A celebrated presence in the Australian art scene, Jasper Knight defies ‘bold and cold’ associations of the industrial. Known for his bright, bold use of primary colour and strong focus on industrial subject matter and materials. His surfaces are often collaged and glossy, providing Knight’s work with lustrous, immersive backdrops upon which line and form are accentuated. Dripping and melting, enamel, gloss acrylic and gesso create textural depth and warmth. Such material transformations naturally lend themselves to perceptions of the industrial landscape itself. Knight’s paintings challenge austere readings of the industrial landscape and replace them with something deeper: living infrastructures, the bones upon which contemporary life is fleshed.
Jasper Knight is one of Australia’s most successful and highly regarded contemporary painters. He is an eight time finalist in the Archibald Prize, most recently in 2022, a three-time finalist of the Sulman and Wynne Prizes, and has appeared in the Mosman Art Prize four times, including a win in 2008. His work is represented in major national and international collections including the National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, Australian Consulate (Manila, Philippines) and the Australian Consulate (Singapore).
A celebrated presence in the Australian art scene, Jasper Knight defies ‘bold and cold’ associations of the industrial. Known for his bright, bold use of primary colour and strong focus on industrial subject matter and materials. His surfaces are often collaged and glossy, providing Knight’s work with lustrous, immersive backdrops upon which line and form are accentuated. Dripping and melting, enamel, gloss acrylic and gesso create textural depth and warmth. Such material transformations naturally lend themselves to perceptions of the industrial landscape itself. Knight’s paintings challenge austere readings of the industrial landscape and replace them with something deeper: living infrastructures, the bones upon which contemporary life is fleshed.
Jasper Knight is one of Australia’s most successful and highly regarded contemporary painters. He is an eight time finalist in the Archibald Prize, most recently in 2022, a three-time finalist of the Sulman and Wynne Prizes, and has appeared in the Mosman Art Prize four times, including a win in 2008. His work is represented in major national and international collections including the National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, Australian Consulate (Manila, Philippines) and the Australian Consulate (Singapore).
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
‘The Lost Weekend’, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne (forthcoming)
‘Talking Underwater’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
2022
‘The Shade Bakers’, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
‘Fireworks’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
2021
‘Posters’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
2020
‘Jasper Knight’, Clayton Utz, 333 Art Projects, Sydney
‘The Joan Sea’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
2019
‘Industrial Evolution’, Knox School, 333 Art Projects, Sydney
‘Satellites’, The Fringe, Anita Chan La-liang Gallery, Hong Kong
‘White Noise’, CHALK HORSE, Sydney
‘Elevator Music’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
‘Monochromes’, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2018
‘Where we’re going we don’t need roads’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
2017
Bank of America Meryl Lynch, 333 Art Projects
‘Now you see it’ Chalk Horse
2016
‘Little wonder’ Edwina Corlette Galleries
‘In a silent way’ Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Jasper Knight and Clifton Mack-The lighthouse show, Chalk Horse
2015
‘Jumbo kingdom’ Cat Street Gallery Hong Kong
‘Recent works on paper’ Art Stage Singapore, Chalk Horse
‘The ten year storm’ Australian Galleries, Sydney
2014
‘Kurilpa Bridge’ Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane
‘Survey show 2003-12’ Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill, NSW
2013
‘One piece at a time’ Black art projects Modena, Italy
‘Survey show 2003-2012’ Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, Bathurst, NSW
‘Survey show 2003-12’ Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland, NSW
Solo presentation Sydney Contemporary Booth D142 Australian Galleries, Sydney
2012
‘Survey show 2003-2012’, Shoalhaven Regional Art Gallery, Nowra, NSW
‘Know your enemy’, Gallery Ecosse, Exeter, NSW
‘Total Recall’, Australian Galleries, Roylston Street, Sydney
‘Survey show 2003-2012’, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn, NSW
2011
‘Recent Work’, Australian High Commission, Singapore
‘North by Northwest’, Greenhill Galleries, Perth
‘Roll-on Roll-off’, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
‘Metal on Metal’, Gallery Ecosse, Exeter, NSW
‘Sydney Boat Show’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
‘The Fast and the Furious’, Muk Muk Fine Art, Alice Springs, NT
2010
‘There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
‘Lost Highway’, Greenhill Galleries, Perth
‘Road Trip’, BMGArt, Adelaide
2009
‘Spring Rockers’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
‘Hunters & Gatherers: Works on Paper, Prints & Collages’, Cosa Gallery, London, UK
‘It Takes a Thief to Catch a Thief’, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2008
‘Apache’, Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle, NSW
‘Interior Disasters’, Greenhill Galleries, Perth
‘Apache’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
‘Skytrain’, BMGArt, Adelaide
2007
Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne
‘Plattenbau’, Greenhill Galleries, Perth ‘Tidemark/Thames Series’, Cosa Gallery, London, UK ‘Dashanzi’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
‘Dashanzi’, Chalk Horse, Sydney
2006
Art and About, Customs House Forecourt, Sydney
No Direction Home, Pickled Art Centre, Beijing
Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Cutting Fields: Collage in the 21st Century, First Draft, Sydney
2005
The Year in Art, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
The Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship, Brett Whitley Studio, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Sydney Art on the Rocks Prize (Winner), Rocks Visitors Centre, Sydney
