Anna Weston is an Australian contemporary artist and speech pathologist with 25 years of clinical experience. Prior to the pandemic she travelled extensively, contributing to humanitarian, healthcare and environmental initiatives. Anna holds a lifelong fascination with the human condition and has a specific interest in women’s agency. Her practice addresses these concerns through multilayered, autobiographical and psychologically driven narratives. In 2025, she achieved First Class Honours in the Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) program at Queensland College of Art and Design, Griffith University.
In recent years, Anna has been a finalist in the Archibald Prize, Darling Portrait Prize, Macquarie Emerging Artist Prize, Alice Prize (twice), Grace Cossington Smith Art Award and Portia Geach Memorial Award (twice). She won the Behlau Murakami Contemporary Portraiture Prize and was awarded the People’s Choice award at the Churchie Emerging Art Prize. She has exhibited in both group and solo exhibitions.
In addition to her exhibition profile, Anna has also created a number of large-scale public art murals across Brisbane in collaboration with Queensland Rail and Positive pARTnerships. Her practice is further informed by a longstanding commitment to philanthropic and community-focused work, bringing together her creative, professional and humanitarian interests.
Image courtesy: Travis.
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Education:
2025 Bachelor of Visual Arts (First Class Honours), Queensland College of Art & Design - Griffith University, South Bank, Queensland
2024 Bachelor of Fine Art - with Distinction, Queensland College of Art & Design - Griffith University, South Bank, Queensland
2013 Diploma in Transpersonal Psychotherapy - Lismore, NSW
2001 Bachelor of Speech Pathology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria
Prizes:
2026 People’s Choice Award. The Churchie Emerging Art Prize. Metro Arts, West End ,Queensland
2024 Winner. Behlau Murakami Grant Contemporary Portraiture Art Prize. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
2023 Third Prize: John Villiers Outback Art Prize. Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton, Queensland
2022 Highly Commended Award: Inaugural Behlau Murakami Grant Art Prize. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
Selected Finalist:
2026 The Churchie Emerging Art Prize. Metro Arts, West End, Queensland
2026 Abbotsleigh Grace Cossington Smith Art Award. Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Wahroonga NSW
2026 The Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney NSW
2026 The Alice Prize. Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
2025 Portia Geach Memorial Award. S.H Ervin Gallery, The Rocks, New South Wales
2025 Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize. The Art Space, Sydney, New South Wales
2024 Darling Portrait Prize. National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
2024 The Alice Prize / National Contemporary Australian Art Award. Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
2023 Elaine Bermingham Watercolour Prize. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
2023 Portia Geach Memorial Award. S.H Ervin Gallery, The Rocks, New South Wales
2023 Salon De Refuse - Brisbane Portrait Prize. Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Queensland
2023 Small Works Art Prize. Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy, Victoria
2022 Tacit Still Life Prize. Tacit Gallery, Collingwood, Victoria
Exhibitions:
Solo (& Graduate) Exhibitions:
2025 What She Said. Queensland College of Art & Design Honours Graduation Exhibition. Queensland College of Art & Design, South Bank, Queensland
2024 The Complex Apartment. Queensland College of Art & Design Undergraduate Exhibition. Queensland College of Art & Design, South Bank, Queensland
2023 Eco:tone. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
2020 Don’t Mention the C Word. Aparto 123 Brisbane, Queensland
2019 It Takes a Village. Cultivate Calm Studio, Brisbane, Queensland
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2024 Beyond. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
2023 Humans of the Outback. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
2023 Humans of the Outback. Winton, Queensland
2023 Reimagined Realism. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
2023 Bound Pigment: Celebrating Paint. Tacit Gallery, Collingwood, Victoria
2022 Undergrowth Invitational Exhibition. Queensland College of Art & Design Gallery, South Bank, Queensland
Selected Public Work Collections:
2026 Walk the Line Public Art Mural, Bowen Hills Station, Queensland
2025 Inkblot Odyssey Public Art Mural, Enoggera Station, Queensland
2023 Humans of the Outback Series. Spirit of the Outback (train), Queensland Rail
2022 Temporal Gestures Public Art Mural. South Bank, Queensland
Awards:
2020 - 2025 Griffith Award for Academic Excellence
Selected Community/Public Events:
2026 Archibald Artists’ Panel. Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
2025 QCAD Regional Schools Program. Rockhampton North State High School, Rockhampton, Queensland
2024 Fairytales Draw Along Dark Theatre. Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art
2023 Drawing - Brisbane Portrait Prize, Powerhouse Museum, New Farm, Queensland
2023 Drawing Festival. Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art
2022 Art for Floods campaign
2016 Busselton Fringe Festival, Busselton, Western Australia
2015 Behind the Scene Community Art Exhibition. Fernie, Canada
Selected Philanthropic:
2023 The Tree Projects
2022 Micah Projects
2021 The Climate Council Australia
2021 Operation Smile Australia & International
2020 Don’t Mention the C Word Exhibition. Job Co.
2019 It Takes a Village Exhibition. Friends of HEAL
2018 Dynamic Life Drawing. Friends with Dignity.
2016 Dynamic Life Drawing. WA Bushfire Appeal.
Collections:
Public Collections: Waltzing Matilda Gallery, Winton, Queensland; Spirit of the Outback Brisbane to Longreach train. Private collections: Australia & International
Curatorial:
2015 Curatorial lead for the Behind the Scene Community Art Exhibition, Fernie, BC, Canada
Field/Residencies (2-14 days):
2026 Cascades Female Factory / Hobart, Tasmania
2023 Winton, Queensland
2022 Grove of Giants / Huon Valley, Tasmania
2021 Mount Tamborine, Queensland
2019 Oregon, USA
2019 Yulara, Northern Territory
2019 Mount Tamborine, Queensland
2019 Puhoi, New Zealand
2018 Mullumbimby, New South Wales
2015 Fernie, BC. Canada