photo: Rémi Chauvin
Bio
Sara Maher grew up on Garigal land in Sydney and moved to nipaluna/Hobart in 1997. Sara works across painting, drawing, assemblage and installation. She looks to her material practice as a form of dialogue, wherein the more-than-human world is sentient and responsive. This entangles with how she apprehends a sense of place in lutruwita/Tasmania.
In the wet studio, Sara is sensitive to the way water and ink coalesce on and through large sheets of paper to reveal ambient fields of peripheral space. These abstractions heighten and displace our perception; they shift between the visible and the imperceptible, between life-affirming enchantment and haunting atmospheres of affect. Her tenuous artforms in miniature equally connect us to a vibrant material and immaterial force. They are a resource through which she contemplates life at a hand-held scale.
Sara holds a Diploma of Fine Art from the National Art School, Gadi/Sydney (1995); and a Bachelor of Fine Art (1999) and Master of Fine Art and Design (2005) from the University of Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart. Since completing studies, she has undertaken residencies in remote locations in lutruwita/Tasmania and nationally that have enabled an immersive engagement with place, including Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island, through the Bruny20 project, TAS; Warloundigerler/Cradle Mountain, TAS; Wilyakali/Broken Hill, NSW; Milaythina ngayapi- mana/Queenstown, TAS; leeawulena/Lake St Clair, TAS and wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island, TAS. In 2022 Sara was awarded the Tidal prize, City of Devonport Art Award, TAS. Recent exhibitions include: Chrysalid, Bett Gallery nipaluna/Hobart (2023); Ancestral Presence, in collaboration with Luana Towney (palawa/wiradjuri artist), CULTIVATE program, connecting Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, LongHouse, nipaluna/Hobart (2022); In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart (2021); Un/Touched Wilderness, Devonport Regional Gallery, Paranaple/Devonport (group exhibition) (2021); and Where time folds endlessly, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley, Biennale of Australian Art Festival, ballaarat/Ballarat, VIC, (2018).
Sara is represented by Bett Gallery: www.bettgallery.com.au
CV
Sara Maher 1974
Born in Sydney, lives and works in nipaluna/Hobart, lutruwita/Tasmania
Education:
2005 University of Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart: Master of Fine Art and Design (printmaking and painting)
1999 University of Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart: Bachelor of Fine Art (painting, drawing and printmaking)
1995 National Art School, Gadi/Sydney: Diploma of Fine Art (painting and drawing)
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 Gravity Portal, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2023 Chrysalid, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2021 In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2016 Of the half-light, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2014 How We Disappear..., Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2013 Echoic Memory, Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne, Vic
2012 Night Air, Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne, Vic
2011 Memories of Space,146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2011 Inland, Landscape Art Research Queenstown (LARQ), milaythina ngayapi-mana/Queenstown, Tas
2008 Passage, Moonah Arts Centre, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2007 Impossible Boundaries: As part of the Ten Days on The Island Festival, wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island, Tas
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2022 First prize: Tidal.22, City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport, Tas
2022 Water[shed], Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2022 Ancestral Presence: LongHouse, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(In collaboration with Palawa/Wiradjuri visual artist Luana Towney, as part of the CULTIVATE program, connecting Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists)
2021 Un/Touched Wilderness: Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport, Tas
2018 Where time folds endlessly: As part of the Biennale of Australian Art Festival. George Farmer Building, Eureka, Ballaarat/Ballarat, Vic
(Sound/image installation, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley)
2018 Bay of Fires Art Prize: Tidal Waters Resort, St Helens, Tas
2018 Highly Commended: Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2017 Sydney Contemporary: Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Gadi/Sydney, NSW
2017 Arts in Parks: 146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2016 Arts in Parks: The Unconformity Festival, leeawulena/Lake St Clair Visitors Centre, Central Highlands, Tas
2014 Biophilia: Beaver Galleries, Ngambra/Canberra, ACT
2014 Tidal.14: City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Art Gallery, Limilinaturi /Devonport, Tas
