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BIO
Growing up on Garigal land (Sydney) before moving to nipaluna/Hobart in 1997, Sara has developed a multidisciplinary practice across drawing, painting and printmaking -- extending into collage and assemblage, installation, and an exploration of cameraless photography and digital media. She views her creative process as a form of dialogue with a sentient, responsive more-than-human world -- a practice that informs her navigation of place as a non-Indigenous artist in lutruwita/Tasmania. Here, the ‘matter’ of her colonial inheritance is held in a space of quiet reckoning.
Sara holds a Diploma of Fine Art from the National Art School (Gadi/Sydney) and both a Bachelor and Master of Fine Art from the University of Tasmania (nipaluna/Hobart). Her practice has been deeply informed by residencies at heritage sites across lutruwita/Tasmania and nationally, including Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island, wulinantikala/Cradle Mountain, Wilyakali/Broken Hill, leeawulena/Lake St Clair and wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island. In 2025, she presented the major solo exhibition Gravity Portal at Contemporary Art Tasmania, featured in Artist Profile magazine, and received an Honourable Mention in the Hadley’s Art Prize. Sara was named one of the Top 100 Collectable Artists in Art Lovers Australia (Annual Publication, 2025/2026). Her work has been recognized with the 2022 Tidal: City of Devonport Art Award (Paranaple/Devonport), the Biennale of Australian Art (ballaarat/Ballarat), and through notable exhibitions at Bett Gallery, where she is currently represented. Sara's work is held in prestigious public and private collections nationally and internationally.
contact :
archive :
links :
BIO
Growing up on Garigal land (Sydney) before moving to nipaluna/Hobart in 1997, Sara has developed a multidisciplinary practice across drawing, painting and printmaking -- extending into collage and assemblage, installation, and an exploration of cameraless photography and digital media. She views her creative process as a form of dialogue with a sentient, responsive more-than-human world -- a practice that informs her navigation of place as a non-Indigenous artist in lutruwita/Tasmania. Here, the ‘matter’ of her colonial inheritance is held in a space of quiet reckoning.
Sara holds a Diploma of Fine Art from the National Art School (Gadi/Sydney) and both a Bachelor and Master of Fine Art from the University of Tasmania (nipaluna/Hobart). Her practice has been deeply informed by residencies at heritage sites across lutruwita/Tasmania and nationally, including Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island, wulinantikala/Cradle Mountain, Wilyakali/Broken Hill, leeawulena/Lake St Clair and wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island. In 2025, she presented the major solo exhibition Gravity Portal at Contemporary Art Tasmania, featured in Artist Profile magazine, and received an Honourable Mention in the Hadley’s Art Prize. Sara was named one of the Top 100 Collectable Artists in Art Lovers Australia (Annual Publication, 2025/2026). Her work has been recognized with the 2022 Tidal: City of Devonport Art Award (Paranaple/Devonport), the Biennale of Australian Art (ballaarat/Ballarat), and through notable exhibitions at Bett Gallery, where she is currently represented. Sara's work is held in prestigious public and private collections nationally and internationally.
photo: Rémi Chauvin
CV
SARA MAHER
Born: Gadi/Sydney | Lives/works: nipaluna/Hobart, lutruwita/Tasmania
Representation: Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart www.bettgallery.com.au
EDUCATION
2005 Master of Fine Art and Design (Printmaking and Painting), UTAS, nipaluna/Hobart
1999 Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting and Printmaking), UTAS, nipaluna/Hobart
1995 Diploma of Fine Art (Painting and Drawing), National Art School, Gadi/Sydney
AWARDS & PRIZES
2026 Finalist, Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, Guringai/Gordon, NSW
2025 Honourable Mention, Hadley’s Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2022 Winner: First Prize ($20,000), Tidal.22: City of Devonport Art Award, Limilinaturi
2020 Recipient ($25,000), BRUNY20 Arts Fellowship, Bruny Island Foundation for the Arts
2018 Highly Commended, Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2018 Finalist, Bay of Fires Art Prize, St Helens, larapuna/St Helens
2014 Finalist, Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2014 Finalist, Tidal.14: City of Devonport Art Award, Limilinaturi/Devonport
2013 Finalist, Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2010 Shotgun 10, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT) / Detached / MONA, nipaluna/Hobart
2009 Finalist, City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart,
2007 Winner: First Prize ($6,000), Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
RESIDENCIES
2025 Salamanca Arts Centre (collaboration with Maria MacDermott), nipaluna/Hobart
2020 BRUNY20 Arts Fellowship (solo), Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island
2016 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis (solo), Warloundigerler/Cradle Mountain,
2013 Broken Hill Art Exchange (collaboration with Nigel Farley), Wilyakali/Broken Hill, NSW
2010 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis (solo), leeawulena/Lake St Clair
2006 Arts Tasmania Natural and Cultural (solo), wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 Gravity Portal, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart
