Michael Zavros (b.1974) is a leading Australian artist. He graduated from Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1996. His work has since been exhibited in major museums throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.
In 2012 Michael Zavros was awarded the inaugural Bulgari Art Award through the Art Gallery of New South Wales. In 2010 he was awarded the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, the world’s richest prize for portraiture. He has won three major Australian drawing prizes: the 2002 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, the 2005 Robert Jacks Drawing Prize and the 2007 Kedumba Drawing Award, and has been a multiple Archibald Prize finalist. He was the recipient of the 2004 MCA Primavera Collex Art Award.
Zavros has been the subject of major survey exhibitions, The Favourite at Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in 2023, and Magic Mike at Newcastle Art Gallery in 2017. Zavros has shown solo exhibitions at Art Los Angeles Contemporary in 2016 and Art Basel Hong Kong in 2015. Other shows include Bad Dad at Starkwhite, Auckland, 2014; A Private Collection: Artist Choice, Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art, 2013; The Prince, Rockhampton Art Gallery and Griffith University Art Gallery, 2013; Selectively Revealed, an Asialink and Experimenta Media Arts exhibition that toured to Korea, Indonesia and Thailand in 2012; The Good Son: Works on Paper, a survey exhibition at Gold Coast City Art Gallery, 2009; New Nature at Govett Brewster Gallery, New Zealand in 2007, and Uncanny (the unnaturally strange), Artspace, Auckland, New Zealand, 2005, and Everything I wanted at the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane in 2003/2004.
Zavros’s selected Australian group exhibitions include Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art 2016 at Art Gallery of South Australia; GOMAQ at Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2015; Wilderness at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2010; Scott Redford Vs Michael Zavros at the Institute of Modern Art, 2010; Contemporary Australia: Optimism at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2008, and Primavera at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney 2000.
Zavros has been the recipient of several international residencies including the Australia Council Greene Street Studio, New York, 2014 Milan studio residency in 2001, and the Barcelona studio in both 2005 and 2010. In 2003 he was awarded a Cite International des Arts Residency in Paris through the Power Institute, University of Sydney. In 2004 he was awarded a studio residency at the Gunnery Studios, Sydney, from the NSW Ministry for the Arts.
In 2013 he was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial to paint a portrait of Victoria Cross winner Ben Roberts-Smith and in 2016 he will paint Dame Quentin Bryce for the National Portrait Gallery. He served on the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council for the Arts between 2007 and 2011 and currently serves on the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) board.
His work is held in numerous private and public collections, including The National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of South Australia, Queensland Art Gallery, University of Queensland Art Museum, Artbank, National Portrait Gallery, Griffith University Art Collection, Newcastle Region Art Gallery and Tasmanian Museum and Gallery.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
The Favourite, Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, AU
2022
Michael Zavros, Philip Bacon Galleries, New Farm, Australia
2021
Z Garden, Sullivan + Strumpf, Sydney, AU
2020
A Guy Like Me, Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney, AU
2019
Confectionary, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, AU
Michael Zavros, Philip Bacon Galleries, New Farm, Australia
2017
Magic Mike, Newcastle Art Gallery, New South Wales, AU
The Silver Fox, Starkwhite, Auckland, NZ
2016
A Million Dollars, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, AU
Art Los Angeles Contemporary, Barker Hangar, Los Angeles, US; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
2015
Art Basel Hong Kong, HK; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
2014
Bad Dad, Starkwhite, Auckland, NZ
Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne, AU; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
2013
A Private Collection: Artist’s Choice, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane, AU
Charmer, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, AU
The Prince, Rockhampton Art Gallery, Queensland; touring to Griffith University Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2012
The Glass, Tweed Regional Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, AU
2011
Michael Zavros, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Melbourne, AU
2010
The Savage, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, AU
2009
Calling in the fox, GRANTPIRRIE, Sydney, AU
The Good Son: Michael Zavros, Home of the Arts (HOTA), Gold Coast, AU
2008
Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne, AU; presented by Sophie Gannon Gallery, AU
Trophy Hunter, Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, AU
2007
ĒGOÏSTE, Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong, AU
