About

Hilton Owen is an artist based in Victoria, Australia. His paintings combine realist, abstract and figurative elements to depict unique and evocative images of contemporary life, fashion and imagination. 

Hilton paints to discover innovative ways to depict the human figure by working intuitively to transform what he sees around him into highly creative, colourful and compelling artworks.

Hilton has held 16 solo exhibitions of his paintings and won several art prizes as well as being selected as a finalist in numerous others. He began his painting career with two sold-out solo exhibitions aged 18 and 19 while completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Tasmania. In 2019 Hilton obtained an Honours degree in painting from the Victorian College of the Arts. Upon graduating he was selected to represent the university in the Nino Sanciolo Art Prize. 

Hilton's artistic influences span a wide range of creative practices including modernist abstraction, early 20th century figurative painting, contemporary design and fashion, Art Deco and individual artists such as Francis Bacon, Bridget Riley, Carmen Herrera and many more.

Hilton continues to advance his artistic practice through a distinctive style with a passionate devotion to the art of painting. His social media following continues to grow in addition to showing in solo, group and art prize exhibitions.  


CV

b. 22nd December 1988, Melbourne, Australia.

EDUCATION

2019 BFA Honours, Victorian College of the Arts

2015 Life Drawing, University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martin’s

2011 Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Tasmania

SOLO  EXHIBITIONS

2022    Culture Instance, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne

2020    Hilton Owen & Vika Fifita, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2018    New Paintings, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney

2016    London Paintings, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2015    Eight Scenes of Love, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2014    New Paintings, GallerySmith Project Space, Melbourne

2013    Cosmopolis, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2012    New Paintings 2012, Friends of Leon Gallery, Sydney

2012    Distant Screams, 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace, Queensland

2011    Commodity, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2010    Ubiquity, Harrison Galleries, Sydney

2010    People, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2009    System, Harrison Galleries, Sydney

2008    Zoo World, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2007    Product Placement Promotion, Red Wall Gallery, Tasmania

2006    Clothing Retail Industry, Inflight Art, Tasmania

GROUP  EXHIBITIONS

2024   Camberwell Art Show 2024, Swinburne University, Melbourne 

2023    A Sense Of Self, Platform Exhibitions, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne

2023    Auction For Change, Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne

2022    Lethbridge 2000 Small Scale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery, Queensland

2022    Blacktown City Art Prize, Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, NSW

2021    Nino Sanciolo Art Prize, Gallery Elysium, Melbourne

2019    VCA Graduate show (Honours), Victorian College of the Arts

2017    Prospect Portrait Prize, Prospect Gallery, South Australia

2017    Vika Fifita, Nathan Grey, Hilton Owen, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2017    Glover Prize, Falls Park Pavilion, Evandale,Tasmania

2015    We All Draw, Gallery OXO, Southbank, London

2014    Still Life, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2012    Bay Of Fires Art Prize, Gallery Parnella, Tasmania

2012    Skin, Poimena Gallery, Tasmania

2011     Handmark Artists, Handmark Gallery, Tasmania

2009    Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s Art foundation, TMAG, Tasmania

2009    Birchalls Art Prize, Academy Gallery, Tasmania

2008    Handmark Gallery Summer Show, Tasmania

2008    Menzies Research Institute Fundraiser Show, Tasmania

2008    Tasmanian Portrait Prize touring exhibition, Tasmania

2006    ART RAGE 2006, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

2006    Abel Tasman Art Prize finalists, Tasmania               

2006    Young Archies Awards Exhibition, Tasmania

AWARDS AND PRIZES 

2024    Finalist, Camberwell Art Show 

2023    Finalist, Omnia Art Prize

2023    Finalist, Lethbridge 2000 Small Scale Art Award

2022    Finalist, Clayton Utz Art Award 

2022    Finalist, Lethbridge 2000 Small Scale Art Award

2021    Finalist, Blacktown City Art Prize

2019    Finalist, Nino Sanciolo Art Prize

2017    Finalist, Prospect Portrait Prize

2017    Finalist, Bay of Fires Art Prize

2017    Finalist, Glover Prize

2012    Finalist, Bay Of Fires Art Prize

2009    Finalist, Birchalls Art Prize

2008    Winner, Tasmanian Portrait Prize

2007    Winner, Rotary Club of Hobart’s Ted Pool Memorial Painting Prize

2007    Finalist, Noise + Art and Australia’s 25/25 competition

2006    Winner, Young Archies Portrait Prize

2006    Finalist, Abel Tasman Art Prize