About the Artist
Yvonne moved to Sydney in 2014 from regional South Australia and currently lives and works on Cammeraygal land. Yvonne’s art practice explores the human condition with themes of the body and identity, observational drawing, and portraiture. An award-winning artist, Yvonne’s work has been hung in major prizes and institutions across Australia including the Archibald Prize and the Doug Moran Portrait Prize. Her portrait of the Honourable Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Susan Kiefel AC was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in 2020. Her commitment to life drawing was exemplified with a two-year tour to major regional art centres after winning the inaugural Country Arts SA Breaking Ground Award in 2012. With a Master of Fine Arts and degree in Psychology, Yvonne is a passionate educator and teaches painting, life drawing, and observational drawing at the University of New South Wales Art + Design (formally COFA), Willoughby Arts Centre, and the National Art School in Darlinghurst, Sydney.
Image: Yvonne East, 12 Years of Protection, 2021, charcoal on canvas, 150 x 180 cm.
Artist CV
-
2025
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Finalist, Kennedy Art Prize, The Institute, Adelaide2024
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Finalist, Kennedy Art Prize, The Institute, Adelaide
Finalist, Rick Amor Drawing Prize, McClelland Gallery, Langwarrin
Finalist, Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Sydney
2023
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2022
Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Finalist, The Percival Portrait Prize, Townsville
Finalist, Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Sydney
2021
Finalist, Dobell Drawing Prize,National Art School, Sydney
Finalist, Kennedy Art Prize, The Institute, Adelaide
2020
Finalist, Darling Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Finalist, Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Prize, Grafton Regional Gallery
2019
Finalist, Dobell Drawing Prize
Archibald Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery
2018
Finalist. Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Award, SH Ervin Gallery
Finalist, 65th Blake Prize, Casula Powerhouse
2017
Finalist, Black Swan Portrait Prize, Art Gallery of Western Australia
Finalist, The Kilgour Prize 2017 , Newcastle Art Gallery
Archibald Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery
Finalist, RSASA Portrait Prize, Adelaide
2015
Winner, Robert Le Gay Brereton Memorial Award, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Australian Postgraduate Award
Semi Finalist 2015 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
Finalist Kudos Art Prize
2014
Winner, Tim Olsen Drawing Prize
Finalist, Kudos Art Prize
Finalist, Emma Hack Art Prize
Merit Award, Goolwa Art Prize
2013
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Award
Finalist, Whyalla Art Prize
Merit Award, Finalist, Royal South Australian Society of Arts Inaugural Portrait Prize
2012
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Award
Semi Finalist 2012 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
Finalist, Advantage SA Regional Awards, Dr+PC Arts Award
2011
Winner “Breaking Ground” Professional Development Award, Country Arts SA
Finalist, Portia Geach Memorial Award
Finalist, Advertiser Business SA Contemporary Art Award
Runner up, Advantage SA Regional Awards, Bang and Olufsen Award in the category of the Arts Finalist, Limestone Coast Art Prize
2010
Winner, Advantage SA Regional Awards, Bang and Olufsen Award in the category of the Arts Finalist, Advertiser Business SA Contemporary Art Award
2009
Finalist, Dobell Drawing Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2008
Finalist, Dobell Drawing Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Finalist, Melbourne on Canvas Art Prize
Finalist, 6 Degrees Art Prize
2000
Winner Peoples’ Choice, Annual Art Purchase Prize, University of South Australia -
2023 - Bachelor of Psychology, University of South Australia
2016 - Masters of Fine Art (Research), University of New South Wales Art and Design
2000 - Bachelor of Visual Arts, South Australian School of Art University of South Australia. -
2016 - Current
Casual Academic, University of New South Wales
2025 - Current
Lecturer, National Art School, Darlinghurst
2024 - Current
Primrose Park Artist Residency, North Sydney Council
2024
Judge, Australian Miniature Society 2024 National Awards
2023
Judge, Figurative Painting, Sydney Royal Easter Show
2022
President's Portrait, New South Wales Royal Agricultural Society
Judge, Drawing, Sydney Royal Easter Show
2021
Her Majesty’s Theatre Mural, Adelaide, Adelaide Festival Centre
2020
National Portrait Gallery - permanent collection aquisition
Judge, Victor Harbor Rotary Art Prize
Judge, Fairfield City Art Prize
2019
Judge, JustArt, Law Society of New South Wales
2018
Judge, NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize (finalists)
Judge, JustArt, Law Society of New South Wales
2017
John Clarke Memorial Portrait
2016
BBC Future World, Artist in Residence
