Anne Smerdon is an Australian artist documenting the symbiotic relationship between humans and animals, particularly birds and horses. Anne has an extensive knowledge of body language and psychology in birds and horses. She uses this to work with live birds to create each of her artworks. She may spend hours with each bird, patiently waiting for them to become at ease in her presence so that she can capture their true personality.
Anne’s love for birds started from a very early age when her family purchased two small parrots as pets. They were vicious and in no way tame, yet Anne quickly became fascinated with them, studying them for school projects, recording her observations and giving presentations at school on the need to understand and protect such birds. She learnt to understand the calls of wild birds and would often find injured or sick birds and bring them home to nurture them.
Recent Exhibitions
2024 “Spring Jardin” group show at Grainger Gallery, Canberra ACT
2024 “Chook” solo show at Gallery One, Gold Coast QLD
2023 “One small change” solo show at Gallery One, Gold Coast QLD
2023 “Existential” Group show, Antler Gallery & Thinkspace Gallery, USA
2022 “Fractured Aviary” group exhibition, Antler Gallery & Yale University, Portland USA
2022 D’Arcy Doyle Art Prize exhibition, Gold Coast QLD
2020 “Captive Companions” joint solo-exhibition, Tweed Regional Gallery NSW
2014 Border Art Exhibition, Regional Art Gallery of NSW
2014 Element Eden Art Exhibition, New York
2014 Manyung Gallery group exhibition, Melbourne VIC
2014 ‘Michael Jackson’ exhibition, 19 Karen 2014 Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast QLD
2013 Art with Benefits Charity Exhibition, Brisbane QLD
2013 Trinity Art Exhibition, Gold Coast QLD
2013 ‘St Thomas’ exhibition, St Thomas Studio, Gold Coast QLD
2013 ‘Cirque Du Soleil’ exhibition, 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast QLD
2013 ‘Wild Horses’ solo exhibition, 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast QLD
2013 ‘Factory Diaries’ exhibition, Brisbane QLD
Education
Bachelor of Architectural Design, University of Queensland
Commendations & Prizes:
2024 Finalist - Wollumbin Art Prize, Tweed Regional Gallery, NSW
2024 Finalist - Gold Coast Triennial HOTA, QLD
2023 Finalist - Brisbane Portrait Prize, QLD
2022 Finalist - Wollumbin Art Prize, Tweed Regional Gallery, NSW
2022 Winner - D’Arcy Doyle Competition - Still Life Category
2021 Winner - D’Arcy Doyle Competition - Still Life Category
2015 Finalist, Border Art Prize, Regional Art Gallery of NSW
2014 Finalist, Border Art Prize, Regional Art Gallery of NSW
2013 Winner of Element Eden Global Artist search, Fine Art Category
2013 Winner of Emerging Artist Award, Trinity College Art Competition, QLD
2012 Finalist, Border Art Prize, Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2010 Finalist, Border Art Prize, Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2010 Finalist, St Sebastian’s Emerging Artist Award, QLD
2005 ‘Got to be Youth’ Design competition finalist, Brisbane
2003 Highly Commended – Ministers Art Award
2003 Principles Art Award - Somerville House
2003 Speech Night Award – Year 12 Art Award
2001 Artistic Achievement Award – Somerville House
2001 Winner of “Dare to Dream” Art Competition, QIEU
1997 Trustee’s Children’s Creative Art Scholarship winner, Queensland Art Gallery