2014 Burnie Print Prize: Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie, Tas
2014 Where the shadow falls: Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival, Lake Margaret Power Station, milaythina ngayapi-mana/Queenstown, Tas
(Sound/image installation, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley)
2014 Wrest Point Art Award: nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2013 Burnie Print Prize: Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie, Tas
2013 Wrest Point Art Award: nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2012 Surface: The Depot Gallery, Gadi/Sydney, NSW
2012 Chance: Saw tooth (ARI), kanamaluka /Launceston, Tas
2011 Out of Site: Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(Sound/image installation, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley)
2011 Works on paper: Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne, Vic
2011 Wrest Point Art Award: nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2010 Figure in the ground, 146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2010 Shotgun10: Contemporary Art Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(partnership project between Contemporary Art Tasmania, Detached and Mona: providing a platform for selected Tasmanian artists
2010 Hoo: 6A (ARI), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2009 City of Hobart Art Prize: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2007 First Prize: Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize: Salamanca Collection, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
Awards, Grants and Residencies:
2022 First prize: Tidal.22, City of Devonport Art Award, Limilinaturi/Devonport Regional Gallery, Tas
2020 Nationally awarded: BRUNY20 Arts Fellowship and residency (Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island), Bruny Island Foundation for the Arts
2018 Highly Commended: Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2016 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis Parks and Wildlife Residency: Warloundigerler/Cradle Mountain, Central highlands, Tas
2013 Broken Hill Art Exchange Residency: Wilyakali/Broken Hill, NSW
2011 Extended period of research: The Bank (care of LARQ, Landscape Art Research Queenstown), milaythina ngayapi-mana/Queenstown, Tas
2010 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis Parks and Wildlife Residency: leeawulena/Lake St Clair, Central Highlands, Tas
2010 Shotgun 10, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(partnership project between Contemporary Art Tasmania, Detached and MONA, providing a platform for promising early career Tasmanian artists)
2007 First Prize: Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize, The Salamanca Collection, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2006 Arts Tasmania Natural and Cultural Residency: wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island, East Coast, Tas
Public collections: Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport, Tas
Private Collections: Australia, International
Essays/Reviews/Publications:
Top100Artists: Who’s hot and Collectable in Australian Art, 2025:
https://www.top100artists.com/our-year-s-hottest-artists
Gravity Portal Exhibition Catalogue (essays: Eliza Burke and Helen Hyatt-Johnston), Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas, 2025:
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SM_catalogue_final.pdf
Artist Profile: full-feature article: Sara Maher and the expression of light (essay: Lucy Hawthorn), 2025:
https://artistprofile.com.au/sara-maher-and-the-expression-of-light/
Contemporary Art Tasmania Journal #41: The Between (by Linda Spowart), 2025:
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/journal-41-the-between-by-linda-spowart/
Burke, Eliza, Catalogue essay: Sara Maher ‘Working with consciousness - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
Meikus,Tiarney, Art Guide Australia preview: Capturing the layered landscape - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
Deeth, Jane, Artlink (issue 35:1): review, (Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival), 2014
Cotterell, Scot, Artlink (issue 31): review, Out of Site, 2011
Jancic, Bilijana, Contemporary Art Tasmania/ Detached/Mona: Shotgun Catalogue essay: Breathing Infinity, 2010
Kelly, Sean, Catalogue essay: Memories of Space, 146 Arts, Arts Tasmania, 2010
Stewart, Jane, Artlink (issue 29:1): review of Passage, Moonah Arts Centre, Hobart 2008
Arts Tasmania artist profile video, 2016:
https://www.bettgallery.com.au/artists/105-sara-maher/video/
Artist's website:
www.out-of-field.net
Representing Gallery:
www.bettgallery.com.au
Bio
Sara Maher grew up on Garigal land in Sydney and moved to nipaluna/Hobart in 1997. Sara works across painting, drawing, assemblage and installation. She looks to her material practice as a form of dialogue, wherein the more-than-human world is sentient and responsive. This entangles with how she apprehends a sense of place in lutruwita/Tasmania.