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2004
One of (Festivus), Sherman Galleries, Sydney
ABN-AMRO Emerging Artist Prize, Aurora Place, Sydney
2003
Christmas Show, MOP Projects, Sydney
Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship, Artspace, Sydney
Blake Prize, Sir Herman Black Gallery, Sydney
2002
Slacking Off, Imperial Slacks Gallery, Sydney
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Taipei Dangdai, Taipei, with Chalk Horse, Sydney
Sydney Contemporary with Chalk Horse, Sydney
2023
ART SG, Singapore, with Chalk Horse, Sydney
Sydney Contemporary with Chalk Horse, Sydney
2022
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Sydney Contemporary, Chalkhorse
Wynne Salon des Refuses , S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Wild at Heart, Chalk Horse, Sydney
2021
Archibald Salon des Refuses , S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Wynne Salon des Refuses , S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Sydney Contemporary Art fair, James Makin Gallery
2020
Salon des Refusés S.H. Ervin Gallery Sydney, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
Sydney Contemporary with Chalk Horse
‘Sydney These Days’, curated by Sebastian Goldspink, Sydney
2019
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney Contemporary, James Makin Gallery
2015
Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
2014
Salon des refuses S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Sydney Contemporary with CHALK HORSE, Sydney
‘These Days’, curated by Sebastian Goldspink, Sydney
2013
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
2012
‘Summer Stock Show’, Australian Galleries, Derby Street, Melbourne
Adelaide Festival Show Todd Hunter & Jasper Knight BMG gallery, Adelaide
2011
‘Art in Unusual Places’, Art and About, Sydney
‘Reload – Contemporary Landscape’, Gallery Ecosse, Exeter, NSW
2010
‘large exhibition of small works’, Australian Galleries, Sydney
‘large exhibition of small works’, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
‘Chalk Reindeer’, CHALK HORSE, Sydney
‘Opening Show’, Gallery Ecosse, Exeter, NSW
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2009
‘Shanghart’, Shanghai Art Fair, Shanghai,China
Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
‘Chalk Reindeer’, Chalk Horse, Sydney ‘Salon des Refusés’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
‘Smoking Guns’, Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2008
‘Chalk Reindeer’, Chalk Horse Sydney,
‘Salon des Refusés’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize (Winner), Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
‘Abundant Australia’, Australian Pavilion, Venice Architecture Biennale, Venice Italy
Art Sydney: Sydney’s Affordable Art Fair, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
2007
‘Abundant Australia’, Australian Pavilion, Venice Architecture Biennale, Venice
Italy Art Sydney: Sydney’s Affordable Art Fair, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
‘Memento Mori’, Blk/Mrkt Gallery, Brisbane
‘Underscore’, Josetti Hoffe Gallery, Berlin, Germany
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
‘Freedman Foundation Show’, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney
2006
‘Art and About’, Customs House Forecourt, Sydney ‘No Direction Home’, Pickled Art Centre, Beijing, China
2005
‘The Year in Art’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2004
‘One of (Festivus)’, Sherman Galleries, Sydney ABN-AMRO Emerging Artist Prize, Aurora Place, Sydney
‘No Direction Home’, Pickled Art Centre, Beijing, China Redlands
‘Cutting Fields’: Collage in the 21st Century, First Draft, Sydney
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2003/4
Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship, Artspace, Sydney
2003
‘Christmas Show’, MOP Projects, Sydney Helen Lempriere Travelling Art
Blake Prize, Sir Herman Black Gallery, Sydney
2002
‘Slacking Off’, Imperial Slacks Gallery, Sydney
AWARDS/GRANTS/PRIZES
2022
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2019
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2015
Sulman Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
2013
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Sulman Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
2012
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize – finalist, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney
Wynne Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2011
Wynne Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2010
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2009
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2008
Mosman Art Prize – winner, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
2007
Mosman Art Prize – finalist, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2006
National Association for Visual Arts (NAVA) Marketing Grant, Sydney Australia
Council for the Arts (OZCO), New Work Grant Established (Painting), Sydney
Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Wynne Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize – finalist, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2005
‘The Year in Art’, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
The Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship, Brett Whitley Studio, Art Gallery of
New South Wales, Sydney
Art on the Rocks Prize (Winner), Rocks Visitors Centre, Sydney
Wynne Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize – finalist, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Archibald Prize – finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Freedman Foundation Scholarship for Emerging Artists – Winner, Sydney
The Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship – finalist, Brett Whitley Studio, Art Gallery of New South Wales,
Sydney Art on the Rocks Prize – Winner, Rocks Visitors Centre, Sydney
2004
Council for the Arts (OZCO), New Work Grant Emerging (Painting), Sydney
2003/4
Helen Lempriere Travelling Art Scholarship, Artspace, Sydney
2003
Blake Prize, Sir Herman Black Gallery, Sydney
Opening Hours
Wednesday–Saturday
12pm–5pm
or by appointment
James Makin Gallery recognises the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the sovereign custodians of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.