Heart of Glass, Sophie Gannon Gallery, Melbourne, AU
2006
This Charming Man, 24HRArt, Northern Territory Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin, AU
2005
The Look of Love, Mori Gallery, Sydney, AU
2004
Blue Blood, Schubert Contemporary, Gold Coast, AU
Clever Tricks, Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton, AU
2003
Everything I wanted, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, AU
The Loved One, Mori Gallery, Sydney, AU
2002
New money, Schubert Contemporary, Gold Coast, AU
Old money, Mori Gallery, Sydney, AU
2001
Spring/Summer, Mori Gallery, Sydney, AU
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
2023 Mosman Art Prize
Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, AU
Surface Tension, Starkwhite, Queenstown, NZ
Important Australian Paintings, Philip Bacon Galleries, New Farm, Australia
Fifty/50, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, AU
2023 Annual Group Show, Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney, AU
2022-23
Transcending Likeness: Contemporary Portraits from the Collection
Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, Murrumburrah, AU
2022
2022 Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, AU
2021
Horsham Regional Art Gallery, Horsham, AU
The Figure, Philip Bacon Galleries, New Farm, AU
2020
2020 Annual Summer Group Show, Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney, AU
2019
Brisbane Portrait Prize, Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane, AU
Portraits by Billy Apple® and Michael Zavros, Art Los Angeles Contemporary, US; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
Sydney Contemporary, Sydney, AU; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
Floribunda: from the collection, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle, AU
2018
Beyond Surface Affect, Art Basel Hong Kong, HK; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
Sydney Contemporary, Sydney, AU; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
2017
Surface Affect, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, NZ
Sydney Contemporary, Sydney, AU; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
2016
Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Magic Object, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, AU
2015
GOMAQ, QAGOMA, Brisbane, AU
Sydney Contemporary, Sydney, AU; presented by Starkwhite, NZ
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
2013
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
Australia: Contemporary Voices, Fine Art Society, London, UK
Sydney Contemporary 13, Sydney, AU; presented by Sophie Gannon Gallery, AU
2012
Animal/Human, University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
Chulalongkorn, University Art Space, Bangkok, TH
GOLD Award, Rockhampton Art Gallery, Rockhampton, AU
Selectively Revealed, Asialink/Experimenta, Touring; Seoul, SK; Taipei, TW; Bangkok, TH
The Rapture of Death, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, AU
2011
ARTHK11, Hong Kong; presented by GRANTPIRRIE, AU
2010
Art Month Sydney, Fairfax & Roberts, Sydney, AU
ARTHK10, Hong Kong; presented by GRANTPIRRIE, AU
2 Constellations: A Large Number of Small Drawings, RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, AU
Scott Redford VS Michael Zavros, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, AU
Suburbia, Redcliffe Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
The Doug Moran Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
The Ipswich House, Ipswich Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
Wilderness: Balnaves Contemporary Painting, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
2009–11
Twelve Degrees of Latitude: Regional Gallery and University Art Collections in Queensland, Touring; PercTucker Regional Gallery, Townsville; Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, Brisbane; Logan Art Gallery; Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum; Artspace Mackay; Toowomba Regional Art Gallery; Caloundra Regional Art Gallery; University of Sunshine Coast Gallery; Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery; Warwick Art Gallery; Home of the Arts Gallery, Gold Coast; Cairns Regional Gallery; Outback Regional Gallery, Winton; Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery; Hervey Bay Regional Art Gallery; Redcliffe Art Gallery; Redland Art Gallery, AU
2009
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
ARTHK09, Hong Kong; presented by GRANTPIRRIE, AU
Michael Zavros: Sculptures, Johnston Gallery, Perth, AU
New Acquisitions, Tweed Regional Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, AU
Stan and Maureen Duke Art Prize, Home of the Arts (HOTA), Gold Coast, AU
The Doug Moran Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
The Shilo Project, The Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne, AU
2008
Contemporary Australia: Optimism, QAGOMA, Brisbane, AU
Fletcher Jones Art Prize, Geelong Regional Gallery, Geelong, AU
GRANTPIRRIE @ Greenaway Gallery, Greenaway Gallery, Adelaide, AU
Home, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore, AU
Music makes the people come together, Lake Macquarie Art Gallery, Booragul, AU
NEW: Recent Acquisitions for the University of Queensland Collection, University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
There Goes A Narwhal, (with Nell and Lionel Bawden), University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
