paris – Australian Artists at the Cite’, curated by Jane Watters, S.H. Ervin Gallery Sydney, NSW
2001 ‘Works on Paper’, two person show with Nora Heysen, Von Bertouch Gallery, Newcastle, NSW
2001 ‘Studio Tradition’, curated by Therese Kenyon, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney, NSW
2001 ‘Bat, Ball and Brush, A Summer of Cricket and Art at the Sydney Cricket Ground’, Sydney, NSW
2001 ‘Art on Steel’, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Wollongong City Gallery, NSW
2001 ‘Exhibition’, Museum of Tropical Queensland, & Travelling Exhibition
2000 Finalist, ‘The Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
2000 ‘Last Show of the Year’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
2000 ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, Cutcliffe Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2000 ‘Ceramics and Works on Paper’, collaborative with Janna Ferris, Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2000 ‘Melbourne Contemporary Art Fair’, King Street Galleries, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, VIC
2000 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1999 Finalist, ‘The Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1999 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1999 ‘Last Show of the Year’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1999 Finalist, ‘The Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1998 ‘Last Show of the Year’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1997 ‘Gallery Artists’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1996 Winner, ‘The Archibald Portrait Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1996 Finalist, ‘The Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1996 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1996 ‘Gallery Artists’, King Street Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1995 ‘The (Last) Christmas Show’, Women’s Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
1995 ‘The Archibald Portrait Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Travelling Exhibition: Moree Regional Art Gallery, NSW Dubbo Regional Art Gallery, NSW Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery, NSW
1995 Winner, ‘The Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize’ S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1995 Finalist, ‘The Sulman Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1995 Finalist, ‘The Dobell Prize for Drawing’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1995 Winner, ‘Kedumba Drawing Prize’, Kedumba Gallery, Wentworth Falls, NSW
1994 Finalist, ‘The Archibald Portrait Prize’, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Travelling Exhibition: Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, NSW
1994 ‘Erotic/Exotic’, two person show with Tim Schultz, Barry Stern Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1994 ‘Exhibition’, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW
1993 Finalist, ‘Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1992 ‘Critic’s Choice’, Macquarie Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1992 Finalist, ‘The Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1992 ‘Salon des Refuses’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1991 ‘Erotic/Exotic’, Inner Circle Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1991 Finalist, ‘The Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize’ S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1991 ‘A Figurative Focus’, Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, NSW
1991 ‘The Intimate Experience (Australian Women’s Images of Women)’, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1990 ‘International Women’s Exhibition’, Women’s Gallery
1989 ‘Modern Muses: Classical Mythology in Australian Art (1940 – 1989)’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1988 ‘Elysian Muses Return’, EMR Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1988 ‘Fresh Art’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1986 Winner, The Sulman Prize – Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
1985 Finalist, The Sulman Prize – Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Arts Centre, Victoria
Adelaide Perry Collection, Croydon, NSW
Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
ANZAC Memorial, Sydney, NSW
Australian Embassy, Paris, France
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, NSW
BHP Australia
Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, NSW
City of Belmont, Perth, WA
City of Sydney Council, NSW
Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW
Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, NSW
Kedumba Drawing Collection
Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
Manly Regional Gallery, NSW
Manning Regional Gallery, VIC
Mosman Art Gallery, NSW
National Art School Sydney, NSW
National Portrait Gallery, ACT
Northern Beaches Library, Manly, Sydney, NSW
Orange Regional Gallery, NSW
Qantas, Australia
Rockhampton Museum of Art, QLD
State Library of NSW
State Library of Queensland
Sydney Jewish Museum, NSW
Tweed River Art Gallery, NSW
University of Queensland
University of Sydney, NSW
Warringah Council, NSW
Waverley Council, NSW
'Why artist Wendy Sharpe is happy to leave things up to chance' by Elisabeth Fortescue
Sydney Morning Herald
28th July 2023
'Portraits of horror and human kindness: Why Australia still sends artists to war' by Helen Pitt
Sydney Morning Herald
25th April 2023
Nationally acclaimed artist to visit RMOA by Khrysti Balanay
CQ Today Online Publication
9 March 2022
The big heart and busy life of art great Wendy Sharpe by Sarah Maguire
Inner West Review
14 September 2021
The heartbreaking exhibition that no one will see by Nick Galvin
The Sydney Morning Herald
7 August 2021
Timeout Sydney
3 August 2021
Exhibition Review: Wendy Sharpe: Ghosts, Mosman Art Gallery by Anna Westbrook
Arts Hub Online
19 January 2021
Archibald wash-up: why portraits of the 'great' are relics of the past by John MacDonald
The Sydney Morning Herald
2 October 2020
Portraits of the artists in isolation by Nick Galvin, Kerrie O'Brien and Chloe Wolifson
The Sydney Morning Herald
29 May 2020
New art prize for painting extraordinary faces by Linda Morris
The Sydney Morning Herald
29 January 2020
Wendy Sharpe's rare, intimate landscapes celebrate Australia by Steve Meacham
The Sydney Morning Herald
25 January 2019
The Western Front 100 years on: Contemporary artists take stock by Brad Manera
Financial Review
23 March 2018
Destination Sydney reimagined: Artists celebrate harbour city in a cliche-free zone by Nick Galvin
The Sydney Morning Herald
2018
From Hogarth to Westconnex: Wendy Sharpe tackles contemporary Sydney by Garry Maddox
The Sydney Morning Herald
11 July 2017
The Daily Telegraph
September 2017
Salon des Refusés 2017 by John McDonald
Spectrum, The Sydney Morning Herald / johnmcdonald.com
August 2017
Wendy Sharpe brings some rage to Unashamedly Original by Angus McPherson
Limelight Magazine
19 July 2017
Artist Wendy Sharpe still tumbles for the magic of the Big Top circus by Elizabeth Fortescue
The Daily Telegraph
15 September 2016
Nude painting that offended politicians now a Sulman finalist by Elie Choueifaty
The Sydney Morning Herald
8 July 2016
See it, like it, take it home (but, please, bring it back) by Bronwyn Watson
The Piano has been drinking not me - MRAG Gallery publication
2016
Wendy Sharpe's powerful portraits of humanity by Stephanie Wood
The Sydney Morning Herald
23 January 2015
Wendy Sharpe's powerful portraits of humanity by Stephanie Wood
The Sydney Morning Herald
23 January 2015
Our critic's guide to the week: Wendy Sharpe - John McDonald
Spectrum, The Sydney Morning Herald
September 2014
Portraiture that looks like a snap to paint in Archibald Prize by Christopher Allen
The Australian
15 March 2013
Her white period: Sharpe paints in aid of Mawson's hut by Adam Fulton
The Sydney Morning Herald, Arts
February 2012
Award winning artist Wendy Sharpe joins conservation project
Mawson's Hut Foundation - Conserving Australia's Antarctic heritage
11 May 2012
Wendy Sharpe paintings in great demand
Mawson's Hut Foundation - Conserving Australia's Antarctic heritage
6 September 2012
Artists get their heads around animal instincts
The Sydney Morning Herald, Weekend Edition
February 2011
The Sydney Morning Herald
Australia Day, 2010
Photographer paints portraits of the artists by Lauren Martin
The Sydney Morning Herald
4 December 2004
Rampant colour and chaos float in a teacup over sea of restraint by Sharon Verghis
The Sydney Morning Herald
26 September 2003
Wendy Sharpe and Janna Ferris interviewed by Lucy Butenshaw
Pottery in Australia Magazine pg. 23-5
2003