Lynn Savery
Artist's Statement
Lynn Savery’s paintings possess a strong sense of style and carry layers of mystery and introspection. Her subject matter seamlessly melds into stories in which every detail is attended to. Constantly inventing distinct mise-en-scenes in her head and drawing on historical references, Savery aims to translate the past into contemporary renditions of romanticism.
“It is easy to dismiss romanticism as sentimental or trivial,” says Savery, “but it is a way of seeing and feeling that makes the world more enchanted than the rational present. In a world saturated with violence and death, it is imperative to find and hold fast to romanticism. My work celebrates beauty, intuition and imagination because they are uplifting and optimistic. Ultimately, it is up to the viewer how they react; how they choose to allow themselves to feel.”
Biography
Lynn Savery (b.1960) is originally from Brighton, England and moved to Australia in 1975. She lives in Melbourne and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations. In 2017 she turned to painting, a pursuit long neglected, and entered a self-portrait into the 2018 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize — which she won. Since then she has been a finalist in numerous prizes, including seven finalist selections for the Portia Geach Memorial Award, which she won in 2022. In 2025 she won the Pymble Values Art Prize. Savery presented a series of paintings at Sydney Contemporary 2026 with Curatorial+Co. Her work is held in collections in Australia and internationally.
