About | Peter Usher Artist

The magnificent coastline and splendid forest of the Great Southern region, WA, forms a large part of the inspiration for Peter Usher’s recent paintings. He is holding his 15th solo exhibitions and maintains a strong and diverse art practice from his forest studio in Denmark WA.

“I feel that there is a significant shift in my recent work that reflects my own ongoing and deepening relationship to the landscape where I live and work”.

Peter’s work demonstrates a combination of highly refined technique and observational painting, with a willingness to embrace new creative ideas and challenges. His use of detailed brushwork, subtle colour transitions and textural complexity, are all underpinned by a strong conceptual foundation. Usher’s work offers unique interpretations of the West Australian land and seascape. Each painting is a distilled vision with the essence of experience and place at its core.

EDUCATION

1994 Bachelor of Arts (Painting) – Curtin University W.A.
1991 Year 12, Art Award, John Curtin Senior High School

EXHIBITIONS

2026 ‘Habitat’ Stafford Gallery.

2025 ‘Equilibrium’ Solo exhibition, REDSEA Gallery, Margaret River

2022 ‘everything is something’ Solo exhibition, Gallows Gallery

2020 ‘Resolve’ Solo exhibition, Gallows Gallery

2019 ‘Unity’ REDSEA Gallery, Singapore
2018 Metaphor-retrospective, Whitespace Gallery Fremantle
2017 Outside In, Solo exhibition, Gallows Gallery
2015 Connection, Solo exhibition, Gallows Gallery
2014 ‘Transition’, Solo exhibition, Gunyulgup Galleries
2013 ‘Reflective’, Solo exhibition, Gunyulgup Galleries
2012 ‘Postcard Series’, Solo exhibition, Studio 281
2012 ‘Endless’, Solo exhibition, Gunyulgup Galleries
2011 ‘Part of a Journey’, Solo exhibition, Studio 281
2011 ‘New works’, Solo exhibition, Gunyulgup Galleries
2009 ‘New works’, Solo exhibition, Gunyulgup Galleries
2008 November Focus, Group Exhibition, Gunyulgup Galleries
2007 October Focus, Group Exhibition, Gunyulgup Galleries
1994 Curtin University Graduate Show, Moores Building Fremantle

AWARDS

Cossack Art Award, Invited Artist, Winner, 2014
Cossack Art Award, Invited Artist, Highly Commended, 2012
Selected as Finalist in Black Swan Portrait Prize, Perth 2009
1st Prize Bassendean Art Award 2006
Award for Excellence Bayswater Art Award 2006
1st Prize Australian Landscape, Katanning Art Prize 2001
Water Corporation Prize, Northam Art Award 2000
1st Prize Cossack Art Award 1997

OTHER INFORMATION

2024 Leeuwin Estate, Sauvignon Blanc Art Series label, featured artist.

2022 Curator of ‘Open Borders’ Butter Factory Gallery, Denmark

WA Current – 2011 – Install technician for the Janet Holmes a Court collection.
Current – 2009 Full time artist and musician.
2017 Production Manager, Brave New works festival #24, Denmark Arts.
2017 musical performances at Fairbridge and Nannup festival with “Los Car Keys”.
2016 Co-Musical Director ‘Greens Pool The Musical’,BNW Festival #23 Denmark Arts.
2015, 2013, 2009 Studio albums of original songs released.
2014 – 2015 Teaching drawing and painting, Albany Summer School, W.A.
2004 to 2012, Teaching drawing and painting, Ellis House Community Art Centre, Bayswater W.A.
1995 Artist in Residence at Tarangau Art Village Broome W.A.