I am a contemporary artist and my studio is on unceded Yuin Country near the Shoalhaven River, NSW.
My major project is to create images considering female experience and sovereignty.
Portraying real and imagined bodily sensation is my way of responding to lived experience and imagined possibilities. The embodied mind is communicated through simple forms and spaces.
I use affect, often through immersive colour, to create a physical and emotional connection with the viewer.
My work blurs the boundaries between abstraction and figuration and I work with drawing, painting and installation.
A quiet, powerful, interiority often pervades the work.
I research perception, pictorial composition and feminist psychoanalytic theory.
Portraiture particularly of creative women has been a significant part of my practice, to increase womens’ public representation.
Recent exhibitions include Life Drawing (2024) Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre ACT and Simple Forms for Complex Times (2024) at the Canberra Contemporary Artspace Manuka, ACT
My work is in the National Portrait Gallery ACT, The National Library of Australia ACT, The Canberra Museum and Gallery and The Adelaide University.
Formative experiences were a 50’s childhood in Adelaide. Experience formed from observing post war PTSD and the experiences of protestant fundamentalist culture with the limits placed on women and children informed my visual MA at ANU 2000.
I concluded with attitudes of reconciliation and sometimes coexistence with difference.
Throughout my practice has been a growing visualization of kindness. My recent work celebrates female sovereignty and the embrace of sexuality.
CV
Born 1950, Adelaide, South Australia
Education
2000 The Australian National University, Master of Visual Arts
1974 Torrens College of Advanced Education
Advanced Diploma in Teaching (Fine Arts)
1972 Western Teachers College and the South Australian School of Art
Diploma in Teaching Secondary Art
Solo Exhibitions
2024 CCAS Manuka (Canberra Contemporary), February, Simple forms for Complex Times, Canberra
2024 Belco Arts, March, Lee Crisp Life Drawing, Canberra
2023 Lee Crisp at Sissa Sorella, Canberra, September
2021 Art Box Barton, Canberra.
2019 ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Exhibition Pop up: Leeanne Crisp, Canberra. This exhibition with Sydney Nolan’s ‘Riverbend’ addressed the relationship between my work and Nolan’s painting and was accompanied by a talk and discussions with Friends of the Drill Hall Gallery.
2013 Chapman Gallery, The Thinking Heart, Canberra
2004 Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG), Ordinary People, Canberra
2000 ANU School of Art & Design, Social Fabric, in Season Master of Visual Arts exhibition, Canberra
Tilley’s Divine Café Gallery, Celebration of the Life of Judith Wright, Canberra
1999 Canberra Institute of the Arts, Photospace Gallery, Borderspace, A collaboration with Helen Fuller, Adelaide
1989 Giles Street Gallery, Canberra
1986 Tynte Street Gallery, Painting on paper, Adelaide
1985 Tilley’s Divine Café Gallery, Paintings on paper, Canberra
1983 Gallery Anderson Gallery, Sydney
1979 Contemporary Art Society, Adelaide
1977 Solander Gallery, Canberra
Group Exhibitions
2023 Altenburg Gallery final show, December
2023 Kaleidoscope, Belco Arts, Canberra
2023 Queanbeyan-Palerang Bendigo Bank Art Prize Exhibition
2023 Lethbridge small scale Art Award (online)
2023 ‘Time and Line’ National Portrait Gallery (Portrait of Gay Bilson)
2023 National Portrait Gallery Portrait of Helen Caldicott
2023 Braidwood Regional Art Group works on paper
2022 Marion Halligan at National Portrait Gallery for Writers Week
2022 M16 Drawing Prize Exhibition, ACT
2022 Kaleidoscope LGBTQI at Belco Arts
2022 The Percival Portrait Prize Exhibition, Townsville
2022 The Christmas Show, Altenburg Gallery
2022 Small works Christmas show, Beaver Galleries, ACT
2022 Portrait Prize, BDAS Bowral
2022 CAPO Auction exhibition, Canberra
2022 ‘Red’ Members show Braidwood Regional Artists
2022 ‘Nest’ Curated by Helen Maxwell for the River of Art Exhibition
2021 CAPO Exhibition and Auction, Canberra
2021 Queanbeyan Palerang Art Prize Exhibition
2020 CAPO exhibition and auction, Canberra
2020 BDAS Portrait Prize (Elena Kats Chernin)
2020 Small things Art Prize, Saint Cloche, Sydney
2020 Art on Fire: Braidwood Artists respond to the Bushfires. Braidwood Regional Arts Group and accompanying book, 4-13 December, Braidwood, NSW
2020 Online drawing exhibition, M16 Gallery, Canberra
2020 BDAS, John Copes Portrait Prize exhibition, 19 Sep – 11 Oct, Bowral. Saint Cloche Gallery, Little Things Art Prize, 16 – 27 Sept, Sydney
2019 Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman Art Prize, 11 Sep – 27 Oct, Sydney
Braidwood Regional Art Group (BRAG), Reclaim the Night, NSW
2018 Braidwood Regional Art Group Members Show, NSW. Nishi Hotel, Silent auction and exhibition for SpringOUT, NewActon, Canberra. Altenburg & Co Braidwood, The Christmas Show – Coming home, NSW.
