Sally Ryan is a classical realist painter based in Sydney. Her practice encompasses various genres of painting but with a focus on still life and portraiture. She has commissioned works hanging in private collections as well as in Universities and Schools, the Parliament (of Victoria) and the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney within Australia.
Sally began her training at the Julian Ashton Art School (Sydney) where she was awarded a scholarship year in 2010. She has further refined her skills through workshops at Studio Escalier, Paris, Grand Central Academy, NY and Menorca Pulsar, Spain.
For some years now, Sally has been working professionally as a portrait painter and has had her work recognised in numerous competitions both nationally and internationally, including the international ARC Salon. In 2019 she was awarded Signature Status with the Portrait Society of America for continuous excellence in portraiture.
In addition to her own practice, Sally teaches portraiture and still life painting at Hamley Studio in Sydney as well as running workshops throughout Australia.
Finalist in the following competitions:-
Archibald (2013)
Salon des Refuses (2016, 2018-Winner People’s Choice)
Doug Moran (finalist 2012, semi-finalist 2014, 2017, 2018)
Kennedy Prize (Winner 2014), finalist 2017
Black Swan Portrait Prize (2013, 2015,2017) , now the Lester Prize.
Portia Geach Memorial Award (2010, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020)
Brisbane Portrait Prize (2019, 2020)
Ravenswood Art Prize (2018, 2021)
Hunters Hill Art Prize (Highly Commended 2018)
Eutick Memorial Still Life Award (2016)
Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize (2011, 2012)
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize (2012,2018,2020)
AME Bale Painting Prize (2016)
Nora Heysen Centenary Still Life Award – Judges Commendation (2011)
Manning Naked and Nude Art Prize (2017)
Stanthorpe Art Prize (2020)
Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award (2020)
Mortimore Prize (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012), winning two sections.
Calleen Art Prize (2020)
ARC International Salon (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Portrait Society of America Members Competition (2017, 2018, Signature Status 2019)
Recent Exhibitions
2017 – Unfashionable, Solo exhibition, M2 Gallery Sydney
2019 – Bloody Beautiful, Group exhibition, Rochfort Gallery, Sydney
2020 – Artists at Home, Group Exhibition, Rochfort Gallery, Sydney