About
Who am I?
I’m an Australian artist that lives and works in the Sutherland Shire area of NSW.
I have studied Fine Arts in Australia and overseas.
In recent times I have focussed on painting urban landscapes.
Urban streetscapes are so captivating to me. I am drawn (pun intended) to the geometry and colours of the buildings, the clutter of telegraph wires, the typography from all manner of signage, the plethora of brightly coloured warning signs, and the layers of graffiti scrawled across it all. My current art practice combines both plein-air and studio painting on multi panels to create artworks that form a single composition that embodies that location.
You can contact me via info@simonmcgrath.com.au
Education
College of Fine Arts (UNSW), Bachelor of Fine Arts 1995-1997
University of Alberta, Canada, 1996
Gymea Tafe, Ceramics Certificate, 1993
Summary
Simon has a BFA from the College of Fine Arts (UNSW), majoring in painting. Highlights include: his installation ‘Who left the tap running?’ at Sculptures by the Sea at Bondi in 2011 where he won the Sydney Water Environmental Prize; winning the Arte Laguna ‘Special Prize’, a 1 month residency in Carlo Zauli Museo in Italy in 2012. The work he produced at this residency was shown in early 2014 at Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, Venice, Italy. Simon has also been a finalist in numerous art prizes including the Mosman Art Prize – six times, and the Blake Prize – twice.
Solo Exhibition
2024 Streetscapes. Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea, NSW
Prize Finalist Shows and Group Exhibitions
2023 Georges River Art Prize, Hurstville, NSW
2022 9×5 Landscape Prize, Waverley Woollahra Art School, NSW
2022 Hornsby Art Prize, Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, Hornsby, NSW
2022 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, NSW
2021 66th Blake Prize, Cashula Powerhouse, NSW
2020 Blacktown Art Prize, Blacktown, NSW
2020 Hazelhusrt 20/20 Exhibition, Gymea, NSW
2020 Kangaroo Valley Art Prize, Kangaroo Valley
2020 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, NSW
2018 Mandorla Art Award, Perth, WA
2018 Home and Abroad (Joint show with Aaron Moore), Clifton Art School, Clifton, NSW
2017 Georges River Art Prize, Hurstville Museum and Gallery, Hurstville, NSW
2016 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, NSW
2014 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Woollahra Council Chambers, NSW
2014 St George Art Prize, Hurstville Museum and Gallery, Hurstville, NSW
2014 In forma di ceramica Arte contemporanea dal Museo Carlo Zauli, Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, Venice, Italy
2014 Rockdale Outdoor Gallery Art Prize, Rockdale, NSW
2013 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, NSW
2013 Proximity (Group show), Kudos Gallery, Paddington, NSW
2012 Sculpture at Scenic World, Scenic World, Katoomba, NSW
2011 Sculptures by the Sea, Bondi, NSW
2011 The 60th Blake Prize, National Art School, Darlinghurst, NSW
2011 BSG Art Prize, Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC
2011 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, NSW
2010 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, NSW
2010 Waverley Art Prize, Waverley-Woollahra Art School, Bondi, NSW
2008 Marrickville Contemporary Art Prize, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Camperdown, NSW
2008 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, NSW
2007 Sydney Life Photography Exhibition, Hyde Park, Sydney, NSW
Awards
2018 Highly Commended, Mandorla Art Award, Perth, WA
2013 ‘Special Prize’- Art Residency with Museo Carlo Zauli (Italy), Arte Laguna
2011 Sydney Water Environmental Prize, Sculpture By The Sea
2007 Commended Award, Willoughby Art Prize
Articles
The Leader, Blue planet sums up artist’s role, Tamara Gasser, October 16, 2014
Sydney Morning Herald, Sculpture by the Sea 2011, John McDonald, November 12, 2011
The Australian, Tapping Creativity for great sculpture by the sea, Sallie Don, November 04, 2011
The Leader, Art puts truth on the top shelf, Maria Galinovic, September, 2011
My Modern Met, Best of Sculpture by the the Sea 2011, By Pinar Noorata, Nov 7, 2011
Collections
Museo Carlo Zauli, Faenza Italy
St John of God, Perth