2017 Altenburg & Co Braidwood, The Christmas Show, NSW. M16 Artspace, M16 Studios Fundraising Auction and Exhibition, Canberra. Q Gallery, The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Art Awards, Queanbeyan, NSW. M16 Artspace, Materiality, M16 Tenants’ exhibition, Canberra. Braidwood Artists Member Show, NSW. Braidwood Regional Art Group, The Women’s Show, NSW. ANU School of Art Foyer Gallery, Random, Canberra.
2016 Canberra Museum and Gallery, Capital Arts Patron Organisation, Annual Exhibition and Auction, 14 – 22 Oct, Canberra. Braidwood Regional Art Group, The Women’s Show; The Regional Art Prize, The Members Show, NSW. Muse M16 Fundraising Auction, Canberra.
2015 Canberra Museum and Gallery, Capital Arts Patron Organisation, Auction: CAPO 32, 31 Oct – 7 November. Canberra Braidwood Art Society, The Women’s Show; Members Show; and Group Show, NSW.
2014 Canberra Museum and Gallery, CAPO 2014 Auction Party, Canberra. Australian Embassy, 23 Australian portraits by member artists, a joint initiative with The Embassy of Australia and Portrait Artists Australia, selected by the National Portrait Gallery of America, 1 Aug – 19 Sep, Washington
2013 Canberra Museum and Gallery, Capital Arts Patron Organisation, Annual Gala Fundraiser Auction and Exhibition, Canberra.
2012 Parliament House, Celebrating Innovators, selected by Portrait Artists Australia, Canberra Art House Hotel. The Artists Book, Launch and Exhibition, selected by Portrait Artists Australia, Sydney. Bega Regional Art Gallery, The Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award and Exhibition, 1 June – 7 July, NSW. BDAS, Members Show, NSW. BDAS, Portrait Prize and Exhibition, NSW.
2011 Victorian Art Society, All the World’s a Stage, selected by Portrait Artists Australia, Melbourne. BDAS, John Copes Watercolour Prize exhibition, Winner, NSW.
2010 S.H. Erving Gallery, Portia Geach Memorial Award, Finalist, Sydney Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW).
2009 Archibald Prize: New South Wales Regional Tour, NSW Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), 2009 Archibald Prize: New South Wales Regional Tour, NSW.
2008 ANCA, In the fold – 15 years at ANCA, Canberra
2006 Canberra School of Art Gallery, Picture This Painting Alumni 2000-2006, Canberra Gen Eira Gallery, Alice Bale Art Award Exhibition, Victoria. BDAS, John Copes Memorial Prize for Watercolour exhibition, Bowral.
2005 Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Calleen Acquisition Award, Cowra
2004 S.H. Erving Gallery, Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, Finalist, Sydney.
2004 Megalo Print Studio and Gallery, Distil, 21 Oct – 13 Nov, 2004, Canberra. Araluen Centre, 33rd Alice Prize, Alice Springs. BDAS, John Copes Prize for Representational Art exhibition, Bowral. National Portrait Gallery (Old Parliament House). Masters of Fare, Chefs, Winemakers, Providores, Canberra. Italo Australian Club. Canberra Art Prize exhibition, Canberra.
2003 S.H. Erving Gallery, Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, Finalist, Sydney. Chapman Gallery, Watercolour on vellum painting, Canberra. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Tuggeranong Regional Art Prize exhibition, Canberra. Italo Australian Club, Canberra Art Prize exhibition, Canberra. Canberra Contemporary Art Space (CCAS), Inaugural Contemporary Art Award, Canberra. Megalo Print Studio and Gallery, Megalo Members Exhibition, Canberra. ANCA, Mixed Blessings, for New-born Intensive Care Foundation, Canberra. M16 Studios, Inaugural show, Canberra.
2003/02 National Portrait Gallery (NPG), Sampling Australian Portraiture, the formal Opening of NPG, Commonwealth Place, Canberra.