In the wet studio, Sara is sensitive to the way water and ink coalesce on and through large sheets of paper to reveal ambient fields of peripheral space. These abstractions heighten and displace our perception; they shift between the visible and the imperceptible, between life-affirming enchantment and haunting atmospheres of affect. Her tenuous artforms in miniature equally connect us to a vibrant material and immaterial force. They are a resource through which she contemplates life at a hand-held scale.
Sara holds a Diploma of Fine Art from the National Art School, Gadi/Sydney (1995); and a Bachelor of Fine Art (1999) and Master of Fine Art and Design (2005) from the University of Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart. Since completing studies, she has undertaken residencies in remote locations in lutruwita/Tasmania and nationally that have enabled an immersive engagement with place, including Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island, through the Bruny20 project, TAS; Warloundigerler/Cradle Mountain, TAS; Wilyakali/Broken Hill, NSW; Milaythina ngayapi- mana/Queenstown, TAS; leeawulena/Lake St Clair, TAS and wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island, TAS. In 2022 Sara was awarded the Tidal prize, City of Devonport Art Award, TAS. Recent exhibitions include: Chrysalid, Bett Gallery nipaluna/Hobart (2023); Ancestral Presence, in collaboration with Luana Towney (palawa/wiradjuri artist), CULTIVATE program, connecting Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, LongHouse, nipaluna/Hobart (2022); In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart (2021); Un/Touched Wilderness, Devonport Regional Gallery, Paranaple/Devonport (group exhibition) (2021); and Where time folds endlessly, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley, Biennale of Australian Art Festival, ballaarat/Ballarat, VIC, (2018).
Sara is represented by Bett Gallery: www.bettgallery.com.au
CV
Sara Maher 1974
Born in Sydney, lives and works in nipaluna/Hobart, lutruwita/Tasmania
Education:
2005 University of Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart: Master of Fine Art and Design (printmaking and painting)
1999 University of Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart: Bachelor of Fine Art (painting, drawing and printmaking)
1995 National Art School, Gadi/Sydney: Diploma of Fine Art (painting and drawing)
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 Gravity Portal, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2023 Chrysalid, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2021 In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2016 Of the half-light, Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2014 How We Disappear..., Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2013 Echoic Memory, Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne, Vic
2012 Night Air, Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne, Vic
2011 Memories of Space,146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2011 Inland, Landscape Art Research Queenstown (LARQ), milaythina ngayapi-mana/Queenstown, Tas
2008 Passage, Moonah Arts Centre, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2007 Impossible Boundaries: As part of the Ten Days on The Island Festival, wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island, Tas
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2022 First prize: Tidal.22, City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport, Tas
2022 Water[shed], Bett Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2022 Ancestral Presence: LongHouse, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(In collaboration with Palawa/Wiradjuri visual artist Luana Towney, as part of the CULTIVATE program, connecting Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists)
2021 Un/Touched Wilderness: Devonport Regional Gallery, Limilinaturi/Devonport, Tas
2018 Where time folds endlessly: As part of the Biennale of Australian Art Festival. George Farmer Building, Eureka, Ballaarat/Ballarat, Vic
(Sound/image installation, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley)
2018 Bay of Fires Art Prize: Tidal Waters Resort, St Helens, Tas
2018 Highly Commended: Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2017 Sydney Contemporary: Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Gadi/Sydney, NSW
2017 Arts in Parks: 146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2016 Arts in Parks: The Unconformity Festival, leeawulena/Lake St Clair Visitors Centre, Central Highlands, Tas
2014 Biophilia: Beaver Galleries, Ngambra/Canberra, ACT
