Lucy Culliton (born 1966) is one of Australia’s most well-recognised female contemporary landscape and still life artists. Lucy attended the National Art School and has been successfully exhibiting for over 20 years.
Lucy’s solo exhibition in March 2024, The Easter Show, is a reflection of her time spent as the official artist in residence at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, since 2022. Lucy criss-crosses the grounds of The Show, observing and revelling in the beauty of the festival. The Easter Show is a celebration of drawings, gouaches and oils capturing the essence of The Show as only Lucy’s observational acuity can gather.
Her inaugural solo exhibition with King Street Gallery in 2017, Residents of Bibbenluke Lodge, featured a series of portraits of her ‘beloved animals and their unique personalities’. (John McDonald, 2017 Catalogue Essay). The subject matter of her 2019 solo exhibition Bibbenluke Botanicals, like Residents of Bibbenluke, is a ‘reflection of her tendency to paint things in which she has a deep personal affection’ (Why paint a vase of flowers, Anne Ryan, 2019, Catalogue Essay).
Lucy’s 2022 solo exhibition Cambalong Creek, was the result of three years of painting the creek on Gunningrah, setting up her easel in all weathers. ‘She worked in roaring, dusty winds while the drought wore on. When it broke, she worked knee-high in fresh grass. In this exhibition Lucy pays homage to Cambalong Creek in all its seasons and rugged beauty’ (Elizabeth Fortescue, 2022, Catalogue Essay).
Lucy’s inclusion in group exhibitions both across Australia and internationally reveals the extent of the public acclaim surrounding her work. She has been selected multiple times for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, as well as the Mosman Art Prize, Salon des Refusés, Portia Geach Memorial Award, and the Dobell and Kedumba Drawing Awards.
In 1999, Lucy received Highly Commended in the Portia Geach Memorial Award. In 2000, Culliton won the acquisitive Mosman Art Prize and in 2004, the Kedumba Drawing Award. Culliton is the only female Australian artist to be a finalist in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes in the same year, being 2016. Lucy’s work can be found in the collections of the Art Gallery of NSW, Australian Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, Macquarie Bank, New England Regional Art Gallery and Tamworth Regional Gallery.
King Street has represented Lucy since 2017. She lives and works at her studio in Bibbenluke, Monaro NSW.
Maria Stoljar takes you to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW - Lucy Culliton featured in both the Wynne and Archibald.
Maria Stoljar, host of the Talking with Painters podcast, meets artist Lucy Culliton at her home in Bibbenluke and meets her many animals. To hear their conversation go to the podcast at www.talkingwithpainters.com episode 9
Maria Stoljar, host of the Talking with Painters podcast caught up with Lucy Culliton at the opening of her exhibition 'The Residents of Bibbenluke Lodge' at King Street Gallery in Sydney. The interview with Lucy Culliton is episode 9 on the podcast. To hear it go to talkingwithpainters.com where she talks about her love of many animals, most of which were rescued.
Take a look inside Lucy Culliton's breathtaking studio in southern NSW, Australia. Hear her conversation with Maria Stoljar on the Talking with Painters podcast at www.talkingwithpainters.com - episode 9
In the studio with Lucy Culliton, Maria Stoljar gets some tips about brushes. To hear their conversation go to episode 9 of the Talking with Painters podcast. www.talkingwithpainters.com
Eye of the Beholder: The Art of Lucy Culliton. Exhibition dates: 20th September - 30th November 2014
2024
The Easter Show, King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2023
Backdrop Beaver Galleries, Canberra, ACT
Home Grown Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2022
Cambalong Creek King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2020
Bibbenluke spring Beaver Galleries, Canberra, ACT
Stay warm, be cool Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2019
Bibbenluke botanicals King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
2018
Caution wet paint New England Regional Art Gallery (NERAM), NSW; Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2017
Residents of Bibbenluke Lodge King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
Our Animals Lucy and Anna Culliton, Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2016
Our Animals Beaver Galleries, Canberra
2014
Weeds of the Monaro & Others Ray Hughes Gallery, Sydney
Eye of the Beholder: The Art of Lucy Culliton Mosman Art Gallery
2012
Bibbenluke Flowers Ray Hughes Gallery
2011
Home Ray Hughes Gallery
2009
Bibbenluke Ray Hughes Gallery
2008
Stuff Ray Hughes Gallery
2007
The Show (domestic science) Ray Hughes Gallery
2005
Tuscon paintings The Palm House, Botanic Gardens, Sydney
2004
Cactus Ray Hughes Gallery
2002
Hartley Landscapes Ray Hughes Gallery
2000
Food Paintings Ray Hughes Gallery
1999
Farm Paintings Ray Hughes Gallery
1998
Paintings Level Gallery, Sydney
2023
The painted river project: Blue Mountains Rare Upland Swamps Margaret Whitlam Galleries, NSW
The painted river project BAMMOREE, NSW
2022
The Wynne Prize Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
The painted river project BAMMOREE, NSW
Freaks of Nature Ambush Gallery, Sydney
2021
The Big Picture Show King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
The Archibald Prize Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney
The Sulman Prize Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney
2020
The Archibald Prize AGNSW, Sydney
The Wynne Prize AGNSW, Sydney
2019
Inside/Outside King Street Gallery on William
2018
National Art: Part One National Art School, Sydney
The Art of Friendship Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney, NSW
The Mosman Art Prize Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
2017-2018
Archibald Prize Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW); Geelong Gallery, Vic; Murray Art Museum Albury, NSW; Grafton Regional Art Gallery, NSW; Bega Valley Regional Gallery, NSW; Hawkesbury Regional Art Gallery, NSW; Western Plains Cultural Centre, NSW
2017
Wynne Prize AGNSW
Archibald Prize AGNSW
Packing room prize AGNSW
Self Portraits King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
Artist Profile: Australasian Painters Orange Regional Gallery, NSW
2016
Archibald Prize AGNSW
Wynne Prize AGNSW
2016-2017
Archibald Prize AGNSW; Art Gallery of Ballarat, VIC; Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, NSW; Cowra Regional Art Gallery, NSW; Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, NSW; Newcastle Art Gallery, NSW; Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, NSW, Glasshouse, NSW.
2016
Archibald Prize AGNSW
Sulman Prize AGNSW
Wynne Prize AGNSW
Popular Pet Show National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Paper Trail The Hughes Gallery, Sydney
Six Artists Seven Days Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
2014
Efflorescent Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, NSW
Lucy Land Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
So much more than a big sheep Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2013
Three Australian Landscapes The Hughes Gallery, Sydney
Life’s a Beach The Hughes Gallery
Paper Trail The Hughes Gallery
2012
Fresh from the Studio ’12 Ray Hughes Gallery
En Plein air Winds of Change Weereewa Festival
2011
Archibald Prize AGNSW, Sydney
Australia Day 2011 – Group Celebration, Tim Olsen Gallery
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Australian Parliament House, Canberra
Gold Coast Arts Centre, Qld
Macquarie Bank
Mosman Art Gallery, NSW
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
New England Regional Art Museum
Queensland University Art Museum, Brisbane
Tamworth Regional Gallery, NSW
Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton
The Popular Pet Book was published in conjunction with the exhibition The Popular Pet Show at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, 3 November 2016 to 13 March 2017.
The Popular Pet Book features portraits of famous and obscure Australians and their pets by contemporary artists Nicholas Harding, Lucy Culliton, Darren McDonald, Anna Culliton, Fiona McMonagle, Ken Done, Noel McKenna, Graeme Drendel, Robyn Sweaney and Kristin Headlam.
The book features more than one hundred colour images of paintings and fifteen light-hearted, yet informative essays by Dr Sarah Engledow.
