ABOUT

Known for paintings that invite touch and bold line work, Shaun Weston is a highly tactile artist based on Gubbi Gubbi country / Redcliffe Peninsula.

Anchored in the exploration of diverse media, Shaun relishes materiality. Blankets and upholstery fabrics are stretched and painted, transforming their soft appearance into firm and prickly textures. In a mix of control and serendipity, drips run down the surface of his signature ink drawings.

Challenging the sickly-sweet veneer associated with nostalgia, Shaun delves into the darker complexities of the human condition. His extensive use of chenille, especially vintage bedspreads, links to ideas of home, comfort/discomfort and sexuality.

Shaun’s engagement with text-based work has evolved to include a focus on two central subjects – flowers and figures. He sees flowers as a metaphor for the transient nature of life, the resilience of the human spirit, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

From the haunting to the humorous, Shaun weaves threads of personal narrative into each work. His interest in portraiture and the human form stems from the glossy magazines he escaped to in his youth. Even as he explores adult content, he strives to maintain a child-like curiosity.

Shaun holds a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) from Queensland University of Technology and qualifications in graphic design. He has been a finalist in multiple national art prizes including the Marie Ellis OAM Drawing Prize and The Gold Coast Art Prize. His work is represented in institutional collections, including Gold Coast University Hospital and Toowoomba Regional Gallery.