Talking with Painters

It was great to catch up with Denise Mimmocchi, Senior Curator of Australian Art of the Art Gallery of NSW, to talk about the exhibition Nolan: Origins which opened on the weekend. We talk about the people, places and ideas that shaped Sidney Nolan’s work – from his time in the Wimmera and at Heide with John and Sunday Reed, to his experimentation with materials and the creation of his celebrated Ned Kelly paintings. Nolan: Origins is showing at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 3 October 2026 to 7 February 2027. Links Talking with Painters website – see the works discussed in this episode Talking with Painters on Instagram Talking with Painters on Facebook Maria Stoljar on LinkedIn Subscribe to the Talking with Painters newsletter ‘Boy and the moon’ c1939-40, oil on canvas on hardboard, 73.3 x 88.2 cm, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, purchased 1976 ‘Self portrait’ 1943, Ripolin enamel on hessian sacking, 61 x 52 cm, Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales 1997 ‘Ned Kelly’ 1946, Ripolin enamel on hardboard, 90.8 × 121.5 cm, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, gift of Sunday Reed 1976  Sidney Nolan ‘First-class marksman’ 1946, Ripolin enamel and alkyd on hardboard, 90.2 x 121.2 cm, Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased with funds provided by the Gleeson O’Keefe Foundation 2010

Watch a 2 minute highlights video of this episode on the YouTube channel here In this special episode of Talking with Painters, I’m bringing you my conversation with Richard Lewer recorded shortly after he was announced as the winner of the 2026 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Richard won Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize for his powerful portrait of artist and Pitjantjatjara elder Iluwanti Ken, a striking full-length painting set against a powerful ochre background inspired by time spent with Iluwanti on country. I also share some of my favourite parts from my longer 2025 conversation with Richard, where he talks about growing up in New Zealand, using art as a form of escape as a child, painting deeply personal works about family and grief, and creating his exhibition Steve, currently showing at the National Gallery of Australia. Along the way we also discuss this year’s Wynne and Sulman Prize winners, including works by Gaypalani Wanambi and Lucy Culliton. Links Video highlights on YouTube Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes Exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW ‘Steve’ showing at the National Gallery of Australia Full 2025 interview with Richard Lewer Worse luck I’m still here, 2014, video and animation Talking with Painters on Instagram Join me on LinkedIn  Sign up to the TWP newsletter Talking with Painters on Facebook   ‘Iluwanti Ken’Synthetic plolymer paint on canvas198cm x 198cmWinner 2026 Archibald PrizeImage: Art Gallery of NSW ‘The Waṉambi tree’ by Gaypalani Waṉambispray paint on etched steel240cm x 240cmWinner Wynne Prize 2026Image: Art Gallery of NSW ‘Toolah, artist model’by Lucy Cullitonoil on canvas137.6 x 137.1cmWinner Sulman Prize 2026Photo: Art Gallery of NSW ‘We have grave concerns for your father’s health’oil on epoxy-coated steel80.5 x 141 cmFinalist Sulman prize 2019    

Watch a short highlights video of this episode on the TWP YouTube channel  In this special International Women’s Day episode I speak with acclaimed artist, and previous podcast guest, Ann Thomson about building a career in the male-dominated art world of the mid-20th century. Born in 1933, Ann’s art education took place during the 1950s and early 60s, a time when male artists like Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, John Brack and Charles Blackman dominated the Australian art scene. Today Ann Thomson is one of Australia’s most respected and internationally acclaimed artists. A painter and sculptor, she has held more than 60 solo exhibitions, won numerous awards, and her work is represented in major public collections. As this episode is released, an exhibition of her work is also showing at Messums Gallery in London. Links Ann Thomson on Instagram Ann Thomson at Messums Talking with Painters YouTube channel Talking with Painters on Instagram Talking with Painters on Facebook Maria Stoljar on LinkedIn Sign up for the Talking with Painters newsletter Podcast interview with Thomson on her life and art Podcast interview with Thomson on Ian Fairweather Podcast interview with Thomson in her 90th year Video highlights of this episode https://youtu.be/94aHBnKwR2w?si=SCWA0GDPvevSDMyM

Watch highlights from this conversation on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel I loved this conversation with Mary Tonkin at the S.H. Ervin Gallery in Sydney, before the start of her survey exhibition Among the Trees (opening 3 January 2026). The show brings together paintings, drawings and ceramics dating from 2008, works that reflect Mary’s deep relationship with her family farm in Victoria’s Dandenong ranges and with painting from life.  Her painting ‘Ramble Kalorama’, measuring almost 19 metres long, is a magnificent meditation on what it is to be in the Australian landscape and was a huge hit at the 2022 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair. Mary Tonkin has won many awards and her works are held in major public institutions and private collections. She is represented by Australian Galleries. NB: When Mary speaks about her teacher Geoff in this conversation she is referring to Geoff Dupree. Links Mary Tonkin on Instagram Mary Tonkin at Australian Galleries ‘Among the Trees’, S.H.Ervin Gallery, 3 January to 1 March 2026 Highlights YouTube video My instagram reel of ‘Ramble, Kalorama’ at Sydney Contemporary (2022) https://youtu.be/84JSU210-38?si=78SsLYUPGalbja-g ‘Ramble, Kalorama’ (2017–2019) at Sydney Contemporary, 202218.9m x 1.8m (21 panels)Oil on linen   ‘Coprosma Madonna, Kalorama’ 2021-22oil on linen 320 x 610cmPhotographer Matthew Stanton ‘Madre, Kalorama’ 2008oil on linen 244cm x 508 cmPhotographer John Brash ‘A scream, Kalorama’ 2023oil on linen 214 x 366cmPhotograph Matthew Stanton ‘Regent, Kalorama’ 2012 charcoal on paper 241 x 271cm Photographer John Brash ‘Saint Anthony Beaten By Devils’ 24.5cm x 39.5cmSassetta, c1423, 1424Pinacoteca Nazionale  

A highlights video from this episode will also be coming soon to the Talking with Painters YouTube channel In this episode, I visit the studio of acclaimed abstract painter Aida Tomescu just days before the opening of her exhibition Messiaen at Fox Jensen Gallery in Sydney. The exhibition continues until 20 December 2025. Aida Tomescu on Instagram Aida Tomescu website Aida Tomescu at Fox Jensen Gallery  Talking with Painters website Talking with Painters on Instagram Subscribe here for my monthly newsletter Previous TWP YouTube videos of Aida Tomescu: Aida Tomescu – extended interview Aida Tomescu talks with Maria Stoljar (uncut) Aida Tomescu in her studio (2017) Aida Tomescu talks with Maria Stoljar about ‘Tuckson: the abstract sublime’ Aida Tomescu’s 2019 show ‘The Open Wounds of White Clouds’ Previous podcast conversations with Aida Tomescu: Episode 33 – Aida Tomescu Episode 63 – Aida Tomescu on Tony Tuckson Episode 116 – Aida Tomescu (uncut) Messiaen II 2024200x460cmoil on Belgian linenPhoto: Jenni Carter Messiaen III 2025200 x 306cmOil on Belgian linenPhoto: Jenni Carter Messiaen 2013oil and pigments on canvas184 x 153 cmThis is the work Tomescu refers to at the beginning of the episode