Melissa Egan

MELISSA EGAN

Melissa was born in Sydney and grew up in Tasmania, Canberra and Singapore. She has a Bachelor of Arts/ Asian Studies degree from the Australian National University. She has been a finalist in the Archibald Portraiture Prize and the Sulman Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW.  Melissa has also been a finalist in the Doug Moran and Portia Geach Portrait prizes, the Blake Religious Art Prize, the Fleurieu Landscape Prize and the Kedumba Drawing Award. Her work is held in collections both in Australia and overseas.
Egan’s narratives are playful and serious all at once. The colors are sensuous and romantic, much like old master paintings, but the themes of innocence and subjectivity are personal and very contemporary. She is a wholly original master of her craft and technique.
New York Magazine

Born 1959, Sydney
Lived in Canberra, Tasmania and Singapore

1976 Canberra School of Art
1978-1982 Australian National University
1983 Canberra College of Advanced Education
1984-1986 Tasmania teaching
1987 Publications editor University of Queensland
1987-Ongoing Full time painting

Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions

2023 Paintings From The Oast House, Anthea Polson Art, QLD (December)
2022 Winds Of Change, Wagner Contemporary, SYD
2021 Favourites Anthea Polson Art, QLD
2019 Stories Anthea Polson Art, QLD
2018 Little Treasures, Anthea Polson Art, QLD
2018 Light, Wagner Contemporary, SYD
2018 Harvest, Anthea Polson Art, QLD
2017 Small Gifts Christmas Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art QLD
2016 Heroes, Anthea Polson Art, QLD
2016 Group Exhibition, Wagner Gallery, Sydney NSW
2016 Anthea Polson Art Comes To Melbourne, Menzies Art Rooms Toorak VIC
2015 Precious Things…Christmas Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art QLD
2015 Utopia Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2014 Miniatures – A Christmas Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art, QLD
2014 Le Carnaval Des Animauax Richard Martin Art, Sydney
2013 Bad Boys Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2013 The Good Life Linton & Kay Galleries, Perth
2012 The Artist Revealed Christmas Self Portrait Exhibition, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2012 Now and Then Richard Martin Art, Sydney
2011 8 Days Before Christmas Our Artists’ Special Christnas Show, Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2011 Friends, Foes and Other Animals Richard Martin Art, Sydney
2010 Nostalgia Richard Martin At, Sydney
2009 40×40 Special First Christmas Show Anthea Polson Art, Qld
2009 Prelude Richard Martin Art, Sydney
2009 Homage Schubert Contemporary, Qld
2008 A New Series Wagner Galleries, Sydney
2007 Sleepless In Greece Schubert Contemporary, Qld
2006 A Pilgrim’s Tales Art Galleries Schubert, Qld
2006 Stories Unfold Wagner Gallery, Sydney
2005 Collectors Exhibition Wagner Gallery, Sydney
2005 Small Journey’s Art Galleries schubert, Qld
2004 Art Galleries Schubert, Qld
2004 Wagner Gallery Collectors Exhibition, Sydney
2003 Art Galleries Schubert, Qld
2003 Wagner Galleries Collectors Exhibition
2002 Wagner Galleries, Sydney
2002 Wagner Gallery Collectors exhibition, Sydney
2001 Art Galleries Schubert, Qld
2001 Wagner Gallery Collectors Exhibition, Sydney
2000 Libby Edwards, Sydney, Melbourne
2000 Art Galleries Schubert, Qld
1999 Libby Edwards, Sydney
1998 Libby Edwards, Melbourne
1997 Libby Edwards, Melbourne

Awards/Prizes

2019 Finalist – Brisbane Portrait Prize, Powerhouse Museum, Brisbane
2019 Invited Finalist – Tattersall’s Club Landscape Prize, Brisbane
2019 Finalist – King’s School Art Prize, Sydney
2018 Winner – Member’s Choice Award, Tattersall’s Club Landscape Prize
2018 Invited Finalist – Tattersall’s Club Landscape Prize, Brisbane
2017 Highly Commended – Tattersall’s Group Landscape Prize
2016 Portia Geach Memorial Award
2016 Highly Commended – Tattersall’s Group Landscape Prize
2015 Tattersall’s Group Landscape Prize
2015 Salon Des Refuses, S.H.Ervin Gallery, NSW
2014 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
2014 Kedumba Drawing Prize
2014 Portia Geach Memorial Award
2014 Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2012 Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2012 Tatterssals Group Art Prize
2011 Tatterssals Group Art Prize
2010 Tatterssals Group Art Prize
2009 Portia Geach Memorial Award
2008 Blake Prize National Art School
2008 Doug Moran Portraiture Prize
2006 Kedumba Drawing Award
2006 Sulman Prize Art Gallery NSW
2006 Portia Geach Memorial Award
2005 Portia Geach Memorial Award
2004 Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale Art Prize
2004 Tatterssals Group Art Prize
2003 Tatterssals Group Art Prize
2002 Tattersalls Group Art Prize
2002 Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale Art Prize
2000 Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale Art Prize

Collections

Marriot Hotel, Brisbane
Legends Hotel, Gold Coast
Ridges Hotel, Brisbane
Hotel Grand Chancellor, Brisbane
St. Andrews Hospital, Brisbane
Allamanda Private Hospital, Gold Coast
Oasis Hotel, Cairns

Published by Berkeley Editions, Australian Art Review
Represented in corporate and private collections in Australia and overseas