Samantha Dennison
Image: Serena Kirby
“Bringing home flowers and objects for arranging is one of my favourite parts of the painting process. … The compositions of my paintings continue to reflect my search for space and stillness.”
Samantha Dennison is a highly regarded contemporary realist painter and ceramicist based in Albany/Kinjarling on the south coast of Western Australia. Originally from Perth, she studied Art Education at Edith Cowan University and taught high‑school art for over a decade before relocating in 2012 with her family to Albany. Since then, she has focused primarily on still life painting, sourcing objects—flowers, ceramics, found items—from her local community and garden to explore themes of space, memory, and belonging. Her practice is deeply informed by her roles as artist, potter, parent, and regional resident, making everyday objects potent containers of narrative and identity.
Dennison’s paintings are characterized by luminous, layered oil glazes and meticulous compositions that emphasize the interplay between object and surrounding negative space. She begins each work with a warm burnt sienna underpainting, overlaid by thin translucent layers that allow light to glow through surface details—often extending beyond the canvas edges to hint at an expanded world just out‑of‑frame. Her muted earthy tones are occasionally punctuated by local native blooms and handmade vessels—some created by Dennison herself—reflecting her ongoing engagement with ceramics and the landscape. Winner of the 2023 City of Albany Acquisitive Award, and a finalist in prize competitions including the Mandorla and Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize, her work is held in major public collections such as the Royal Perth Hospital and in private collections nationally and overseas.
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Samantha Dennison is an Albany/Kinjarling-based artist working across painting and ceramics to explore themes of stillness and place, focussing on the quiet resonance of objects as vessels of memory and meaning. Originally from Perth, Dennison completed a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Art) at Edith Cowan University in 1990. She is a many times finalist in art awards including 2025 Mid-West Art Prize, 2024 Mandorla Art prize, 2023 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, The Jury Art Prize, and the York Botanic Art Prize in which she won Highly Commended. Dennison’s work was selected for South West Biennale 2026: Tracework, and in 2023 she won the City of Albany Acquisitive Award. Her work is held in the Royal Perth Hospital Collection and private collections in Australia and internationally. Samantha Dennison is represented by Flinders Lane Gallery in Melbourne Victoria, Jennings Kerr in Robertson NSW, and Linton & Kay Galleries in Perth.
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Selected Solo Exhibitions
2026
Of Place, Jennings Kerr Gallery, Robertson NSW
2025
Of Ash and Ochre, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2024
Homegrown, A K Bellinger Gallery, NSW
2023
And still, Linton & Kay Galleries, Subiaco WA
2022
Close to Home, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale NSW
2021
Shape and Space, Linton & Kay Galleries, Subiaco WA
New Paintings, A K Bellinger Gallery
2020
Christmas Solo, Yallingup Galleries
On the Road, Linton & Kay Galleries
New Paintings, A K Bellinger Gallery
2019
Flora, Linton & Kay Galleries
New Paintings, A K Bellinger Gallery
2017
Across the Road and Around the Corner, Linton & Kay Galleries
2015
Conversations, Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany WA
2003
Escape, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park WA
Selected Group Exhibitions2026
Tracework – South West Biennale, Bunbury Regional Gallery WA
2025
Contemplations: Contemporary Still Life, New England Regional Art Museum
2024
Real, Still, Unreal, Jennings Kerr Gallery, Robertson NSW
Tread Softly, PS Art Space, Fremantle WA
Mandorla Art Prize, Holmes à Court Gallery
2023
Inspiration and Iterations, New England Regional Art Museum
Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize
The Jury Art Prize
Great Southern Art Award, Albany WA
Women of the West: 2023, Linton & Kay Galleries
2022
False Machine, Jennings Kerr Gallery, Robertson NSW
Incognito Art Show, Sydney NSW
Interconnected, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale NSW
2021
Women of the West, Linton & Kay Galleries
Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize
2020
Light and Shade, Linton & Kay Galleries
Joondalup Invitation Art Prize
2019
Water: Above and Below, Linton & Kay Galleries
Eutick Memorial Still Life Award
The Alternative Archive, MIX Artists, Albany
2018
Women of the West, Linton & Kay Galleries
2017
Women of Wildflowers, Linton & Kay Galleries
Hyper-Botanica, Gallerysmith, Melbourne VIC
Trophy, MIX Artists, PIAF Great Southern Festival, Albany
2016
Artist Open House Fremantle
City of Albany Art Prize
Square, MIX Artists Inc, PIAF Great Southern Festival, Albany
2015
Fleurt, Saint Cloche Gallery, Sydney
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Awards
2025
Finalist, Mid West Art Prize
2024
Finalist, Mandorla Art Prize
2023
Winner, City of Albany Acquisitive Award, Great Southern Art Award
Finalist, Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize
Finalist, The Jury Art Prize
Highly Commended, York Botanic Art Prize
2021
Finalist, Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize
2020
Finalist, Joondalup Invitation Art Prize
2019
Popular Choice Award, Great Southern Art Award
2018
Finalist, Eutick Memorial Still Life Award
2016
Finalist, City of Albany Art Prize
2015
Painting Prize, Great Southern Art Award
2014
Highly Commended, Great Southern Art Award
2003
Highly Commended, Leonora Art Award
2002
Highly Commended, City of Melville Art Awards
2001
Acrylic Painting Prize, City of Melville Art Awards
Highly Commended, City of Gosnells Art Awards
1998
Highly Commended, Albany Art Prize
Collections
Royal Perth Hospital Collection
City of Albany
City of Gosnells
Methodist Ladies College
Private Collections Australia and Overseas
Ceramics, stoneware, ash glaze
Various dimensions