‘Most of my work is based around the Hunter region and my family home. The house is perched on a hill, looking down towards the river and across to distant hills. It’s this perspective that I am particularly drawn to and which I predominantly try to seek out. Many of my works take names from local properties located close by, and also from local creeks, rivers and roads leading up to or traversing the view.’

“My work is primarily about landscape and aims to explore patterns within the environment, formed as a result of the interplay between topography, vegetation and by extension shadow and light. Each landscape has a pattern unique to itself, this pattern resembles a topographical script, which in turn, informs the characteristics of each individual landscape.  I use a restricted palette to help articulate this concept to the viewer, to draw them into the work and allow them to focus on this idea of pattern forming script and then developing into the language of a landscape.” Kristen Lethem

Sydney based artist Kristen Lethem holds a Bachelor of Art in Visual Communication and Design from Sydney College of the Arts (University of Sydney) and a Master of Fine Art with a painting major from the University of New South Wales Art & Design. She has been a finalist and award winner in numerous Australian art prizes since 2007 including the Paddington, Muswellbrook, Hunters Hill, Mosman, Waverley and Norvill Art Prizes.

Education

Masters  by coursework – painting, COFA, UNSW. 2011 – 2014
Short courses – painting, Heatherly School of Fine Art, London. 2000
BA Visual Communications and Design, Sydney College of The Arts, University of
Sydney/University of Technology, Sydney. 1982 – 1986

Selected Exhibitions and Awards

2024

Duo Exhibition at Art2Muse Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney

2022

Solo Exhibition Passing By at Art2Muse Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney

2021
Corner Store Gallery, Orange
Lethbridge Gallery ‘Home’ exhibition, Brisbane

2020
Corner Store Gallery, Orange
Art on Darling Gallery, Balmain, Sydney

2019
Solo exhibition Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
Hunters Hill Art Prize – Finalist
Hunters Hill Art Prize – Highly Commended
Lethbridge 20,000 Art Prize – Finalist
Corner Store Landscape Art Prize – Finalist
Little Things Art Prize, Saint Cloche Gallery – Winner
Mosman Art Prize Finalist

2018
Solo exhibition Vista at Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney
Hunters Hill Art Prize – Finalist
Little Things Art Prize, Saint Cloche Gallery, Sydney – Finalist

2017
Solo Exhibition, Patterned Land at Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney
Little Things Art Prize, Saint Cloche Gallery, Sydney – Finalist
Blue Land, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane

2016
Hunters  Hill art Prize – Finalist
Lethbridge 10,000 Art Prize, Brisbane – Finalist
Mosman art Prize – Finalist
Little Things art Prize, saint Cloche Gallery, Sydney – Finalist

2015
Muswellbrook Art Prize – Finalist
Hunters Hill Art Prize – Finalist
Gresford Agricultural Show – Winner
Singleton Art Prize
Mosman Art Prize – Finalist

2014
Waverley Art Prize – Winner
Hunters Hill Art Prize – Finalist
Mosman Art Prize – Finalist

Norvill Art Prize – Finalist

2013

Solo exhibition, The Contrasting Mark, Frances Keevil Gallery
Fowlers Gap Exhibition, Cofa Space, UNSWAD
Gresford Agricultural Show – Grand Champion
Gallery Artists Exhibition, Frances Keevil Gallery

2012
Norvill Art Prize – Finalist
Gallery Artists Exhibition, Frances Keevil Gallery

2011
Paddington Art Prize – Finalist
Gallery Artists Exhibition – Breathing Colours Gallery, Sydney

2010
Gresford Agricultural Show – Champion
Wanderings, Breathing Colours Gallery, Sydney
Gallery 307, Sydney
Gallery Artists Exhibition, Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney
A Little Bit of Summer, Breathing Colours Gallery, Sydney
Gallery Artists Christmas Exhibition, Frances Keevil Gallery

2009
Paddington Art Prize – finalist
Viewpoints, Breathing Colours Gallery, Sydne
Allynbrook Art Show – Finalist
Gallery Artists exhibition – Frances Keevil Gallery

2008
Paddington Art Prize – Finalist
Solo exhibition, Real and Surreal, Frances Keevil Gallery

2007
Paddington Art Prize – Finalist
Gallery Artists Exhibition – Frances Keevil Gallery
Gallery Artists exhibition, Glen Street Gallery, Sydney
Gallery Artists Exhibition, Art Source Gallery, Sydney
Allynbrook Art Show – Finalist

2006
Gallery Artists Exhibition, Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney

2005
Solo exhibition – Swerve Gallery, Sydney
Allynbrook Art Show – Finalist
Gresford Agricultural show – Grand Champion

Collections

Waverly Council
Private Collections, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hunter Valley
Spicers Retreats – NSW and Queensland

Publications

Australian House and Garden, January 2016
Australian house and Garden, January 2014
Gresford News, September 2014
Arts Zine, September/October 2014