2023 Chrysalid, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2021 In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2016 Of the half-light, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2014 How We Disappear..., Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2011–2013 Echoic Memory & Night Air, Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne
2008–2011 Memories of Space (Arts Tasmania); Inland (LARQ, Queenstown); Passage (Moonah Arts Centre), Tas
2007 Impossible Boundaries, Ten Days on the Island Festival, wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Summer Exhibition, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart2025 Hadley’s Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2022 Tidal.22: City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi
2022 Water[shed], Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2022 Ancestral Presence (Collaboration with Palawa/Wiradjuri artist Luana Towney, Cultivate), LongHouse, nipaluna/Hobart
2021 Un/Touched Wilderness, Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport
2018 Where time folds endlessly, Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA), Ballaarat/Ballarat
(Sound/image installation with Nigel Farley)
2018 Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2018 Bay of Fires Art Prize, St Helens, larapuna/St Helens
2017 Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Gadi/Sydney
2016 Arts in Parks, The Unconformity Festival, leeawulena/Lake St Clair
2014 Biophilia, Beaver Galleries, Ngambra/Canberra
2014 Tidal.14: City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Art Gallery, Limilinaturi
2014 Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2014 Where the shadow falls, Queenstown Heritage & Arts Festival, Lake Margaret Power Station, Tas
(Sound/image installation with Nigel Farley), milaythina ngayapi-mana
2013 Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2011 Out of Site, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart
(Sound/image installation with Nigel Farley)
2010 Shotgun 10, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT) / Detached / MONA, nipaluna/Hobart
2009 City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2007 Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize, Salamanca Collection, nipaluna/Hobart
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES & ESSAYS:
2025, Burke, E & Hyatt-Johnston, H, Gravity Portal, exhibition catalogue, Contemporary Art Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/archive/gravity-portal/
2021, Burke, E, Sara Maher: Working with Consciousness, exhibition essay for 'In (and out of) the Grey', Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
Burke, Eliza, Catalogue essay: Sara Maher ‘Working with consciousness - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
2010, Jancic, B, 'Breathing Infinity', Shotgun 10, exhibition catalogue, Contemporary Art Tasmania/Detached / MONA, nipaluna/Hobart
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/archive/shotgun-2010/
2010, Kelly, S, Memories of Space, exhibition catalogue, 146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart
Kelly, Sean, Catalogue essay: Memories of Space, 146 Arts, Arts Tasmania, 2010
MEDIA & JOURNAL ARTICLES:
2026, Top 100 Hottest Collectable Artists, Art Lovers Australia, Annual Publication, 2025/2026:
https://www.top100artists.com/our-year-s-hottest-artists
2025, Hawthorn, L, 'Sara Maher and the expression of light', Artist Profile, 31 January:
https://artistprofile.com.au/sara-maher-and-the-expression-of-light/
2021, Meikus, T, 'Capturing the layered landscape: In (and out of) the Grey', Art Guide Australia, 1 July:
Meikus,Tiarney, Art Guide Australia preview: Capturing the layered landscape - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
2014, Deeth, J, 'Working Water: Making Home', Artlink, vol. 35, no. 1:
Deeth, Jane, Artlink (issue 35:1): review, (Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival), 2014
2011, Cotterell, S, 'Out of Site', Artlink, vol. 31, no. 4:
Cotterell, Scot, Artlink (issue 31): review, Out of Site, 2011
2009, Stewart, J, 'Passage: Review', Artlink, vol. 29, no. 1:
Stewart, Jane, Artlink (issue 29:1): review of Passage, Moonah Arts Centre, Hobart 2008
VIDEO PROFILES:
2016, Arts Tasmania, Sara Maher – Cradle Mountain Residency, [video], Arts Tasmania:
https://www.bettgallery.com.au/artists/105-sara-maher/video/
COLLECTIONS
Public: Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport, Tas
Private: Collections throughout Australia and International
CV
SARA MAHER
Born: Gadi/Sydney | Lives/works: nipaluna/Hobart, lutruwita/Tasmania
Representation: Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart www.bettgallery.com.au
EDUCATION
2005 Master of Fine Art and Design (Printmaking and Painting), UTAS, nipaluna/Hobart
1999 Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting and Printmaking), UTAS, nipaluna/Hobart
1995 Diploma of Fine Art (Painting and Drawing), National Art School, Gadi/Sydney
AWARDS & PRIZES
2026 Finalist, Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, Guringai/Gordon, NSW
2025 Honourable Mention, Hadley’s Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2022 Winner: First Prize ($20,000), Tidal.22: City of Devonport Art Award, Limilinaturi
2020 Recipient ($25,000), BRUNY20 Arts Fellowship, Bruny Island Foundation for the Arts
2018 Highly Commended, Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2018 Finalist, Bay of Fires Art Prize, St Helens, larapuna/St Helens
2014 Finalist, Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2014 Finalist, Tidal.14: City of Devonport Art Award, Limilinaturi/Devonport
