ABOUT ME
I'm a Sydney-based contemporary artist, whose practice centres on expressive portraiture and figurative work. Working primarily with acrylics, I use palette knives and my hands to build layers of paint into richly textured surfaces where gesture, movement and material become integral to the image.
My work explores the presence and complexity of the subject, embracing individuality and the imperfect realities be being human. Through bold mark-making and the intuitive approach, my works move beyond likeness, capturing something less tangible, a sense of presence, identity and the stories held beneath the surface.
Entirely self-taught, I have developed my distinctive style defined by texture, expression and the human condition. My work has been exhibited across New South Wales, Brisbane and Melbourne and is held in private collections throughout Australia.
WHAT I DO
ORIGINAL ARTWORK
One of a kind original paintings, each created through expressive, tactile approach.
Exhibition and new releases.
Visit the artworks page for all works available to purchase.
COMMISSIONS
Bespoke paintings created with considered collaboration with collectors, from concept to completion.
Contact me for more details.
PRIVATE ART SESSIONS
One-on-one sessions exploring acrylic painting and palette knife techniques.
Explore texture, layering and expressive mark-making.
Contact me for more details.
Artist BIO
Alison K. Lawther is a Sydney-based contemporary Australian artist whose practice centres expressive portraiture and figurative painting. Working primarily with acrylics, palette knives and her hands, she builds richly layered surfaces through a distinctive process of mark-making movement and impasto. Her work embraces the physicality of paint and the complexity of the human subject, exploring emotion, identity and presence.
Over the course of her practice, Alison has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across the Illawarra, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, with her work help in private collections from Perth to far North Queensland. Her paintings have been presented to audiences through exhibitions and art fairs, reflecting an evolving practice that balances strong visual impact with an intimate engagement with human expression.
Alongside her studio practice, Alison has made a significant contribution to the arts through exhibition development, curation and community arts leadership.
She served as Director and Curator of NOSILA Gallery in Wollongong from 2021 to 2023 and currently holds Committee and Treasury responsibilities at Project Contemporary Artspace. She is also the founder and director of the Illawarra Portrait Prize, an initiative celebrating portraiture and connecting artists, audiences and the wider community. Her combined experience as an exhibiting artist and curator informs a practice grounded in both creative exploration and a broader understanding of the contemporary arts landscape.