Shanti Shea An (b. 1993, Adelaide) lives and works in Sydney, Australia.
Her practice is concerned with how images are read and translated when submitted to the process of painting. The images she works with are drawn from a range of sources—mass media, art history, and personal photographs—with the act of painting suggesting an equivalence across these categories. She is particularly drawn to ambiguity and multiplicity in images, with many of her paintings suggesting something that has been taken out of context, interrupted, or suspended in mid-air.
She has held solo exhibitions and has participated in group exhibitions in Australia, China, and France.
Her practice is concerned with how images are read and translated when submitted to the process of painting. The images she works with are drawn from a range of sources—mass media, art history, and personal photographs—with the act of painting suggesting an equivalence across these categories. She is particularly drawn to ambiguity and multiplicity in images, with many of her paintings suggesting something that has been taken out of context, interrupted, or suspended in mid-air.
She has held solo exhibitions and has participated in group exhibitions in Australia, China, and France.
Education
2025 - Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University. Thesis: The Painted Double: Figuration, Language, and the Limits of Representation︎︎︎
2019 - Master of Art History and Curatorial Studies, Australian National University
2016 - Bachelor of Visual Arts (First Class Honours), Australian National University
2019 - Master of Art History and Curatorial Studies, Australian National University
2016 - Bachelor of Visual Arts (First Class Honours), Australian National University
Solo exhibitions
2024 - The Painted Double (PhD exhibition), ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Canberra
2023 - The world folding in upon itself, ANCA Gallery, Canberra
2023 - Back to front, Airspace Projects, Sydney
2017 - No Newness, The Front Gallery, Canberra
2016 - Other Loves, Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka, Canberra
2023 - The world folding in upon itself, ANCA Gallery, Canberra
2023 - Back to front, Airspace Projects, Sydney
2017 - No Newness, The Front Gallery, Canberra
2016 - Other Loves, Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka, Canberra
Selected group exhibitions
2024 - Inaugural, Velvet Lobster, Surry Hills, Sydney
2024 - Folded Memories, Galerie Elsa Meunier — Galerie Mathilde le Coz, Paris
2023 - Mosman Art Prize Finalists Exhibition, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, Sydney
2023 - Opening exhibition, The Kitchen Studios, Marrickville, Sydney
2022 - Don’t be a Stranger, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2022 - Fountains & Follies, curated by Woody Mellor, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2020 - Fuzzy Logic, Tributary Projects, Canberra
2019 - Looks like music, sounds like painting, gallery of small things, Canberra
2019 - Fragments, The Front Gallery, Canberra
2019 - Hot Property, Tributary Projects, Canberra
2018 - The Radical Familiar, Piermarq, Sydney
2018 - Spectrum, Prompt Gallery, Canberra
2018 - Concrete., Degenerate and Six Gallery, Canberra
2018 - Art Letter Home – Artist Manuscripts and Letters, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
2018 - Ruby Honours 1, Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka, Canberra
2018 - This View, Tributary Projects, Canberra
2017 - Sightlines, Collab Gallery, Sydney
2017 - Nobody’s Baby, The Ladies Network and Central Park, The Workspace, Sydney
2017 - At the End of the World, .M Contemporary, Sydney
2024 - Folded Memories, Galerie Elsa Meunier — Galerie Mathilde le Coz, Paris
2023 - Mosman Art Prize Finalists Exhibition, Mosman Art Gallery, Mosman, Sydney
2023 - Opening exhibition, The Kitchen Studios, Marrickville, Sydney
2022 - Don’t be a Stranger, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2022 - Fountains & Follies, curated by Woody Mellor, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2020 - Fuzzy Logic, Tributary Projects, Canberra
2019 - Looks like music, sounds like painting, gallery of small things, Canberra
2019 - Fragments, The Front Gallery, Canberra
2019 - Hot Property, Tributary Projects, Canberra
2018 - The Radical Familiar, Piermarq, Sydney
2018 - Spectrum, Prompt Gallery, Canberra
2018 - Concrete., Degenerate and Six Gallery, Canberra
2018 - Art Letter Home – Artist Manuscripts and Letters, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
2018 - Ruby Honours 1, Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka, Canberra
2018 - This View, Tributary Projects, Canberra
2017 - Sightlines, Collab Gallery, Sydney
2017 - Nobody’s Baby, The Ladies Network and Central Park, The Workspace, Sydney
2017 - At the End of the World, .M Contemporary, Sydney
Texts
Prizes
2023 - Mosman
Art Prize (Finalist)
2022 - Eloquence Art Prize (Winner)
2019 - Masters Prize for Excellence, Australian National University
2018 - Endeavour Mobility Grant, funding for short-term study in Rome and Paris
2016 - University Medal, Australian National University
2016 - Peter and Lena Karmel Prize
2016 - .M Contemporary Emerging Artist Award
2016 - The Front Gallery and Café Exhibition Award
2016 - EASS Acquisition Award
2016 - ANU School of Art Drawing Prize (Finalist, Highly Commended)
2022 - Eloquence Art Prize (Winner)
2019 - Masters Prize for Excellence, Australian National University
2018 - Endeavour Mobility Grant, funding for short-term study in Rome and Paris
2016 - University Medal, Australian National University
2016 - Peter and Lena Karmel Prize
2016 - .M Contemporary Emerging Artist Award
2016 - The Front Gallery and Café Exhibition Award
2016 - EASS Acquisition Award
2016 - ANU School of Art Drawing Prize (Finalist, Highly Commended)