2002 ANCA, That was Then – 10 years at ANCA studios, Canberra.
2001 Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory, National Craft Acquisition Award exhibition, Northern Territory. Australian Academy of Science, The Secret Life of Plants exhibition held during the fourth International Legume Conference of 2002, Canberra Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Hostage to Fortune, the Maternal Relationship, curated by Denise Ferris, Canberra.
2000 S.H. Erving Gallery, Blake Prize exhibition, Sydney. CCAS, Traditional Values, Canberra Capital Arts Patron Organisation, Fine Art Auction, Canberra. Tin Sheds Gallery, Putting it into print, Sydney Tilley Divines Café Gallery. Celebration of the life of Judith Wright Paintings and illustrated book, Canberra. Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill Print & Drawing Acquisitive Awards and exhibition, Victoria.
1999 Spiral Arm Gallery, The Drawing show, curated by Helen Maxwell, Canberra. Purple Wall Gallery, Hutchins Art Prize finalist, Sandy Bay, Tasmania. CCAS, Colour my World, CCAS members Show. Canberra Museum and Gallery, Printing History – 18 years of Megalo Access Arts, Canberra. Metro Craft Centre, More Swanky Hankies, by EcoMusée des Textiles, Fourmies, France. Melbourne Jam Factory, Putting it into Print, and regional tour of South Australia with SATEP, Adelaide. Stargard Szecinski Museum, Vital Signs, Szczecin, Poland.
1998 Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Vital Signs, South Africa. Canberra Institute of the Arts, Vital Signs, Canberra. Canberra Institute of the Arts, Photospace Gallery, Vital Signs, Canberra. Spiral Arm Gallery, The Drawing show, Canberra. Canberra Institute of the Arts, Drawing Prize exhibition (winner), Canberra Tilley Divines Café Gallery, International Word Festival, Writers at Tilleys, (Tribute to Judith Wright with Works on paper and illustrated book), Canberra CCAS, Tunnel of Love, Canberra.
1997 Canberra School of Art (CSA), After Hours, Canberra. Jam Factory, Swanky Hankies, Adelaide. ANCA, Thinking Drawings, Canberra. Canberra School of Art, Drawing Prize Exhibition, Canberra.
1995 ANCA, International Women’s Day Exhibition, Canberra ANCA. 20/20 Studio Tenants’ Show, Canberra. ANU, Australian Artists Against Racism – Collaboration with Chun-Chang Sihuk, Canberra.
1994 ANCA, The year of the Dog, 24 Sep – 2 Oct, Canberra CSA, Playing with Fire, Canberra.
1993 ANCA, Prints and Drawings, Canberra Spiral Arm Gallery, Anti-Nuclear Testing in the Pacific, Canberra. ANCA, Inaugural Tenants’ Exhibition, Canberra.
1992 CCAS, Between the covers – Artists Books, Canberra.
1990 Craft Council of the ACT, Artists Books, Canberra.
1989 Kensington Gallery, Group Show, Adelaide. Savode Gallery, Opening Show, Brisbane. CCAS Capital Art – Members Show, Canberra
1988 Centre Gallery, The National 1988 Women’s Art Award, Exhibition, curated by Betty Churcher, Director of Art Gallery of Western Australia, Gold Coast, QLD. Swan Hill Gallery Regional Art Gallery, Watercolour Australia, Victoria.
1987 CSA, The Staff Show, Canberra.
1986 CSA, Time and Place – The Staff Show, Canberra.
1985 CSA, Sense of Place – The Staff Show, Canberra.
1984 Contemporary Art Society, Works on paper, Adelaide.
1983 Contemporary Art Society, Paperworks, Adelaide. CSA, Staff Show 3, Canberra Australian National Botanic Gardens, Photographic exhibition on Monet’s Garden, Canberra.
1982 Staff and Students of the Graphic Investigation Workshop, Brisbane College of Art and Canberra School of Art, Brisbane and Canberra. Huntly Gallery, Pastel is the Medium, Canberra. CSA, Staff Show, Canberra.
1981 Ararat Gallery, Miniature Textiles – Biennale Exhibition, Victoria
1980 27 Niagra Lane Galleries, Womens Art – Women’s Electoral Lobby show, Melbourne Collingwood Town Hall, Labor Art Show, Melbourne.
