Ann Thomson is one of Australia's most significant artists. She’s been painting for over 60 years, has exhibited in over 40 solo shows and there’s no sign of her slowing down. Her works are filled with colour and movement which command the viewer’s attention. They’re all about feeling and touch, delving into abstraction in her unique way.
She’s won the Wynne prize, the Geelong Contemporary art prize, the Kedumba Drawing prize, the Tattersall's art prize and others. She’s also an acclaimed sculptor and, as with her paintings, likes to work in large scale.  Her incredible installation selected for the Seville Expo in 1992 was 11 metres high and took 3 months to complete when it was shipped over to Spain.

I had a great conversation with Ann in her huge studio in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. We talked about why we need musicians and artists, what makes a strong painting, how to tap into creativity and lots more.

Her work is included in the forthcoming show '6 artists | 7 days' at Defiance Gallery which opens on 23 September 2018.

Thomson grew up in Brisbane and this episode starts at a time when she was 9 years old, during WWII, when her school had been closed down amid fears of enemy attacks.

Press 'play' beneath the feature photo above to hear the podcast interview.

Scroll down to see video of Thomson in her studio.

 

Feature photo of Ann Thomson above (cropped)  by Greg Weight

 
Current and upcoming events

National Art - Part one, group show, National Art School, current to 27 October 2018
Mary Place Group Exhibition, Defiance Gallery, current to 20 October 2018
Six artists | Seven days, the AWC Newhaven exhibition, group show, Defiance Gallery, 23 September to 19 October
Exhibition with Joe Furlonger at Nock Art Gallery 2019, date TBA

Show notes

Ann Thomson at Defiance Gallery
Ann Thomson at Nodrum Gallery
Ann Thomson at Stephane Jacob Gallery
John Molvig
Betty Churcher
Caroline Barker
Robert Helpmann
Kenneth Noland
Anthony Caro
Claude Monet
Exhibition at Musee de l'Orangerie - American Abstract Painting and the last Monet
National Art School (formerly East Sydney Technical College)
John Passmore
Watters Gallery
John Olsen
Tim Storrier
Piet Mondrian
Ian Fairweather
Grace Clifford
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Cite Internationale des Arts
Noel McKenna
Joe Furlonger
Fiona Mcdonald

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubcRerANudU&t=2s