Kirsten Johnston
My work emerges from my visceral response to the energy of the moment. Marks are laid down with physicality as they flow from ordinary experience, giving a visual presence to the fleeting turns of life.
Joy in the simple act of applying media and a love of the raw elements of the endeavour – paint, canvas, tools – lead to an openness and self-transparency in the works. The surface calls to be explored and imprinted by instinctive motion and colour.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 August 'A Sapling Grows in its Own Time'
Naracoorte Art Gallery, Naracoorte, South Australia
2024 March ‘Apparata’
Ladder Art Gallery, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria
2023 July 'The Colours Made Me Do It',
Gallery M, Oaklands Park (Adelaide), South Australia
2023 June 'Always September Somewhere',
Walkway Gallery, Bordertown, South Australia
2023 May 'Four Rolls of Tape and a Bucket'
Riddoch Art Gallery, Mount Gambier, South Australia
2022 October ‘Opus 67’,
Post Office Project Gallery and Studios, Port Adelaide, SA
2022 October Tatiara Billboard Project, ‘September Canola’
Dukes Highway, Bordertown, South Australia
Walkway Gallery, Bordertown, South Australia
2020 June ‘So the Earth Breathes’
Gallery M, Oaklands Park (Adelaide), South Australia
2018 August ‘Hold the Earth, Touch the Sky’
South Australian Living Artists Festival
Royal Mail Hotel, Kingston SE, South Australia
2018 April Pop-up exhibition
City Cross Arcade, Adelaide CBD, South Australia
2016 September ‘Raw Nature and Me’
Gallery 54, Penola, South Australia
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 August Finalist, Advertiser SALA Contemporary Art Award
Keith Murdoch House, Adelaide, South Australia
2025 August 'Space and Place' Residency Exhibition
Mount Gambier, South Australia
2023 August 'Heartlines'
Millicent Art Gallery, Millicent, South Australia
2022 August ‘South Australia Naturally Beautiful’
South Australian Living Artists Festival
Karatta Gallery, Robe, South Australia
2022 August Finalist, Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize
Gallery M, Oaklands Park (Adelaide), South Australia
2021 September ‘Artshed Artists’
Gallery 54, Penola, South Australia
2021 August Finalist, Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize
Gallery M, Oaklands Park (Adelaide), South Australia
2020 August ‘I am an Artist’
Millicent Art Gallery, Millicent, South Australia
2019 August Finalist, Tatiara Art Prize
Walkway Gallery, Bordertown, South Australia
2019 August ‘Emergence’
South Australian Living Artists Festival
Hiive Artspace, Unley (Adelaide), South Australia
GRANTS, AWARDS, RESIDENCIES, MENTORSHIPS
2025 August Space and Place Residency
Mount Gambier, South Australia
2022 May Artist in Residence, Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre,
Mount Gambier, South Australia
Regional Arts Fund Grant
2021-22 Eight-month mentorship with artist Margaret Worth
Guildhouse Catapult Grant
2021 August Month-long residency including mentorship with
artist Margaret Worth,
Post Office Projects Gallery and Studios
Port Adelaide, South Australia
Regional Arts Fund Grant
OTHER
2025 September Panellist at Nebula Program
Country Arts SA professional development opportunity
Adelaide CBD, South Australia
2024 October Guest speaker at ‘Intersections’ creatives’ gathering
Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre. Run by Guildhouse, SA.
2024 September ‘Artselerate’ creative business program – Mt Gambier
Presented by Creative+Business, Sydney
2021 September Artist representative on selection panel for
City of Mount Gambier Creative Arts Fund
2017 August Nebula Program
Country Arts SA professional development opportunity
Adelaide CBD, South Australia
Photography credit: John Baseley