Archibald Finalist 2026, 2024, Portia Geach People's Choice Winner 2024: - Stephanie Galloway Brown is a New Zealand-born artist whose passion for creativity began in the rolling hills of a dairy farm near Matamata. A self-taught artist with a deep love for figurative work, Stephanie’s journey has been shaped by her eclectic background in graphic design, photography, and illustration, which she seamlessly weaves into her painting practice.
After settling in Australia, Stephanie’s first foray into oil painting – a portrait of her daughter – earned her recognition at the Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, marking the start of her professional career as a portrait artist. Since then, her work has been celebrated for its vibrant colour palettes, emotional depth, and attention to composition. Stephanie's portraits are intimate reflections of both her subjects and her own artistic evolution, often carrying a distinctive motif she affectionately calls the ‘squiff,’ a symbol of imperfection and resilience that recurs throughout her work.
Drawing inspiration from female artists such as Xenia Hausner, Irma Stern, and Alice Neel, Stephanie’s pieces are steeped in storytelling and expressionist realism, with an emphasis on creating art that fosters emotional connections. Her work often evokes a sense of calm and nostalgia, offering viewers a peaceful escape from the frenetic pace of modern life.
Stephanie currently lives in Australia, where she continues to push the boundaries of her practice, exploring larger scale works and incorporating themes of nature and serenity. Whether painting commissioned portraits or personal projects, her focus remains on creating art that connects, calms, and invites viewers into a deeper contemplation of the human experience.