Artist Statement
My painting practice swings precariously from improvisation to more conscious control, from figuration to abstraction, avoiding closure, revelling in ambiguity and surprise. I like to show subtlety and clarity in the midst of apparent chaos. My canvas becomes a “battlefield” full of swirly brushstrokes, blotches and dabs that flicker and flow. I paint on multiple canvases simultaneously and prefer larger-scale. My process ignites from pictorial beginnings through to abstracted endings, expressing “movement” when using oil paint. As a keen equestrian rider in dressage, showjumping and cross-country I have been inspired by Australian history and in particular the 1933 official war paintings of the Australian Light Horse Brigade during WW1. I aim to reveal a sense of visual urgency and vitality that involves an aesthetic fascination allowing the viewer to sense the negotiation, engagement and tension without the cacophony and violence that characterised Abstract Expressionism and War.
Trenna Austin.
Curriculum Vitae
Trenna Austin
Biography
Born in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Trenna Austin has worked as a Professional Catwalk Model plus worked in corporate executive roles. Trenna graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting), winning the John McCaughey Prize for ‘Best Painting’ at the National Art School in Sydney, Australia. She was also selected for the prestigious Harvey Galleries National Art School Graduate Exhibition Award 2020 for ‘Outstanding’ work which was showcased in February 2021 at Harvey Galleries, Mosman, NSW. Trenna combines her subject with pictorial beginnings to abstracted endings avoiding closure to create an aesthetic fascination revelling in ambiguity and surprise. Her palette is colour lead and colour driven and shows layers of fine oil paint that are physical and fluid. Her broken up images have a rhythmical quality of calm and chaos where a large canvas becomes her “battlefield”. Trenna, a keen equestrian eventer in Dressage, Showjumping and Cross-country, is inspired by Australian History and in particular the official 1933 war paintings of the Australian Light Horse Brigade, WW1. Prior to her academic studies, Trenna’s painting passion led her to work as a full-time artist since 2016, opening her first solo exhibition in 2017, Hunter Valley, NSW. Trenna holds a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art (Distinction) and an Advanced Diploma in Advertising and Graphic Design. Trenna’s dedication rewards her with paintings sold in the United Kingdom and Australia-wide. In 2021, this led to the opening of ‘Trenna Austin’, her first gallery located at 676 Military Road, Mosman, NSW, Australia. Trenna’s artwork and skills are extensive including watercolour portraits, photo media, digital media, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking. Trenna paints in oil or acrylic which showcases representational expressionism and gestural abstraction.
Solo Exhibition
2021 - current 'Down at the Beach' series, TRENNA AUSTIN GALLERY, Mosman, NSW
2021 - current ‘EQUUS’, TRENNA AUSTIN GALLERY, Mosman, NSW
2019 Private Gallery Exhibition, Putney, NSW
2018 Embellish Atelier, Sydney, NSW
2017 Whispering Brook Winery, Hunter Valley, NSW
Group Exhibition
2022 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA (opens 15th January 2022 )
2021 Hill End Art Gallery Exhibition 9 x 7 (Invitation only), Hill End, NSW
2021 Harvey Galleries National Art School Exhibition Award - Harvey Galleries, Mosman Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2021 Gaffa Gallery, “Obtaining the Invisible” Exhibition, Sydney NSW
2020 National Art School Graduates Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2020 National Art School Drawing Week Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2019 National Art School Drawing Week Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2018 National Art School Drawing Week Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2018 National Art School Landscape Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2017 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
2015 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
2015 Goolwa Art Show, SA
2008 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
2007 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
2004 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
2003 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
2002 Mona Vale Art Show, NSW
1996 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1995 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1994 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1993 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1992 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1991 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1990 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1989 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1988 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1987 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
1987 SACE Art Show, Adelaide, SA (Painting Award)
1986 Victor Harbour Art Show, SA
Studies
2021 Internship, Margarest Ollie Drawing Week at Hill End, NSW - National Art School, Sydney
2018 - 2020 National Art School, NSW, Bachelor of Fine Art (painting)
2001- 2002 FFocuss Arts, Mosman, NSW
1988 -1990 School of Advertising & Graphic Design, Adelaide, SA (Adv.Dip. Graphic Design)
1987 College of the Arts, Adelaide, SA (Certificate lV in Visual Arts)
Commissions
2021 various, Sydney NSW
2020 Fast-Automation, Macquarie Park, NSW
2018 Fast-Automation, Gladesville, NSW
2017 Sue Walsh Marketing, Frenches Forrest, NSW
2012 Christine Burrel Group, New Castle, UK
2000 Infosentials National Group, Adelaide, SA
1999 Citi Soft Group, Adelaide, SA
1998 Citi Soft Group, Adelaide, SA
Print
2020 The Art Edit Magazine, Summer issue
Awards
2021 18th Annual National Acuisitive Paddington Art Prize (Sydney) - National Finalist
2020 Harvey Galleries National Art School 2021 Graduate Exhibition Award - National Art School, Sydney, NSW
2020 John McCaughey Prize for BEST PAINTING ( A Desperate Ride on a Terrible Course) - National Art School, Sydney, NSW | 
