Born 1964, Melbourne

James Smeaton is a Melbourne-based contemporary artist best known for his richly nuanced paintings and drawings that explore the language of abstraction, personal narrative and modalities of the sea.

Early works focussed on signs and systems of maritime communication and the imposing physical structures that dominate the waterfront on Port Phillip Bay. Smeaton's deep affinity and connection with the Australian coastline and Indonesian archipelago has led to his most recent practice which focuses on painterly gesture in relation to landscape, figuration and a sense of time and place.

Since 1993, Smeaton had held 19 solo exhibitions. He was a twice finalist in the Moët et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship (1991 and 1998) and the winner of the Tattersalls Contemporary Art Prize (2005). His work is represented in many Australian collections including Monash University, Deakin University, the National Bank Collection, Artbank and the National Gallery of Victoria.



EDUCATION

1983-5 Bachelor of Fine Art, Chisholm Institute of Technology (now Monash University), Melbourne
1982 Foundation Year, Prahran College of Advanced Education, Melbourne


SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 Love Letter, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2018 The Wallace Line, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2015 Holy Water, Tim Klingender Fine Art, Sydney Contemporary
2015 Sweeping Water, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2013 Ceremony, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2011 Voyage, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2009 Devil bend, The Red Sea, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2006 Construct, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
2005 Sighted, Michael Carr Art Dealer, Sydney
2004 Dock, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
2003 Gem Pier, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
2003 Mapping, Michael Carr Art Dealer, Sydney
2002 Chart, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
2000 Vessel, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1998 International Code, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1996 Untitled (Semaphore), Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
1995 Sound in Fog, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1993 William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1991 William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1990 William Mora Galleries, Melbourne


RETROSPECTIVE

2009 James Smeaton: Work from the studio 1993-2009, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 2 September - 11 October 2009


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 Summer Exhibition, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2021 Artist for Kids Culture, Melbourne
2020 Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks (online)
2019 Art is Our Nature, Silverleaf Art Box Gallery, Melbourne
2017 Winter Salon, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2017 Photo by Martin Kantor, BRIGHTSPACE, St Kilda
2017 Tim Klingender Fine Art, Sydney Contemporary
2016 Birds: Flight Paths in Australian Art, Mornington Regional Gallery
2015 Sydney Contemporary, Tim Klingender Fine Art, Sydney
2015 Australian Artists in Bali - 1930s to Now, Mclellend Sculpture Park and Gallery
2016 Summer Salon, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2014 Twenty Fourteen, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2013 Sea of Dreams 2, 1915-2013, Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery
2007 Devilbend, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
2007 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Nellie Castern Gallery
2007 Melbourne Savage Club Art Prize (Centenary Exhibition, 9x5)
2006 Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, works on paper
2005 Tattersalls Contemporary Art Prize, Newport Substation Heritage building
2002 Contemporary Highlights from the Deakin University Art Collection, Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne
2002 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne
2001 Artists for Kids Culture Trust, Mira Gallery, Melbourne
2000 2000 National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington
2000 Celebrating the Exquisite Corpse, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, (then touring)
2000 Opening 2000, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1999 Landmark, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington
1998 Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship, NGV, Melbourne and NGA, Canberra then touring
1998 The Speed Show, George Gallery, Melbourne
1996 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, Geelong Art Gallery, Geelong
1995 Recent Acquisitions: Deakin University Art Collection, Geelong Art Gallery, Geelong Systems of Communication, Allez les Filles, Columbus, Ohio, USA
1995 NON: Artists Against Nuclear Testing, Greenpeace Fundraising Exhibition, Melbourne.
1995 Past its Shelf Life, Meridian Gallery, Melbourne
1995 Herald Sun Art Prize, Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne
1994-95 Four Point Bearing, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart
1994 The Curator’s Egg, Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London
1993 Postal Box Show, 5th Australian Sculpture Triennial, Linden Gallery, Melbourne
1993 Rumb Line, sets for a performance by Josie Daw
1992 Works on paper, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1992 Sight Regained, Westpac Gallery, Victorian Arts Cenre, Melbourne
1991 Artworkz Three: The BP Australia Acquistive Prize, Caulfield Arts Complex, Melbourne
1991 Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship, NGA, Canberra then touring
1990 Vache, Aglaaofwater Project, Brisbane
1990 Greenpeace, Linden Gallery, Melbourne
1990 Artists Against Animal Experimentation, Deutscher Brunswick Street, Melbourne
1990 Scotchman’s Hill Prize, Geelong Art Gallery, Geelong
1990 Christmas Exhibition, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne
1990 Preview 1990, William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
1988 St Kilda Show, Linden Gallery, Melbourne
1986 Genie de la Bastille, Paris
1984 Graduate Exhibition, Chhisholm Institute of Technology, Melbourne
1983 Recent Drawing, Department of Adult Education, Melbourne, then touring to Scotland.


AWARDS & PRIZES

2006 Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, acquired work on paper
2005 Winner, Tattersalls Contemporary Art Prize
1998 Finalist, Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship
1995 Williamstown Art Prize, Melbourne
1991 Finalist, Moet et Chandon Australian Art Fellowship
1985 Work on Paper Prize, Chisholm Institute of Technology


COLLECTIONS

National Gallery of Victoria
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
Gippsland Art Gallery
Holmesglen Collection
Applied Chemicals International, Melbourne
Artbank, Sydney
Council of Adult Education, Melbourne
Deakin University Collection, Geelong
Gadens Ridgeway, Melbourne
Monash University Collection, Melbourne
National Australia Bank Collection, Melbourne
Tamar Collection, Launceston
University of Southern Queensland
Western Mining Corporation