2013 Finalist, Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2010 Shotgun 10, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT) / Detached / MONA, nipaluna/Hobart
2009 Finalist, City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart,
2007 Winner: First Prize ($6,000), Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
RESIDENCIES
2025 Salamanca Arts Centre (collaboration with Maria MacDermott), nipaluna/Hobart
2020 BRUNY20 Arts Fellowship (solo), Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island
2016 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis (solo), Warloundigerler/Cradle Mountain,
2013 Broken Hill Art Exchange (collaboration with Nigel Farley), Wilyakali/Broken Hill, NSW
2010 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis (solo), leeawulena/Lake St Clair
2006 Arts Tasmania Natural and Cultural (solo), wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 Gravity Portal, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart
2023 Chrysalid, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2021 In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2016 Of the half-light, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2014 How We Disappear..., Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2011–2013 Echoic Memory & Night Air, Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne
2008–2011 Memories of Space (Arts Tasmania); Inland (LARQ, Queenstown); Passage (Moonah Arts Centre), Tas
2007 Impossible Boundaries, Ten Days on the Island Festival, wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Summer Exhibition, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart2025 Hadley’s Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2022 Tidal.22: City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi
2022 Water[shed], Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2022 Ancestral Presence (Collaboration with Palawa/Wiradjuri artist Luana Towney, Cultivate), LongHouse, nipaluna/Hobart
2021 Un/Touched Wilderness, Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport
2018 Where time folds endlessly, Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA), Ballaarat/Ballarat
(Sound/image installation with Nigel Farley)
2018 Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart
2018 Bay of Fires Art Prize, St Helens, larapuna/St Helens
2017 Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Gadi/Sydney
2016 Arts in Parks, The Unconformity Festival, leeawulena/Lake St Clair
2014 Biophilia, Beaver Galleries, Ngambra/Canberra
2014 Tidal.14: City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Art Gallery, Limilinaturi
2014 Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2014 Where the shadow falls, Queenstown Heritage & Arts Festival, Lake Margaret Power Station, Tas
(Sound/image installation with Nigel Farley), milaythina ngayapi-mana
2013 Burnie Print Prize, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie
2011 Out of Site, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart
(Sound/image installation with Nigel Farley)
2010 Shotgun 10, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT) / Detached / MONA, nipaluna/Hobart
2009 City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
2007 Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize, Salamanca Collection, nipaluna/Hobart
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES & ESSAYS:
2025, Burke, E & Hyatt-Johnston, H, Gravity Portal, exhibition catalogue, Contemporary Art Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/archive/gravity-portal/
2021, Burke, E, Sara Maher: Working with Consciousness, exhibition essay for 'In (and out of) the Grey', Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart
Burke, Eliza, Catalogue essay: Sara Maher ‘Working with consciousness - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
2010, Jancic, B, 'Breathing Infinity', Shotgun 10, exhibition catalogue, Contemporary Art Tasmania/Detached / MONA, nipaluna/Hobart
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/archive/shotgun-2010/
2010, Kelly, S, Memories of Space, exhibition catalogue, 146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart
Kelly, Sean, Catalogue essay: Memories of Space, 146 Arts, Arts Tasmania, 2010
MEDIA & JOURNAL ARTICLES:
2026, Top 100 Hottest Collectable Artists, Art Lovers Australia, Annual Publication, 2025/2026:
https://www.top100artists.com/our-year-s-hottest-artists
2025, Hawthorn, L, 'Sara Maher and the expression of light', Artist Profile, 31 January:
https://artistprofile.com.au/sara-maher-and-the-expression-of-light/
2021, Meikus, T, 'Capturing the layered landscape: In (and out of) the Grey', Art Guide Australia, 1 July:
Meikus,Tiarney, Art Guide Australia preview: Capturing the layered landscape - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
2014, Deeth, J, 'Working Water: Making Home', Artlink, vol. 35, no. 1:
Deeth, Jane, Artlink (issue 35:1): review, (Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival), 2014
2011, Cotterell, S, 'Out of Site', Artlink, vol. 31, no. 4:
Cotterell, Scot, Artlink (issue 31): review, Out of Site, 2011
2009, Stewart, J, 'Passage: Review', Artlink, vol. 29, no. 1:
Stewart, Jane, Artlink (issue 29:1): review of Passage, Moonah Arts Centre, Hobart 2008
VIDEO PROFILES:
2016, Arts Tasmania, Sara Maher – Cradle Mountain Residency, [video], Arts Tasmania:
https://www.bettgallery.com.au/artists/105-sara-maher/video/
COLLECTIONS
Public: Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport, Tas
Private: Collections throughout Australia and International