In recent works of art, animals have often appeared as slightly menacing characters, playing shadowy parts in indeterminate scenes. Yet, leading painters keep expressing the gaiety and cosiness that many of us share with our animal companions; celebrating their trusting and unpretentious souls.
Lately, the fifteen Australian artists whose work appears in The Popular Pet Book have painted people and their animal friends in a very different fashion. The range is no surprise: the artists’ own stories are very various, including not just how, but why they make art, how it challenges them, and what they get out of it.
The painted, sculpted and drawn pet animals in this book make congenial guides to random, basic ideas about art. Some artists go at their subjects in fervour, with bravado; and some labour over individual hairs with skills that bring tears to the eyes.
Text supplied courtesy of Dr Sarah Engledow.
This publication can be purchased here
Catalogue produced by Mosman Art Gallery
Curator: Katrina Cashman
Catalogue Design: Kasia Froncek, Bespoke Creative
Photography: Jenni Carter, Penelope Clay, Tim Connolly of Shoot Studios, Adam Hollingworth of Hired Gun, The Hughes Gallery, Jason Martin, Daniel Shipp.
Renowned artist Lucy Culliton leads day of arts and science at Lake Wallace
Blue Mountains Gazette
28 October 2022
Three years painting one creek was the therapy Lucy Culliton needed By Elizabeth Fortescue
The Sydney Morning Herald Spectrum
12 April 2022
The idea of breathing: on being an artist in regional Australia by Nigel Featherstone
The Guardian - Rural Network
10 April 2022
Art of life – The everyday world of Lucy Culliton by Jennine Primmer
Southern Wild Co. Online publication
15 October 2021
Lucy Culliton, painting the theatre of the everyday by Kirsty McKenzie
Australian Country Magazine online publication
9 June 2021
Australian Broadcasting Exhibition
31 May 2021
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021: LUCY CULLITON AND MICHELLE BELGIORNO
National Art School Online Pubilcation
8 March 2021
Rescue dogs and the good life: the art of Lucy Culliton on Radio National
Namila Benson, Presenter / Rosa Ellen, Producer / Rhiannon Brown, Executive Producer
17 February 2021
The Sydney Morning Herald
12 June 2020
Why paint a vase of flowers by Anne Ryan
Bibbenluke botanicals exhibition catalogue, King Street Gallery on William
2019 Catalogue Essay
Lucy Culliton: The celebrated artist who paints to feed her animals by Caroline Baum
Spectrum, the Sydney Morning Herald
30 August 2019
Sydney shakes market doubt through the art of optimism by John McDonald
Spectrum, the Sydney Morning Herald
13 September 2019
Lucy Culliton and the painteed world of Bibbenluke by Elizabeth Walton
Ozarts Magazine feature pg. 43-52
August 2019
Lucy Culliton in The Popular Pet Show by Dr Sarah Engledow
National Portrait Gallery publication
2017
Feathers fly as Royal Easter Show’s chook art masters vie for prize by Michaela Boland
The Australian
7 April 2017
Archibald Prize Review: self-portraits of artists crowd out stars by John McDonald
Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald
16 July 2016
Bank of America Merrill Lynch art collection: Culliton, Quilty, Frazer and more by Michaela Boland
The Australian
19 August 2016
Art of Music 2016 Collection Inspired by Courtney Barnett, Midnight Oil and More
themusic.com.au
16 May 2016
Spectrum, the Sydney Morning Herald
24 October 2014
Artist Lucy Culliton finds love for objects in her art by Elizabeth Fortescue
Daily Telegraph
6 August 2015
Capital Life: What's on in Canberra's arts scene from October 3 by Clare Colley
Spectrum, the Sydney Morning Herald
30 September 2015
Lucy Culliton survey exhibition at Mosman Art Gallery by Elizabeth Fortescue
The Daily Telegraph
15 December 2015
Spectrum, the Sydney Morning Herald
30 December 2014
artwriter.com
April 2014
