Peter Wegner is a 1988 graduate of Philip Institute of Technology, which, in 1992 was amalgamated with RMIT University, Melbourne. He has pursued his professional practice as painter, sculptor and draughtsman prior to this first degree, and in 2007 completed a Master of Fine Arts at Monash University, Melbourne.
Over the years Peter has intermittently lectured at a number of universities, with studio practice being his primary professional career pursuit.
Peter is a very physical painter and approaches each canvas in its raw state, without preparatory sketching or drawing [onto the canvas]. This allows him the freedom to skate along the canvas, gesturally creating an image that slowly exposes itself as part planned and part intuition. Peter deconstructs his intended imagery, turning his canvases sideways, upside down and viewing his subject in a mirror. The idea is to keep the painting alive, surprising, contemplative and in a state of progression.
While Peter is a highly respected portrait painter, his portraits are not limited to the human form. His drawings, paintings and sculpture are portraits of the objects we use and encounter on a daily basis- animate and inanimate. They are the interpretations of the memories and moments left behind on the fabric, in the air and in the essence of things.
In 2013, Peter embarked on a journey to draw and paint Australian centenarians. Culminating at exactly 100 Centenarians, Peter’s portrait of well-known artist Guy Warren [who was 100 that year], won the 2021 Archibald Prize.
Peter’s work can be found in the collections of the Art Gallery on New South Wales, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra and numerous regional galleries, state libraries and universities throughout Australia.
King Street Gallery is thrilled to welcome Peter Wegner, and we look forward to his highly anticipated solo exhibition in 2026. Until then, we will have a selection of works in the gallery stockroom available. Please contact us via art@kingstreetgallery.com or submit an enquiry on our website for a list of works.
Photo courtesy Stephen McKenzie
2025
Peter Wegner’s Centenarians project, Bearing Witness: 100 CENTENARIAN DRAWINGS, 2014–2024, Gippsland Art Gallery, Gippsland, VIC
Beyond the Empty Chair, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2021
Paintings in the Studio, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2018
Condolence – 27 Drawings, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2017
Random Moments 2005-2016, Australian Galleries, Sydney
2016
White on white, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2014
Still Meeting – Portraits of G.D., Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2012
Remembrance of Things Past, Australian Galleries, Sydney
2010
Sculpture and Paintings 2009-2010, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2009
Paintings, Australian Galleries, Sydney
2007
The Burden, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
2005
Painting Life, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
2003
Sitting Still: Portraits of Graeme Doyle, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
2002
Sitting Still: Portrait Studies of Graeme Doyle, Castlemaine Regional Art Gallery, Castlemaine, VIC
1998
West Coast Drawings, La Trobe University Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
1992
Recent Paintings, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill, VIC
1985
Paintings, Drawings and Prints, Horsham Regional Art Gallery, Horsham VIC
1984
Recent Works, Swan Hill Regional Gallery of Contemporary Art, Swan Hill, VIC
1982
Recent Works, Bendigo Fine Arts Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
2025
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales [AGNSW], Sydney
Archibald Prize (touring exhibition), Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea, NSW; Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland, NSW; Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Cowra, NSW; New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW; Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW
2024
A Small Selection of Large Paintings, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
The Lester Prize, WA Museum Boola Bardip, Perth
On Paper, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery
2022
Archibald Prize (touring exhibition), Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea, NSW; Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland, NSW; Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Cowra, NSW; New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW; Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW
2021
Archibald Prize (touring exhibition), Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Small Sculpture, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Flesh After Fifty, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
2020
Before Hand – The Private Life of a Portrait, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, NSW
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2019
The Changing Face of Victoria, Dome Galleries, State Library of Victoria, Melbuorne
Australian Galleries: The Purves Family Business. The First Four Decades, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Papermade, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2018
Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Adelaide Perry Gallery, Sydney
2017
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Sydney
Sculpture: medium and small scale – Mixed Sculptors, Australian Galleries, Sydney
2016
Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Sydney
Kedumba Drawing Award, Orange Regional Gallery, Orange, NSW
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Rick Amor Drawing Prize (Winner), Art Gallery of Ballarat, Ballarat, VIC
Print and Drawing Acquisitive Awards, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill, VIC
Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Adelaide Perry Gallery, Sydney
2014
Salon des Refusés, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
One of Each, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Australia Day 2014 Celebratory Exhibition, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2013
Gallipoli Art Prize (Winner), Gallipoli Memorial Club, Sydney
Australian Galleries at Gallows Gallery, Gallows Gallery, Perth
2012-13
