Artist Statement

Catherine is a Brisbane based artist and Illustrator, celebrated for her vibrant abstract paintings. Although born here in Queensland, Catherine spent several years in London, collecting a BA with Honours in Art and Illustration from Westminster University. In her work, Catherine Carolan explores the recurring patterns, lines, colors, and shapes found in nature, drawing inspiration from vegetation, water, earth, and sky. Painting these elements allows her to slow down, relax, and reconnect with the natural world, immersing herself in the beauty of unexpected details. While her artistic practice involves imposing order on nature’s inherent chaos, she hopes that viewers can still connect emotionally with the final piece, experiencing the harmony and beauty she discovers in her detailed and abstract compositions. Working mainly with acrylics, her use of bright colours, textures, and patterns reflect the emotional and meditative qualities of her work. Catherine's artistic journey was further enriched by her studies and work in London where she explored ancient art and mythology and silk screen printing, influencing her contemporary approach to abstraction. Her studies and deep appreciation for nature merge in her dynamic and detailed paintings. Her work has been featured in several solo and group exhibitions across Australia, including Petite Pieces and Foot Square exhibitions at Aspire Gallery Brisbane, Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi QLD, Inverell Art Prize, Inverell Art Gallery NSW, Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award and Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne Affordable Art Fairs 2025 and 2026. Catherine joins Downlands under the collection of Aspire Gallery (Brisbane, Qld).

Biography

Catherine Carolan is a Brisbane-based artist and illustrator celebrated for her vibrant abstract paintings. Working mainly with acrylics, her use of bright colors, textures, and patterns reflects the emotional and meditative qualities of her work. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Queensland College of Art and has been featured in several solo and group exhibitions across Australia. Catherine's artistic journey was further enriched by her studies and work in London, where she explored ancient art and mythology, influencing her contemporary approach to abstraction. Her background in graphic design and deep appreciation for nature merge in her dynamic and detailed paintings. Catherine joins Downlands under the collection of Aspire Gallery (Brisbane, Qld).

Influences

Catherine's artistic influences are deeply rooted in her upbringing beside the beach, where the vibrant marine world—filled with bright corals, shells, plants, and fish—served as an endless source of inspiration. This early connection to the natural world continues to inform her work, along with her ongoing fascination with the raw beauty of nature. The interplay of colors, textures, and patterns found in both coastal and terrestrial environments shapes her creative vision, driving her e

Awards

Finalist, Petite Pieces, Aspire Gallery | 2023 Finalist, Inverell Art Prize, Inverell Art Gallery | 2023 Finalist, Foot Square, Aspire Gallery | 2023 Finalist, Whitsundays Art Prize, Whitsundays | 2022 Finalist (Online), Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Brisbane | 2021 Finalist, Whitsundays Art Prize, Whitsundays | 2021 Finalist, Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Brisbane | 2020 Highly Commended, Brookfield Art Show | 2019 Finalist, Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award, Brisbane | 2019 Finalist, Rotary Art Spectacular, Finalist | 2019 Finalist, Rotary Art Spectacular, Finalist | 2018 Voters Choice, Foot Square, Aspire Gallery | 2017 Finalist (Online), Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award, Brisbane | 2017 Finalist (Online), Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award, Brisbane | 2016 Commended, Portrait Prize, Artworld Studio Gallery, Commended | 2016 Finalist (Online), Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award, Brisbane | 2015

Exhibitions

Affordable Art Fair, Melbourne (Aspire Gallery) | 2025 Affordable Art Fair, Brisbane (Aspire Gallery) | 2025 Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi QLD | 2025 Downlands Art Show, Downlands College, Toowoomba QLD | 2024 Affordable Art Fair, Melbourne (Aspire Gallery) | 2024 Tower Art Show, Marist College, Brisbane QLD | 2024 Affordable Art Fair, Sydney (Aspire Gallery) | 2024 Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi QLD | 2024 Downlands Art Show, Downlands College, Toowoomba QLD | 2023 Inverell Art Prize, Inverell Art Gallery NSW | 2023 Tower Art Show, Marist College, Brisbane QLD | 2023 Brisbane Grammar Art Show, Brisbane QLD | 2023 Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi QLD | 2022 Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba QLD | 2023 Petite Pieces, Aspire Gallery, Brisbane QLD | 2023 Foot Square, Aspire Gallery, Brisbane QLD | 2022 Downlands Art Show, Toowoomba QLD | 2022 Whitsundays Art Festival, Whitsundays QLD | 2022 Inverell Art Prize, Inverell Art Gallery NSW | 2022 Beauxart 2022, Stuartholmes Art Show, Brisbane QLD | 2022 Tower Art Show, Marist College, Brisbane QLD | 2022 Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi QLD | 2022 Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba QLD | 2022 Petite Pieces, Aspire Gallery | 2022 Downlands Art Show, Toowoomba QLD | 2021 Whitsundays Art Festival, Whitsundays QLD | 2021 Brisbane Grammar Art Show, Brisbane QLD | 2021 Brookfield Art Show, Brisbane QLD | 2021 Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi QLD | 2021 Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba QLD | 2021 Brisbane Grammar Art Show, Brisbane QLD | 2020 ‘Outside In’, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Brisbane QLD | 2020 Lethbridge 20000, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane QLD | 2020 Toowoomba Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba QLD | 2020 Petite Pieces, Aspire Gallery, Brisbane QLD | 2020 Downlands Art Show, Toowoomba QLD | 2019 ‘Outside In’, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Brisbane QLD | 2019 Lethbridge 20000, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane QLD | 2019 Aspects Art Show, Goondiwindi QLD 2019 Brookfield Art Show, Brisbane QLD | 2019 Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane QLD | 2019 Petite Pieces, Aspire Gallery, Brisbane QLD | 2019

Website

https://aspiregallery.com.au/catherine-carolan