2014 Tidal.14: City of Devonport Art Award, Devonport Regional Art Gallery, Limilinaturi /Devonport, Tas
2014 Burnie Print Prize: Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie, Tas
2014 Where the shadow falls: Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival, Lake Margaret Power Station, milaythina ngayapi-mana/Queenstown, Tas
(Sound/image installation, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley)
2014 Wrest Point Art Award: nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2013 Burnie Print Prize: Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Pataway/Burnie, Tas
2013 Wrest Point Art Award: nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2012 Surface: The Depot Gallery, Gadi/Sydney, NSW
2012 Chance: Saw tooth (ARI), kanamaluka /Launceston, Tas
2011 Out of Site: Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(Sound/image installation, in collaboration with sound artist Nigel Farley)
2011 Works on paper: Catherine Asquith Gallery, naarm/Melbourne, Vic
2011 Wrest Point Art Award: nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2010 Figure in the ground, 146 Artspace, Arts Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2010 Shotgun10: Contemporary Art Tasmania, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(partnership project between Contemporary Art Tasmania, Detached and Mona: providing a platform for selected Tasmanian artists
2010 Hoo: 6A (ARI), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2009 City of Hobart Art Prize: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2007 First Prize: Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize: Salamanca Collection, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
Awards, Grants and Residencies:
2022 First prize: Tidal.22, City of Devonport Art Award, Limilinaturi/Devonport Regional Gallery, Tas
2020 Nationally awarded: BRUNY20 Arts Fellowship and residency (Lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island), Bruny Island Foundation for the Arts
2018 Highly Commended: Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2016 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis Parks and Wildlife Residency: Warloundigerler/Cradle Mountain, Central highlands, Tas
2013 Broken Hill Art Exchange Residency: Wilyakali/Broken Hill, NSW
2011 Extended period of research: The Bank (care of LARQ, Landscape Art Research Queenstown), milaythina ngayapi-mana/Queenstown, Tas
2010 Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis Parks and Wildlife Residency: leeawulena/Lake St Clair, Central Highlands, Tas
2010 Shotgun 10, Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
(partnership project between Contemporary Art Tasmania, Detached and MONA, providing a platform for promising early career Tasmanian artists)
2007 First Prize: Salamanca Collection Islington Art Prize, The Salamanca Collection, nipaluna/Hobart, Tas
2006 Arts Tasmania Natural and Cultural Residency: wukaluwikiwayna/Maria Island, East Coast, Tas
Public collections: Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport, Tas
Private Collections: Australia, International
Essays/Reviews/Publications:
Top100Artists: Who’s hot and Collectable in Australian Art, 2025:
https://www.top100artists.com/our-year-s-hottest-artists
Gravity Portal Exhibition Catalogue (essays: Eliza Burke and Helen Hyatt-Johnston), Contemporary Art Tasmania (CAT), nipaluna/Hobart, Tas, 2025:
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SM_catalogue_final.pdf
Artist Profile: full-feature article: Sara Maher and the expression of light (essay: Lucy Hawthorn), 2025:
https://artistprofile.com.au/sara-maher-and-the-expression-of-light/
Contemporary Art Tasmania Journal #41: The Between (by Linda Spowart), 2025:
https://contemporaryarttasmania.org/journal-41-the-between-by-linda-spowart/
Burke, Eliza, Catalogue essay: Sara Maher ‘Working with consciousness - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
Meikus,Tiarney, Art Guide Australia preview: Capturing the layered landscape - In (and out of) the Grey, Bett Gallery, Hobart, Tas 2021
Deeth, Jane, Artlink (issue 35:1): review, (Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival), 2014
Cotterell, Scot, Artlink (issue 31): review, Out of Site, 2011
Jancic, Bilijana, Contemporary Art Tasmania/ Detached/Mona: Shotgun Catalogue essay: Breathing Infinity, 2010
Kelly, Sean, Catalogue essay: Memories of Space, 146 Arts, Arts Tasmania, 2010
Stewart, Jane, Artlink (issue 29:1): review of Passage, Moonah Arts Centre, Hobart 2008
Arts Tasmania artist profile video, 2016:
https://www.bettgallery.com.au/artists/105-sara-maher/video/
Artist's website:
www.out-of-field.net
Representing Gallery:
www.bettgallery.com.au