Beth Kennedy

BETH KENNEDY

The essence of Beth’s paintings is the dynamics of patterning. Even at their most colourful, there is a quiet and enigmatic beauty to her work.

Pattern, colour and composition all work together to present a snippet of an emotional narrative in the floating worlds she creates. She works intuitively with colour, at times allowing it to flow across the canvas in washes, and at others using it in bold opaque area. Amongst this, wavering patterns move in and out of focus, eventually finding their place and adding depth and beauty to the paintings.

Each of Beth’s paintings is the result of a sustained process of transcription: first sketches, then stencilled areas of spray paint, oil sticks creates a pop of colour, followed by layers of gouache wash and then opaque acrylic paint. A fine brush and black ink create beautiful spidery lines and pastel pencil is used to define areas.

Solo Exhibitions

2024 Framed By Flowers, Anthea Polson Art, Qld (June)
2023 A Pocketful Of Stars, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2014 Silver Lining, Gilligan Grant Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
2010 Little Wonders, Gilligan Grant Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
2009 Metro Arts Galleries Program, Metro Arts, Brisbane, QLD.
2008 Beth Kennedy, John Gordon Gallery, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
2004 Storybook, Cuppacumbalong Gallery, Tharwa, NSW.
2003 Interiors, Cuppacumbalong Gallery, Tharwa, NSW.

Group exhibitions

2021 Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, QLD.
2020 Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, QLD.
2020 Greenhouse Interiors ‘Life’ Exhibition, online.
2019 Elms Store Exhibition, NSW.
2018 Greenhouse Interiors Collingwood, VIC
2017 Outside In St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Qld
2012 The Artist Revealed Christmas Self Portrait Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2012 Group Exhibition Gilligan Grant Gallery, Vic
2011 8 Days Before Christmas Our Artists’ Special Christnas Show, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2010 Christmas Portrait Show, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2010 First Anniversary Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2009 40 x 40 Special First Christmas Show, Anthea Polson ArtQLD.
Troop, Gilligan Grant Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
The Line And The Colour, Gilligan Grant Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
Four Young Emerging Artists, Anthea Polson Gallery, Gold Coast, QLD.
2008 Group Painting Exhibition, John Gordon Gallery, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
2007 Group Painting Exhibition, John Gordon Gallery, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
Othilas, Fundraising Exhibition for Young Women’s Housing and Support Service, Brisbane, QLD.
2003 Group Painting Exhibition, Alliance Française, Canberra, ACT.
2002 Freshly Squeezed, Graduating Exhibition, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.

Competitions (shortlisted)

2010 Belle Arti – Chapman & Bailey Art Show, Brisbane, QLD.
2007 The Artworkers Award, In-Transit Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.
The Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Art Gallery, Caloundra, QLD.
Queensland Villages Art Prize, Fundraising Exhibition for Meals on Wheels, Brisbane, QLD.
2006 The Churchie, Emerging Art Exhibition, Brisbane, QLD.

Publications

2022 Art Edit, Issue #31
2018 Australian House & Garden Magazine
2011 Art Hound, ‘Artist Crush’: Beth Kennedy
2010 Belle Magazine, Arts Events by Leta Keens, April/May edition.
The Age, Melbourne Magazine, Arts Review by Penny Webb.

Collections

2010 Mater Hospital Collection, Brisbane, QLD.

Education

2002 Bachelor of Arts (Visual), Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.
1997 Certificate in Fine Arts, Albury TAFE, Albury, NSW.