Known for her deep connection to the Australian bush, Nat Ward’s paintings speak to the complexity, beauty, and fragility of landscapes often walked through but seldom fully seen. Working from her studio in Albury, Nat draws from the ecosystems along the Murray River and the dense terrain of Nailcan Hill, sites she hikes regularly to inform her intricately layered works.
This year, Ward’s solo exhibition at Manyung Gallery Mount Eliza offers collectors a rare and powerful insight into her practice. Through careful attention to ambiguous forms, fleeting colour shifts, and intimate patterns found in nature, she invites viewers to re-examine the landscapes they thought they knew.
Congratulations on your upcoming exhibition. Can you share with us the ideas behind this body of work?
This show is a continuation of my exploration of the bush and river land around Nail Can Hill where I spend a lot of time hiking. I am interested in bringing to my work the idea of 'slow looking’. This means you notice elements of your surroundings that might otherwise seem innocuous. I want the viewer to feel the same connection to the paintings, that they are full of gentle and nuanced beauty.
You’ve had quite an impressive career. Can you tell us the story of how you became an artist?
I knew I was an artist from a very young age, probably 4-5 years old. I studied Fine Arts, majoring in Painting at Canterbury University, then worked for a while in the graphic arts industry. I have been lucky to have been able to paint full time for the last 20 years.
Who or what are your biggest influences?
My influences are artists such as Segantini, Doig and Uttech.
We’d love to learn more about your creative process. How do you go about starting a new body of work?
I don’t really start a new body of work as such, as I am constantly working through ideas and painting up to 4 works at a time. This is important to keep ideas and process consistent, it’s about a slow progression.
Is there a particular piece from the exhibition that stands out for you? (Maybe one you are most fond of, or a piece that challenged you more than others?)
A painting resonates with me if it has the power to hold interest, to be thought provoking and intriguing. I hope all my paintings do this, I try to honour every inch of the canvas with painting that is good and thoughtful.
Can you share some of the highlights you’ve had so far in your artistic career, and what is next for you?
I have been honoured to be in some of the top art prizes as a finalist, and also to have won the major prize in two competitions, which has been a real thrill. I have also had a major exhibition at a regional public gallery MAMA, earlier this year, which was a highlight as it bought together my passion for painting with my love of France, the French language and our shared history in WW1. As for what I am working on at the moment, I will continue to notice the subtle changes on Nailcan Hill as winter turns to spring and will use these observations in my next works.
Exhibition opening
Saturday August 9, 2025
11 am - 3 pm
Manyung Gallery Mount Eliza
54 Mt Eliza Way, Mount Eliza
exhibition runs until August 23
To register your interest in this exhibition or to receive an early preview catalogue, please contact mteliza@manyunggallery.com.au or call
Kim Delaney 0438 662 827
Sharyn Wemyss-Smith 0419 595 222