Biography

Colleen Stapleton is a contemporary realist artist in Sydney, Australia. Her work primarily involves the human figure & still life, and draws inspiration from classical Russian and Dutch masters.

Colleen aims to explore ways of using the paint so that it becomes a physical participant in the art - it is pushed, dripped & moved in a way as though the figures are moving through the paint itself. Colour plays a significant role in my art - as a means of intensifying the intended mood & expression. I look to colour as a means of exploring mood, using strong hues to heighten the emotional articulation.

She has been a finalist in the Darling Portrait Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Award, Kennedy Arts Prize, Shirley Hannan, KAAF Prize, Lethbridge 20000, International Art Renewal Centre Salon, Ravenswood Women's Art Prize & more. Career highlights include winning the 2018 A.M.E Bale Painting prize, Florence Academy of Art Scholarship, JAAS Brett Whiteley Scholarship, and winning the 2019 KAAF Highly Commended Award.
She has exhibited in group shows nationally and has studied in workshops at the Repin Academy (St Petersburg, Russia), Florence Academy of Art, Realist Academy of Art (Canada), and with Stephen Early from Studio Incamminati (USA).

She also has a Bachelor of Fine Art from Griffith University and a Diploma of Art from Julian Ashton Art School.