1979 Solander Gallery, School of Art Staff Show, Canberra. Australian Labour Party Art and Craft Fair, Melbourne.
1977 Canberra School of Music, Canberra School of Art Staff Exhibition, Canberra Solander Gallery, School of Art Staff Show, Canberra
1975 Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Art and the Creative Woman, for International Women’s Year, South Australia. Sydenham Gallery, Paintings and etchings, Adelaide. Mitcham Village Gallery, Workshop etching exhibition, Mitcham, South Australia. Canberra School of Music, Canberra School of Art Staff Exhibition, Canberra.
1974 Contemporary Art Society, Recent Art from South Australia, and touring to Newcastle City Art Gallery, Adelaide. Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Contemporary Art Society members show, Adelaide.
1973 Contemporary Art Society of South Australia, Paintings, Drawings and Prints, Adelaide.
Prizes / Awards
Mosman Art Prize finalist, 2019, Sydney
Bowral and District Art Society (BDAS), John Copes Watercolour Prize, First Prize, 2011
S.H. Erving Gallery, Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, Finalist, 2011, 2004 and 2003
BDAS, John Copes Prize for Representational Art, People’s Choice Award, 2004
Canberra Art Prize, Runner up and People’s Choice, 2004
John Copes Memorial Prize (and runner up), 2004
Canberra Art Prize, People’s choice, 2004
Tuggeranong Art Prize, Winner, 2003, Canberra
John Copes Prize People’s choice BDAS, 2003
Canberra Institute of the Arts, Post Graduate Materials Award, 1999
artsACT, Grant for new work in 2000, 1999
Canberra Institute of the Arts Drawing Prize Winner, 1998
Grant to install Vital signs in Michael’s Art School, Cape Town, an exhibition of myself and fellow MA and PhD students from ANU.
Canberra Institute of Arts Drawing Prize, 1998
Canberra Institute of Arts Postgraduate Materials grant, assistance to send Vital Signs to Poland, 1998
American field Service International Scholarship, 1968 – 69
Residencies
2010, 2009, 2006, 2004 Bundanon Trust, Artist in Residence (Poussin Project), NSW
2003 Megalo Printmaker in Residence Program, Canberra
1998 Residency, Michaelis School of Fine Art, Painting Department, Cape Town University
1997 Megalo Residency (Silk Screen), Canberra
Publications and Essays
2024 Life Drawing, Lee Crisp, Pivot Gallery Belco Arts.
2024 Simple forms for Complex Times by Penny Grist.
2020 Art on Fire Braidwood Regional Arts Group Project ed Christine Dimmer
2020 Australian Country ‘Creative Central’ pp 102-113 by Kirstie McKenzie
2020 Leeanne Crisp, up and coming interview in Country Living
2016 Leeanne Crisp, “Gentle Paintings with a Giant Brush.” In 2016 Creative Artist Yearbook, Collector’s Edition, 38-42. Woodlands Publishing.
2013 Sasha Grishin, Crisp Exhibition Hitting Heights, The Canberra Times, 11 May 2013.
2013 Leeanne Crisp, Words are the daughters of the earth – Portrait of Marion Halligan, 2002, Meanjin (Canberra Issue) and National Portrait Gallery database
2012 Susan Parsons, Ways with pomegranate, The Canberra Times, 13 June 2012.
2010 Sasha Grishin, Painted Scenes of Inner Selves – review of Portia Geach Memorial Award Exhibition, 9 Oct 2010
2010 Diana Streak, Portia Geach Awards, The Canberra Times, 2010
2009 Diana Streak, Capital Artists brush up for the Archibald, The Canberra Times 26 Feb 2009
Helen Grant, The Portrait Strikes Back, May 2009
Sasha Grishin, The folly of thinking bigger is better, The Canberra Times, 28 March 2009
Christopher Allen, Portraiture as a mugs game, The Australian, 26 Feb 2009
Sonia Barron, A new project focusing on the face, The Canberra Times 6 April 2004
National Portrait Gallery, Tasting the history of Aussie food – Masters of Fare, 17 Dec 2004
Helen Musa, Halligans Farewell, Capital Life, The Canberra Times, 27 Sept 2004
Author unknown, Alice’s Treasure House enriched, Alice Springs News, 10 Nov 2004
Sonia Barron, What’s new in Print Distil Exhibition, The Canberra Times, 1 Nov 2004
Helen Musa, Crisp takes regional Art Prize, The Canberra Times, 29 Oct 2003
Helen Musa, High Expectations for Canberra Art prize, Capital Life, The Canberra Times, 2003
Jessica Stanley, Raising Funds or family: a mixed blessing, The Canberra Times, 31 July 2003
