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VR Morrison, 1976 | Figurative Realist painter

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VR Morrison’s highly realistic and lavish paintings draw inspiration from classical painting traditions and allegorical subject matter which is mediated through the artist’s interest in popular culture, history and high fashion. This ultimately lends her paintings a fresh, contemporary edge and an often palpable, air of tension.
Born in Sydney Australia of Scottish, Samoan and Chinese heritage, VR Morrison ran away from school at the age of 15 to study fashion design.










She immediately began making and selling her own clothing designs while working as a freelance fashion designer and editorial make-up artist in the Sydney fashion industry. Always eager to learn new skills she developed a passion for animation and photography, which led to self directed and formal study in these areas
In 2001 looking for a new challenge, Morrison enrolled in an art college where she began to practice the art of painting. A terrible and inexperienced painter to start with, she now owes her painting skills to brush mileage and the relentless study of master painters such as Caravaggio and Ingres. By taking her skills in fashion, photography and animation, she combined these experiences to create highly stylized images of women into oil paint. Deciding the life of an artist would enable her to work from home and spend time with her beloved pets and television set, she was inspired and worked hard to become a professional artist.
VR Morrison since 2005 lives in the beautiful city of Montpellier in the South of France with her husband and cherished pets. Blessed with the wonderful constant company of her poodle Ripley and cat Lola, she now happily paints full time in her Montpellier studio. Morrison enjoys life with French pastries, laughter, fashion magazines and collecting stray animals.






Award and Prizes
  • 2012 Portia Geach Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney, finalist;
  • 2011 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of NSW, Sydney, finalist;
  • 2010 Redlands Art Award, Redland Art Gallery, Brisbane, finalist;
  • 2010 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of NSW, Sydney, finalist;
  • 2007 Fisher’s Ghost Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney, finalist;
  • 2007 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of NSW, Sydney, highly commended;
  • 2006 Fletcher Jones Art Prize, Geelong Gallery, Geelong, finalist;
  • 2006 Redlands Art Award, Redlands Gallery, Brisbane, finalist;
  • 2005 Sir John Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, finalist;
  • 2005 Metro Art Award, Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne, People’s Choice Award, winner;
  • 2003 Conrad Jupiter’s Art Award, Gold Coast City Gallery, Gold Coast, finalist;
  • 2003 Nudgee Art Prize, Nudgee Arts Festival, Brisbane, second prize winner;
  • 2003 NEIS Grant Recipient, State Government of Queensland;
  • 2002 Nudgee Art Prize, Nudgee Arts Festival, Brisbane, winner;
  • 2001 Conrad Jupiter’s Art Award, Gold Coast City Gallery, Gold Coast, finalist;
  • 2000 Rapid Graphics/ Brisbane Institute of TAFE, Brisbane, Award for Achievement in Art.







SOLO EXHIBITIONS
  • 2011 Enchanter Moi, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2008 Rouge, Melbourne Art Fair, Sullivan Strumpf Fine Art, Royal Exhibition Centre, Melbourne;
  • 2007 Blood and Bourgeoisie, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2006 Paintings from France, Schubert Contemporary, Gold Coast;
  • 2005 Liberte, Egalite, Gastronomie, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2004 Front Row, Hardy Brothers Jewellers, Brisbane;
  • 2003 Les Femmes, Freestyle Tout, Brisbane;
  • 2002 Only Dogs go to Heaven, BITS Gallery, Brisbane.
Group EXHIBITIONS
  • 2014 Telling, Adelaide Central School of Art Gallery, Adelaide;
  • 2013 Rapture of Death, Gippsland Art Gallery, VIC;
  • 2012 SSFA 12, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2011 SSFA 11, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2010 G20 World Arts Festival, Seoul, Korea;
  • 2010 SSFA 10, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2010 Time Travel: Re-imaging the Past, Tweed River Gallery, Murwillumbah;
  • 2009 Horror - Come Darkness, Macquarie University Art Gallery, Sydney;
  • 2009 SSFA 09, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2008 The Year of the Bird, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Sydney;
  • 2008 Neo Goth: Back in Black, University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane;
  • 2008 SSFA 08, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2007 SSFA 07, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2007 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney;
  • 2007 Come Hither: Interpretations of the Boudoir, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga;
  • 2007 Twenty/20: Twenty Years of the Churchie Emerging Artists Award, Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane;
  • 2006 Flaming Youth, Orange Regional Gallery, Orange;
  • 2006 Art Sydney 06, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney;
  • 2006 Winter 06, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2006 SSFA 06, Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney;
  • 2005 Sullivan+Strumpf Fine Art, opening exhibition, Sydney;
  • 2003 Churchie National Emerging Art Award, Griffith University Art Gallery, Brisbane;
  • 2002 Straight Out Of Brisbane Festival (Exhibitor of “Homestays” Project), Brisbane;
  • 2002 SOFA +Art, Art History Society Of University of Queensland, Brisbane;
  • 2002 Looking for Ones Roots, Multicultural Arts Centre, Brisbane;
  • 2002 Zeitgeist, Stephens Gallery, Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane.