Gwen Roberts
Gwen Roberts, a British artist living and working in Australia, is one of the most respected painters among her peers, as evidenced by the numerous awards and accolades she has received, as well as the twenty solo and group exhibitions she has participated in; among the latter, those in Barcelona at the Museo Europeo de Arte Moderno after being a finalist in the last three editions of Modportrait.
Regarding technique, she practices an uncommon drawing method that involves using sandpaper for much of the process. The impeccable finish of her paintings attests to the perfection achieved in mastering a technique learned from Annie Murphy Robinson, under whose guidance Gwen acquired many of the skills of the craft.
The natural intelligence of our jury member speaks to her self-taught nature, her ability to reach such a high level through observation. Commitment is another of the values that define her. Gwen fights against the beauty standards imposed by society that suggest there is no beauty in aging. Here is an artist who puts old age in its rightful place, another wonderful and proud stage of life. Gwen champions ‘women of age’ with the intention to assert and reinforce the female voice in art. Her mission to represent mature women as beauty ideals unburdens the onlooker of any negativity regarding aging and promotes a positive outlook to growing older. She believes this unification with the viewer and the work creates a refuge for difficult emotions.
Gwen’s art is of traditional style but transcends into the contemporary through her hyperrealistic representation of current themes. She strives to achieve a truthful and honest portrayal of the individuals she portrays, bridging the gap between painting and viewer to allow for an intimate conversation.
RECOGNITION
2021 Manning Regional Gallery ‘Naked and Nude’ Art Prize, NSW Australia, finalist
2022 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, winner ‘drawing’
2022 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, highly commended ‘drawing’
2022 ModPortrait 2021, Barcelona, Spain, finalist – two works selected
2022 Manhattan Arts International ‘The Healing Power of Art’, online exhibition, special recognition award
2023 ModPortrait 2022, Barcelona, Spain, finalist
2023 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, overall winner
2023 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, second place ‘drawing’
2023 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, second place ‘small painting’
2023 Manhattan Arts International ‘Her Story’, online exhibition, special recognition award
2023 Manning Regional Gallery ‘Naked and Nude’ Art Prize, NSW Australia, winner ‘People’s Choice Award’
2023 Boynes Emerging Art Prize, finalist
2024 ModPortrait 2023, Barcelona, Spain, finalist
2024 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, overall winner
2024 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, first place ‘drawing’
2024 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia, highly commended ‘small painting’
2024 Art RenewalCentre 17th International ARC Salon Competition, semi-finalist
2025 Judge, Tartget Art Prize, forthcoming
EXHIBITIONS
2021 Manning Regional Gallery ‘Naked and Nude’ Art Prize, NSW Australia, (selected group exhibition)
2021 Long Point Vineyard & Art Gallery, NSW Australia (solo)
2022 Recoleto Creative, Javea, Spain (solo)
2022 ModPortrait 2021 exhibition, Galería Artelibre, Zaragoza, Spain (selected group exhibition)
2022 ModPortrait 2021 exhibition, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain (selected group exhibition)
2022 Manhattan Arts International, ‘HerStory’ Exhibition of Art by Women Artists (online group exhibition)
2022 ‘Northern Exposure 7’ Exhibition, Glasshouse, Port Macquarie Regional Gallery, Australia (selected group exhibition)
2022 Manhattan Arts International, ‘The Healing Power of Art’ (online group exhibition)
2022 Long Point Vineyard & Art Gallery, NSW Australia (solo)
2023 ModPortrait 2022 exhibition, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain (selected group exhibition)
2023 MEAM Hall, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain (selected group exhibition)
2023 ‘Algo Más Que Realismo XVII’ (More Than Realism) Spain (selected group exhibition)
2023 Manning Regional Gallery ‘Naked and Nude’ Art Prize, NSW Australia, (selected group exhibition)
2023 Manhattan Arts International ‘Her Story’, online exhibition (selected group exhibition)
2023 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia (group exhibition)
2023 Long Point Vineyard & Art Gallery NSW Australia (solo)
2024 ModPortrait 2023 exhibition, Museu Europeu d’Art Modern, Barcelona, Spain (selected group exhibition)
2024 25th Anniversary Galería Artelibre, Barcelona, Madrid, Spain (selected group exhibition)
2024 Bonny Hills Art Prize, NSW Australia (group exhibition)
