Ochre Lawson
b. 1968, Sydney, Australia
Lives and works in Sydney, Australia
View Artist CV
Ochre Lawson, Artist Portrait, 2025, Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiative in Bilpin, NSW
Ochre Lawson’s paintings unpack 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 2001 and 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.
Read Above The Tree Line, 2022, Exhibition Essay
Ochre Lawson, Charcoal Trees and The Hanging Swamp, 2026, oil on linen, 200 x 150 cm
Ochre Lawson, Weeping Banksias, 2026, oil on linen, 183 x 153 cm
Ochre Lawson, White Gums in The Hanging Swamp, 2026, oil on linen, 200 x 100 cm
Ochre Lawson, Fallen Melaleucas in Tea Tree Water, 2026, oil on linen, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Golden Hour in The Hanging Swamp, 2026, oil on linen, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Fallen White Gums, 2026, oil on linen, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Winter Night, 2026, oil on linen, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Blackened Trees in Golden Light, 2026, oil on linen, 115 x 91.5 cm
Ochre Lawson, Looking up The Slope, 2026, oil on linen, 115 x 91.5 cm
Ochre Lawson, Winter Mauves, 2026, oil on linen, 115 x 87 cm
Ochre Lawson, Wriggly Gum on a Vermillion Afternoon, 2026, oil on linen, 115 x 87 cm
Ochre Lawson, Pink Curve, 2026, oil on board, 25 x 30 cm
Ochre Lawson, Golden Cave, 2026, oil on board, 25 x 30 cm
Ochre Lawson, Swamp Grass and White Gums, 2026, oil on board, 25 x 30 cm
Ochre Lawson, Sandstone Outcrop, Winter Light, 2026, oil on board, 25 x 30 cm
Ochre Lawson, Winter Contrasts, 2026, oil on board, 25 x 30 cm
Ochre Lawson, Green Light, White Gums, 2026, oil on board, 25 x 30 cm
Charcoal Trees in The Hanging Swamp, 2026, Exhibition views by Mim Stirling
Ochre Lawson, Movement through Snow Gums, 2025, Oil on canvas, 183 x 152cm
Ochre Lawson, Snow Gum Bower, 2025, Oil on canvas, 112 x 137 cm
Ochre Lawson, Tree Circle, 2024, oil on canvas, 183 x 152 cm
Ochre Lawson, Snow Gum Bones, 2024, oil on linen, 198 x 102 cm
Ochre Lawson, Billy Buttons, 2024, oil on linen, 198 x 102 cm
Ochre Lawson, Snow Gum Dance, 2024, oil on canvas, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Intertwine, 2024, oil on canvas, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Snow Gum Gully, 2024, oil on canvas, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Silver Branches over Water, 2024, oil on canvas, 137 x 122 cm
Ochre Lawson, Tea Tree over Water, 2024, oil on canvas, triptych, 62 x 72 cm each
Ochre Lawson, Tea Tree over Water I, 2024, oil on canvas, 62 x 72 cm
Ochre Lawson, Tea Tree over Water II, 2024, oil on canvas, 62 x 72 cm
Ochre Lawson, Tea Tree over Water III, 2024, oil on canvas, 62 x 72 cm
Ochre Lawson, Casuarina Wetland, 2024, oil on board, 120 x 90 cm (framed)
Ochre Lawson, Dusky Wetland, 2024, oil on board, 120 x 90 cm (framed)
Ochre Lawson, Casuarina Wetland I, 2024, oil on canvas, 29 x 36 cm
Ochre Lawson, Casuarina Wetland II, 2024, oil on canvas, 29 x 36 cm
Ochre Lawson, Dappled Snow Gums, 2024, oil on board, 25 x 40 cm (framed)
Ochre Lawson, Windswept Snow Gums, 2024, oil on board, 25 x 40 cm (framed)
Ochre Lawson, Pretty Gully, 2024, oil on board, 25 x 40 cm (framed)
Tree Circle, 2024, Exhibition views, photography by Ashley Mackevicius
Shimmering Light, 2023, oil on canvas, 122 x 137cm
Kandinski Gully, 2023, oil on canvas, 122 x 137cm
Wind, Rain, Sunshine, 2023, oil on canvas, 122 x 137cm
Sunshine Through Rain, 2023, oil on canvas, 180 x 137cm
Falling Water, 2023, oil on canvas, 80 x 90cm
Sound of Leaves Falling , 2023, oil on canvas, 80 x 90cm
Waiting for Platypus, 2023, oil on canvas, 80 x 107cm
Mountain Rapids #1, 2023, oil on birch, box framed in Vic Ash 50 x 60cm
Mountain Rapids #2, 2023, oil on birch, box framed in Vic Ash, 50 x 60cm
Deep Waterhole , 2023, oil on canvas, 71 x 61cm
Emerging Autumn, 2023, oil on birch, box framed in Vic Ash, 30 x 25cm
Sunlit Gorge, 2023, oil on birch, box framed in Vic Ash, 30 x 25cm
Trees Stripped Bare, 2023, oil on birch, box framed in Vic Ash, 30 x 25cm
Slow Water, Deep Gorge, 2023, oil on birch, box framed in Vic Ash, 30 x 25cm
Far Distant, 2023, oil on birch (framed), 20 x 25cm
Sunshower, 2023, oil on birch (framed), 20 x 25cm
Exhibition views from Sensory Wonder, 2023, Jennings Kerr. Photography by Ashley Mackevicius
Ochre Lawson, Exhibition views, Opening Show, Jennings Kerr, 2021