There Goes A Narwhal, (with Nell), Gertrude St Contemporary Art Spaces, Melbourne, AU
2007
15 Years of Urban Art Projects, Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
Bloodlines, Art and the Horse, Hawkesbury Regional Art Gallery, Windsor, AU
Human, Housprojects, New York, US
Kedumba Drawing Prize, Kedumba Gallery, Wentworth Falls, AU
New Nature, Govett Brewster Gallery, New Plymouth, NZ
Sculpture and the figure, Rex Irwin Gallery, Sydney, AU
2006
Animals as Allegory, Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
Colonial to Contemporary, QCA Dell Gallery, Brisbane, AU
Kedumba Drawing Prize, Kedumba Gallery, Wentworth Falls, AU
New Objectivity, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne, AU
SOLD: The Gold Coast Real Estate Dream, Home of the Arts Gallery (HOTA), Gold Coast, AU
2005
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
Idiosyncrasy: Painting and Photography, Queensland Centre for Photography, Brisbane, AU
Object/Subject, Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane, AU
Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, AU
Uncanny (the unnaturally strange), Artspace, Auckland, NZ
2004
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
Artissima, Galleria Nicola Fornello, IT
Autofetish, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle, AU
By Male Order, Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga, AU
FIAC, Galleria Nicola Fornello, Paris, FR
Please Be Seated, Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga, AU
Susan Norrie and Michael Zavros, Mori Gallery, Sydney, AU
2003
Brett Whiteley Travelling Arts Scholarship, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney, AU
Heat, Noosa Regional Gallery, Noosa, AU
Love Letter to China, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney, AU
Quiet Collision: Current Practice/Australian Style, Associazione ViaFarini, Milan, IT
Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, AU
2002
Brett Whiteley Travelling Arts Scholarship, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney, AU
City of Hobart Works on Paper Award, Hobart City Gallery, Hobart, AU
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton, AU
Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, AU
Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, AU
The Courier Mail Art Award, Brisbane, AU
2001
Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery, Sydney, AU
Technotots Art Auction, Mori Gallery, Sydney, AU
The Courier Mail Art Award, Brisbane, AU
2000
Conrad Jupiters Art Award, Home of the Arts (HOTA), Gold Coast, AU
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton, AU
Kings School Art Prize, Kings School, Sydney, AU
Lloyd Rees Memorial Youth Art Award, Lane Cove Room, Sydney, AU
National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington Peninsula, AU
Noosa Art Prize, Noosa Regional Art Gallery, Noosa, AU
Primavera, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU
Sebastian: Contemporary Realist Painting, Home of the Arts Gallery (HOTA), Gold Coast, AU
Sharper, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford, AU
Swan Hill Drawing Prize, Swan Hill Regional Gallery, Swan Hill, AU
Toowoomba Biennial Acquisitive Award, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, AU
RESIDENCIES
2014
Australia Council Visual Arts/Craft Fund, (Oct –Jan 2015), Greene St, New York Residency, US
2012
The Bulgari Art Award, Residency, IT
2010
Australia Council Visual Arts/Craft Fund, Barcelona Residency, ES (Jan – Mar 2006)
2004
Australia Council Visual Arts/Craft Fund, Barcelona Residency, ES (Jan – Mar 2006)
2003
The Gunnery Studios, Sydney, New South Wales Ministry for the Arts (Feb – May 2004), AU
2002
Power Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, AU
Cite Internationale des Arts, Residency, Paris, FR
2001
Australia Council Visual Arts/Craft Fund, Milan Residency, Milan, IT
AWARDS & GRANTS
2012
Winner, The Bulgari Art Award, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
2010
Winner, The Doug Moran Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
2009
Runner Up, The Doug Moran Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
2007
Winner, Kedumba Drawing Prize, Kedumba Gallery, Kedumba, AU
2005
Winner, Robert Jacks Drawing Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, AU
2004
Winner, MCA Primavera/Collex Acquisitive Award, Sydney, AU
2003
Arts Queensland Development Grant; Everything I wanted, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, AU
2002
Winner, Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton, AU
COLLECTIONS
ABN AMRO, Sydney, AU
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, AU
Artbank, Sydney, AU
Australian War Memorial, Canberra, AU
Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton, AU
Griffith University, Brisbane, AU
Home of the Arts, Gold Coast, AU
Ipswich Regional Gallery, Ipswich, AU
Kedumba Gallery, Kedumba, AU
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, AU
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, AU
Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle, AU
QAGOMA, Brisbane, AU
Queensland Newspapers, Brisbane, AU
Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery, Hobart, AU
Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah, AU
University of Queensland Art Collection, Brisbane, AU
Veolia Environmental Services, Sydney, AU
Private Collections