About Tanya

Tanya is based on the south coast of NSW Australia. She grew up on a rural property with a lot of freedom and capacity to play imaginatively. Tanya believes these early childhood experiences have enriched her ability to surrender to the creative process. She recalls a birthday party at the Riversdale property where Arthur Boyd was painting. Being only four years old she was not allowed to go to the river with the other children. She watched Boyd working and vividly recalls the paint splattered cement floor of the studio and sunlight streaming through the wide windows overlooking the river. She was excited by the way in which he approached his work with thick meaty strokes of paint. In this moment she was inspired by the liberation and freedom of expression. This triggered her resolve to become an artist.

Tanya describes herself as a social landscape painter. Tanya's goal is to explore the Australian identity, our stories and pastimes. She seeks to create iconic images which weave together stories of the land, its people and history.

Through the use of nostalgic and sentimental elements sourced from all over Australia, Tanya creates works which speak to the people of their experiences. Construction offers a opening to access the subconscious through materials which in turn trigger the memories of childhood experiences and pastimes.

Tanya explores both rural and industrial landscapes and defines herself as working in abstraction of the landscape. Her use of materials and the interpretations of the places are always constructed through a highly intuitive process.

Tanya is a self taught artist whose work integrates her early rural roots, domestic responsibilities, clear vision and a great capacity for visual documentation and observation.

In 2008 Tanya returned to her rural roots completing a residency at Bundanon and was chosen as a finalist in the prestigious Wynne prize at the AGNSW.
Since commencing work in 2006 Tanya has been exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Alice Springs and China.