2015
Adelaide Festival Centre Mural SALA 2015, Adelaide City Council
Bartons Christmas Card, artwork and design
2014
Adelaide Aquatic Centre Murals, Adelaide City Council
2013
National Trust, Portrait of Billy, Willunga Slate Museum
2012
Portrait Commission, Tim and James Olsen, Tim Olsen Gallery
Double Vision, Artists Exchange, City of Onkaparinga
2011
Artists in Schools Project, Workshops and Presentations, initiative of the Fleurieu Art Prize
Fleurieu Art Prize, Landscape Art & Environment Field Research Project
Faces of Reynella Mural, Reynella East High School, Artist in Residence
2010
Four Seasons Mural, Blackwood High School, Artist in Residence
The Nine Muses Mural, Reynella East High School, Artist in Residence
2008
Kondoli Mural, City of Victor Harbor, Franklin Parade, Victor Harbor
2008 - 2013
Producer and presenter of the Arts Show, 90.1 Happy FM community radio -
2020
Art + Object, Adelaide Festival Centre Gallery, Adelaide
2016
Twisted Floating Bodies, BlackBox Gallery, UNSW, Sydney
New Venus, LS2, Liverpool Street Gallery, Sydney
2014
STRATUM, Country Arts SA Touring Exhibition, Murray Bridge, Tanunda, Pt Pirie, Pt Lincoln Galleries,
Performing Arts Collection, South Coast Regional Arts Centre, Goolwa
Arts SA, Selected works, Hindley Street, Adelaide
2013
Art Images Gallery, Norwood
2012
STRATUM, Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa
STRATUM, Artspace Gallery, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
2011
Out of the Shadows, Murray Bridge Regional Gallery Main Gallery, Murray Bridge
2010
Out of the Shadows, South Coast Regional Arts Centre, Goolwa
Currency Creek Winery, Currency Creek
2005
Chabbi, Tin Cat Cafe & Gallery, Kent Town
2004
Escobillar, Tin Cat Cafe & Gallery, Kent Town -
2024
Detail, DRAW Space, 31A Enmore Road, Newtown, Sydney.
Rick Amor Drawing Prize, McClelland Gallery, Langwarrin
Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Sydney
2023
Portia Geach Memorial Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2022
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Portia Geach Memorial Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Percival Portrait Prize, Percy Tucker Gallery, Townsville
Adelaide Perry Prize, Adelaide Perry Gallery, The Croydon - Centre for Art, Design and Technology Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
2021
Dobell Drawing Prize,National Art School, Sydney & regional tour
Kennedy Art Prize, The Institute, North Terrace, Adeliade
2020
Darling Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Prize, Grafton Regional Gallery & regional tour
2019
Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Dobell Drawing Prize, National Art School Gallery, Sydney
2018
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Portia Geach Memorial Award, The National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2017
Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Art Gallery of Western Australia
2016
Tim Olsen Drawing Prize, Kudos Gallery, Sydney
2015
Embody, curated by Annabelle Collette, Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa
Tim Olsen Drawing Prize, Kudos Gallery, Sydney
2014
Mirror Ball, curated by John Neylon, BMG Gallery, Adelaide
Celebration, Geoffrey Stapleton Gallery, Prospect
Tim Olsen Drawing Prize, Kudos Gallery, Sydney
2013
Fleurieu Art Prize, Adelaide Airport and Penny Hill Winery, South Australia
Interior Exterior, collaboration with Richard Hodges, SALA Festival, Cadell St Gallery, Goolwa
Portia Geach Memorial Award, The National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2012
Thinking of Margaret, SALA Exhibition, Art Images Gallery, Norwood
Double Vision, South Coast Regional Arts Centre, Goolwa
Portia Geach Memorial Award, The National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Portia Geach Memorial Award 2011, Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillumbah
2011
The Fleurieu Landscape Art and Environment Project, Fox Creek Winery, McLaren Vale Double Vision, The Arts Centre, Port Norlunga
Group Exhibition, Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
Portia Geach Memorial Award, The National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Advertiser Business SA Contemporary Art Award, Keith Murdoch House, Adelaide
The Black Wedding Dress, South Coast Regional Arts Centre, Goolwa
Second of the Friends, Adelaide Festival Theatre Foyer, Adelaide
2010
Limestone Coast Art Prize, Keith
Water Show, Gallery@28, Woollahra, NSW
Erotic, Gallery@28, Woollahra, NSW
2009
Dobell Drawing Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art of the Table, South Coast Regional Arts Centre, Goolwa
First of the Friends, Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, University of South Australia
Not the Dow Jones, SALA Event, South Coast Regional Arts Centre, Goolwa
2008
Dobell Drawing Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Domain, Sydney
Melbourne on Canvas Art Prize, Zephyr Gallery, Docklands, VIC
6 Degrees Art Prize, Frankston Arts Centre, Frankston, VIC
2000
Testing Ground, J111 Gallery, University of South Australia, (co-curator with Andrew Best)