Ian Warden, Legume Conference inspires astonishing art, The Canberra Times, 2003
Evan Hanford, Creative Minds Mix it together (Bundanon), The Canberra Times, 9 Dec 2001
Sonia Barron, Drawing in a crowd, The Canberra Times, 21 Feb 1999
Francesca Rendle-Short, The Clothes my Mother made us, Canberra Arts Anthology, National Library of Australia, 1999
Hinchcliffe Meredith, Putting it into Print, Craft Arts International, Issue 45, 1999
Cassie Proudfoot, Exchange of ideas, The Canberra Times, 1 Oct 1998, ANU Reporter, VOL 29/14, 1998
Cassie Proudfoot, Of women, by women, but for all, The Canberra Times, 7 Mar 1995
Sasha Grishin, Drawing Show, Spiral arm gallery and Artspace, 26 April 1995
Cassie Proudfoot, A family of Artists at Dickson, The Canberra Times, 1994
Robert Macklin, First ANCA open day Sunday, The Canberra Times, Sep, 1994
Curating / Judging
Judge, Eurobodalla Art Prize, NSW, 2012
Curator, The Secret Life of Plants, The Australian Academy of Science, Canberra
International Women’s Day Show, ANCA studios, Canberra, 1995
Vital Signs, Postgraduate exhibition, CSA, Oct 1998 and touring exhibition to
Cape Town, South Africa at Michaelis School of Fine Art Gallery,
6 – 22 May 1999. Vital Signs toured to Muzeum Stargardzie, Szczecinskim,
Poland in 1999.
Contemporary South African Art, Photospace Gallery, CSA, 6 – 9 Oct, 1998
Teaching / Selected Workshops
Canberra Institute of the Arts (renamed School of Art, 2004), ANU, casual,
full-time and part-time positions in Painting, Drawing Graphic
Investigation, Foundation Workshops and Continuing Education,
1975 – 2015
National Gallery of Australia, Casual Educator,1979 – 2003 and Public
program workshops until 2009
National Portrait Gallery, contracts in Education and workshops, 2007 – 2009
National Arboretum, four by four-day workshops in painting and drawing,
Canberra
Interviews, Lectures, Presentations and Talks
2019 Talk, Exhibition Pop up: Leeanne Crisp, in Nolan’s Riverbend room, Drill Hall Gallery, ANU
2004 Talk, Artists in Conversation: Leeanne Crisp and Marion Halligan, CMAG, 4 April Interview, Ordinary people, Art Sound FM with Phillip O’Brien, 10 April
2001 Lecture, A Protestant Aesthetic, Seeking the Centre Conference at the Centre of Religion, Literature and the Arts, University of Sydney, 2 Feb
2000 Talk, Tony Tuckson a painter’s view, NGA
1999 Lecture, Monet and his Garden, NGA Presentation, Liminal for Sensational Images and Bodies, Post Graduate Conference College of Fine Arts, University of NSW
1998 Lecture, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town; Canberra Institute of Arts and NGA Lecture, National Gallery of Cape Town, for staffing guides to learn about the NGA’s collectionFloor talk, Vital Signs to coincide with Cape Town Exhibition Interview, The Secret Life of Plants, ABC Website and Country Program Interview, National Radio Arts Today with Nell Schofield, 2 July Lecture, Sensational Images and bodies, Post Graduate Conference, College of Fine Arts University Lecture, Art Forum series, CITA, ANU, about experiences in South Africa and Art
1989 Talk, Colour Society, ANU, on the relationship to colour in my paintings
1987 Talk, Monet’s Garden, Garden History Society, Canberra
1983 Talk, Australian National Botanic Gardens, on Monet’s garden at Giverny, France and his paintings
1978 Interview, Women’s studies course Alexander Mackie College of Higher Education, Sydney Talk, Artist’s Residency at Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Canberra School of Art Lecture Theatre, 1 Oct
Collections
Canberra Museum and Gallery, Canberra, Australia
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
National Library of Australia, Visual Collection: Illustrated books for Judith Wright and Kate Llewellyn, Muse Café and Bookshop collection, Canberra
University of Adelaide, Student Union, Adelaide
ACT Writers Centre, Canberra
Christopher Hunt (Director, Adelaide Festival of Arts, 1979)
Tony Bishop, Adelaide
Kansas City Youth Art Awards, United States of America
Representation
Chapman Gallery Canberra 2013
Fleur Montgomery, Melbourne 1992-1993
Savode Gallery Brisbane 1989
Giles St Gallery 1989
Tynte Gallery Adelaide 1986
Garry Anderson Gallery Sydney 1983
Huntley Gallery Gallery Canberra 1982
Solander gallery Canberra 1977