Nic Plowman

Artist Profile

Biography

Nic Plowman’s work is borne by his dedication to both traditional and experimental drawing practices. His narratives stem from his intimate knowledge of mortality: including a life long waltz with a congenital heart condition, a sobering near fatal accident in his early thirties and more recently an unexpected “punch on” with cancer. It is these life (or death) experiences that inject Plowman’s interrogation into the human figure with both vulnerability and strength; exposing the artist’s practice as both symptomatic and remedial in its nature.

Nic Plowman has had 14 solo exhibitions, and exhibited work in more than 60 group shows. He has been a finalist in a variety of prizes, including the prestigious Doug Moran Portrait Prize (2012, semi finalist 2018), and twice in the coveted Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship (2006; 2002). He has been awarded residencies in Australia and Internationally. Nic is a regular tutor here at The Art Room and his work has been acquired into many local and international collections, both public and private. Born in Brisbane, Nic lives and works in Melbourne.

BIOGRAPHY

Exhibitions

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025
All We Are, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne – forthcoming

2022
Garden, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2020
Avalanche, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2018
Life Drawing Project, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2016
New Work, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
Amid Love and Fear, USQ Art Gallery, University of Southern Queensland

2015
Fig•ure: Drawings and Paintings, The Art Vault, Mildura
No Other Knowledge, Gallerysmith Project Space, Melbourne

2014
Kings, Popes and Other Fools, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast

2013
Nudes and Portraits, The Art Vault, Mildura

2011
Formula for Resurrection, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast
Blood is thicker than water, The Art Vault, Mildura

2010
The Darkness and the Beauty, Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast

2008
Magic Sex Death, Jugglers Art Space Inc., Brisbane

2005
Selected Paintings, Bulimba Art Gallery, Brisbane

2004
Recent Paintings, Soapbox Gallery, Brisbane

2002
Paintings and Drawings, Antiquarian Galley, Brisbane

2000
Body-line, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025
Drawn from Life (with Sam Eyles), DRAWSpace, Sydney
One to Another, Parallel Projects, Melbourne

2023
Tracing Time, Divisions Gallery, Pentridge Arts, Melbourne

2022
Risographomania, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville

2021
Summer New, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2020
Summer New, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2019
Summer New, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2018
Anon, The Good Space, Sydney; and Soma, Melbourne

2017
Iconoclasts, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts/KickArts Contemporary Arts
Tutor’s Show, The Art Room, Melbourne

2016
March Group Show, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
Hand Drawn Big Fig Arts, The Bellingen Brewery & Co, Bellingen
Anthea Polson: comes to Melbourne Menzies Auction House, Melbourne

2015
Studio 99 Exhibition TheGRID: Hybrid Arts Collective, Toowoomba

2014
Rogues Gallery: Plowman and Van Dijk (with Jan Van Dijk) Lightspace, Brisbane

2013
Brisbane Life Drawing Show Jugglers Art Space, Brisbane
Some kind of goodbye Love Love Studio, Brisbane
5th Anniversary Exhibition The Art Vault, Mildura
Perennials: Selected USQ Alumni Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery

2012
Director’s Choice The Art Vault, Mildura
In The Mirror Brenda May Gallery, Sydney

2010
Seat of the soul The Centre for Arts, Beaudesert
New Works Of Erotica Flipbook Gallery, Brisbane
Artists in Residence 10, Jugglers Art Space Inc, Brisbane
Two Needles One Yarn (with Sue-ching Lascelles), Jugglers Art Space, Brisbane

2009
Project 48, The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane
Special First Christmas Show Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast
Day OF The Dead, Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay
London Calling, Scream London Gallery, London
Hungry Like The Wolf, 19 Karen, Gold Coast
Semi Permanent 09, 19 Karen/Nine Lives Galleries, Gold Coast/Brisbane
Works On Paper, Kiln Gallery, Brisbane
Project 48, Jugglers Art Space Inc, Brisbane
Dirty Show X,The National Grid Gallery, Sydney

2003
Plowman & Eyles: Paintings (with Sam Eyles), Soapbox Gallery, Brisbane

Awards

AWARDS/GRANTS/RESIDENCIES

2025
Dobell Drawing Prize #24, National Art School, Sydney – Highly Commended
Perry Drawing Prize, Adelaide Perry Gallery, PLC, Sydney – Finalist

2024
Kedumba Contemporary Drawing Award, Wentworth Falls – Finalist

2023
Dobell Drawing Prize #23, National Art School, Sydney – Finalist
Kedumba Contemporary Drawing Award, Wentworth Falls – Finalist

2021
Lyn McCrea Drawing Prize – Finalist

2018
Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Moran House, Sydney – Semi Finalist

2016
Discovery College, Hong Kong

2015
Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore – Finalist
The Art Vault, Mildura

2014
Benalla Nude Art Prize, Benalla Art Gallery, Benalla – Finalist

2013
The Art Vault, Mildura

2012
Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Moran House, Sydney – Finalist

2011
Duke Art Prize, The Arts Centre, Gold Coast – Finalist
The Art Vault, Mildura
Agendo Art Prize ,St Heliers Street Gallery, Abbotsford – Finalist
Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Caloundra – Finalist
Lethbridge 10 000 Award Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane – Finalist
ower of Self, Artist Wanted Collaborative New York – Finalist

2010
Redland Art Award, Redland Art Gallery Cleveland – Finalist
Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Caloundra – Finalist
Lethbridge 10 000 Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane – Finalist

2009
London Calling, Scream London Gallery, London – Finalist
Project 48, The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane
Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery_ Caloundra – Finalist

2008
Small Works ’08, Brunswick St Gallery Melbourne – Merit Award

2006
Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney – Finalist

2003
Mel & Charlie Illustration Competition Triple J Radio, Australia – Winner

2002
Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney – Finalist

2000
Lloyd Rees Memorial Youth Art Award, Ultimo Centre, Sydney – Selected Work of Distinction
Recipient of the USQ Parvis Nikdin Prize for outstanding studio practice

ARTWORKS

Nic Plowman Untitled Figurative Drawing No. 2 2025 Graphine, charcoal, acrylic and silver leaf on 200gsm paper 165 x 150 cm $9,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Life Drawing – Carmine, Gilly & Evan 2025 Mixed drawing media on 200gsm paper 50 x 35 cm $1,250.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Life Drawing – John & Millie 2025 Mixed drawing media on 200gsm paper 50 x 35 cm $1,250.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Untitled Figurative Drawing No. 1 2025 Graphine, charcoal, acrylic and silver leaf on 200gsm paper 190 x 150 cm $8,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Baby (no.3) 2024 Graphite, charcoal, acrylic, crayon, ink and silver leaf on paper 200gsm 180 x 150 cm $8,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Mirror 2022 mixed media on 310 gsm cotton rag paper 42 x 30 cm $1,800.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Mend 2022 mixed media on 310 gsm cotton rag paper 42 x 30 cm $1,800.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Live 2022 mixed media on 310 gsm cotton rag paper 84 x 60 cm $3,600.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Remember 2022 mixed media on 310 gsm cotton rag paper 42 x 30 cm $1,800.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Avalanche #3 2020 Mixed media on paper 42 x 29.7 cm $1,800.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Figurative Composition #42 2018 Mixed media on paper 70 x 50 cm $2,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Nic Plowman Figurative Composition #34 2018 Mixed media on paper 70 x 34 cm $1,850.00 ENQUIRE →