Summer Stock Show, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2012
Dobell Prize for Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
BP Portrait Prize, London Portrait Gallery, London
BP Portrait Prize, England & Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
Rick Amor Drawing Prize, Art Gallery of Ballarat, Ballarat, VIC
2011
Large Exhibition of Small Works, Australian Galleries, Sydney
Large Exhibition of Smal Works, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Archibad Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2010
Artists’ Prints Made with Integrity I, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Summer Stock Show, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2009
Melbourne Savage Club Invitation Drawing Prize (Winner), Melbourne Savage Club, Melbourne
Summer Stock Show, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2008
Dobell Prize for Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Salon des Refusés, S.H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Who let the dogs out, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie, NSW
2007
Summer Stock Show, Australian Galleries Painting and Sculpture, Melbourne
Small Pleasures, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
Stock Show, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
A Selection of Portraits, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
Salon des Refusés, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2006
Stock Show, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne
For Matthew & Others: Journeys with Schizophrenia, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, University of New South Wales, Sydney
50th Anniversary Exhibition, Australian Galleries Paintings & Sculpture, Melbourne
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (Winner), State Library of New South Wales, Sydney
2005
Australian Contemporary Art, De Récourt Art in association with Australian Galleries at The Gallery in Cork Street, London, England
Dobell Prize for Drawing, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2004
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Portraits and other works, Australian Galleries Paintings & Sculpture, Melbourne
Group exhibition, Australian Galleries Painting & Sculpture, Melbourne
2002
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney
2001
The Fleming Muntz Albury Art Prize, Albury Regional Art Gallery, Albury, NSW
Mornington Drawing Prize, Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery, Mornington, VIC
James Farrell Invitation Self Portrait Prize, Castlemaine Regional Art Gallery, Castlemaine, VIC
Cavalcade of Scientists, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, NSW
2000
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Sporting Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Sporting Prize, Sydney & National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, NSW
1998
The Fleurieu Landscape Prize, Seaview Winery Gallery, Sydney
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney
1997
Nillumbik Invitation Art Awards, Nillumbik Shire Council, Nillumbik, VIC
Mornington Drawing Prize, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington, VIC
Melbourne Savage Club Invitation Drawing Prize, Melbourne Savage Club, Melbourne
James Farrell Invitation Self Portrait Prize, Castlemaine Regional Art Gallery, Castlemaine, VIC
1996
Ballarat University Staff Exhibition, Ballarat University Gallery, Ballarat, VIC
1995
Nillumbik Invitation Art Awards, Nillumbik Shire Council, Nillumbik, VIC
1994
Swan Hill Drawing Award, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill, VIC
1993
James Farrell Invitation Self Portrait Prize, Castlemaine Regional Art Gallery, Castlemaine, VIC
1991
James Farrell Invitation Self Portrait Prize, Castlemaine Regional Art Gallery, Castlemaine, VIC
Eltham Invitation Prize, Eltham Shire Council, Melbourne
Diamond Valley Invitation Art Awards, Shire of Diamond Valley, QLD
1990
BP Invitation Acquisitive Prize, South Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne
1989
Post Graduate Exhibition, Roar 2 Studios, Melbourne
1987
F.W. Curtis Collection, Bendigo Regional Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
Works Behind Glass, Doncaster Municipal Gallery, Melbourne
1986
Young Printmakers, RMIT Gallery, Melbourne
1984
Diamond Valley Invitation Print Prize Graduate Exhibition, La Trobe University Gallery, Melbourne
Box Hill Drawing and Print Invitation Prize, Melbourne
Phillip to Prahran Paintings, Victorian College of the Arts Gallery, Melbourne
1982
Swan Hill Regional Gallery, Swan Hill, VIC
1977
Clive Parry Galleries, Melbourne
Anglican Centre, St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
Art Gallery of Ballarat, Ballarat, VIC
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum, Melbourne
Australian National Gallery, Canberra
Australian Racing Museum, Melbourne
Castlemaine Performing Arts Centre, Castlemaine, VIC
Castlemaine Regional Art Gallery, Castlemaine, VIC
F.W. Curtis Collection, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC
Haileybury College Collection, Melbourne
Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne
La Trobe University Art Collection, Bendigo, VIC
Melbourne Grammar School Art Collection, Melbourne
Moonee Valley Racing Club, Melbourne
Municipal Collections of Dandenong, Clayton, Bright, Altona, Frankston, Flinders and Nillumbik, Melbourne
Murray Art Museum Albury, Albury, NSW
National Library of Australia, Canberra
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Perpetual Trustees Collection, Sydney
Queensland State Library, James Hardy Collection, Brisbane
Shell, Australia
Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill, VIC
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart
The Kedumba Collection of Australian Drawings, Wentworth Falls, NSW
Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, NSW
University of Melbourne, Melbourne
Victorian State Library, Melbourne
The Finalists of the 2025 Archibald Prize have been announced! by Bea Taylor
The Design Files Online
1 May 2025
ABC News
10 June 2022
The Sydney Morning Herald
29 October, 2021
Solid entries in this year's Archibald Prize, but only one really stands out by John McDonald
The Sydney Morning Herald
27 May, 2021
Visual arts review: Peter Wegner's White on White a fulsome celebration of vacancy
The Age
16 May, 2016
