Sally Ryan

Sally Ryan, an Australian artist living and working in Sydney, began her career as a graphic designer before moving into teaching. It was not long, however, before she returned to the visual arts, pursuing an interest in pattern and design through painting ceramics. She won several prizes in this medium and completed a number of commemorative commissions for various institutions during this time.

For many years drawing and painting the human figure has been a passion for Sally and this has led to her focus on portraiture and figure painting. She studied art part time at a variety of art schools before enrolling at the Julian Ashtom Art School. Since winning a scholarship there for 2010 she has been studying and painting as a full time artist.

Her style is best described as "contemporary realism" and includes works in graphite, charcoal and oil with life-like representation of the subject being of utmost importance. Design has become a compositional feature in some of her portrait paintings with backgrounds consisting of strong colour, pattern and design. Other works are more traditional and this is influenced by the nature and interests of the person she is painting.


Awards / Group Exhibitions

2014 - Shades of Reality - Group Exhibition, Mary Place Gallery
PAA - Group Exhibition, Australian Embassy, Washington, USA
2013 - Finalist Black Swan Portrait Prize
Finalist Archibald Prize
Shades Of Reality - Group Exhibition, Mary Place Gallery
PAA Multicultural Australia Exhibition , Parliament House, Sydney
2012 - Winner Still Life - Mortimore Prize
Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
Finalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
Finalist Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing
Portrait Artists Australia Book Launch Exhibition
2011 - Winner Small Painting - Mortimore Prize
Finalist Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing
Finalist Nora Heysen Centennial Prize for Still Life ( with judge's commendation)
2010 - Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Prize -
Finalist Mortimore Prize
2008 - Finalist Mortimore Prize

Sally is a member of Portrait Artists Australia.