Ochre Lawson

b. 1968, Sydney, Australia
Lives and works in Sydney, Australia

Ochre Lawson’s paintings un pack her connection to the natural world. The paintings are intimate in their focus on microcosm and habitat. The mark making is loose and free, the bold landscapes fall into abstraction but beam with positivity. Lawson captures the essence of a place, the vibrancy and wonder found in the works reflects a deep respect for the wilderness. This passion and connection to ecosystems grew from many years of work as an environmental activist.

Ochre Lawson completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts at National Art School, Sydney in 2007. Previous studies included a Diploma of Fine Arts at the Southbank Institute of TAFE, Brisbane in 2001and online studies in art theory and practice through RMIT in Melbourne. Lawson has exhibited widely in Australia as well as Internationally in New York.

Lawson has been awarded public commissions for Urban Growth, Sydney (2015, 2016), NSW Transport (2014), and for Momac residential development in Canberra (2009). She has been a consistent finalist in art awards including the Muswellbrook Art Prize, the NSW Parliament Plein Air Prize, Waterhouse Natural Science art prize, The Fishers Ghost art prize, Greenway art prize, Defiance Small Sculpture Prize, the Northbridge Art Prize, the Gosford Regional Gallery Art Prize and the Waverley Woollahra Art Prize and has won awards in different categories. Ochre was selected as artist in residence at ‘Moriumius’ in Japan in 2017 and the ‘Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiative’ in the Blue Mountains, 2012-14. Lawson is also passionate with lecturing, frequently presenting talks and workshops as well as community art projects. Lawson is also a dedicated art tutor of over 15 years teaching at both private and public art schools in painting and drawing.

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While camping above the tree line (above where trees will naturally grow) what struck me, apart from the incredible beauty of this alpine landscape, was the amount of water that was produced. Water was everywhere, seeping through vibrant greens, rushing over massive rocks, converging at many points at once. It occurred to me that this was Australia’s birth place of water. 

Ochre Lawson, 2022

“My paintings attempt to capture both the enormity of this precious alpine environment and the smaller close ups of granite rocks and spongy grass.’’

Ochre Lawson, 2022