Allison Barnes is an emerging Canberra based mixed media artist. She is interested in the environment, including the built environment, and our structural relationship with it.  She explores these themes by combining and juxtaposing materials; waste and found objects; and textures in painting, print and sculpture.  Her works grow from the interaction between an exploration of the properties of these materials and processes.

 

After completing a Certificate 4 in Visual Arts at Canberra Institute of Technology Allison graduated from the Australian National University School of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours in 2021.​

 

Prior to graduation Allison exhibited at the Canberra Contemporary Art Space Members Show (2016, 2022, M16 Gallery Chutespace (2020), the Long Way Round Exhibition at Ambush Gallery (2019), the Inner North Art Prize (finalist, 2018), and the ANU Random Exhibition (2017).​

 

Allison was awarded four 2021 ANU School of Art & Design Emerging Artist Support Scheme (EASS) Awards including the ACT Legislative Assembly Prize; the Megalo Print Studio Residency Award; the Altenburg & Co Gallery Exhibition Award; and the Art Monthly Australasia Subscription Award.

 

​In 2022 Allison was included in the Megalo Print Studio National graduate online exhibition FUTURE PROOF of twenty-one emerging printmakers from across Australia and New Zealand.  She participated in Carved (collaborative exhibition project between Thor’s Hammer and Megalo Print Studio which explored the use of salvaged and recycled timbers as matrix, surface, support, or inspiration to develop new works in print media) and Translations, a joint exhibition at the CCAS space in Manuka.

 

In 2023 Studio Altenburg held a solo exhibition of Allison’s Lost series of paintings. Three works from this series were included in the ACT Legislative Assembly Speaker’s Award 2019–2021 Exhibition.  These works were acquired for inclusion in the ACT Legislative Assembly Art Permanent Collection.

 

In November 2023 Allison received the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation Boris Property Emerging Artist Award.

 

Allison held a solo exhibition, A Sense of Fragility, at the CCAS space in Manuka in June 2024.

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