Australian Women Artists

The podcast 

Ep. 42 Natasha Walsh

Natasha Walsh doesn’t make art for the Archibald Portrait Prize. She is really interested in building her practice in a way that interests her.

 Nevertheless, in 2025, in her early 30s, she became an Archibald finalist for the 8th time!

 One of those finalist years (2018), coincided with her winning the Kilgour Prize, the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship and the Mosman Art Prize tying with Margaret Olley as the youngest ever winner. 

 But it certainly hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Far from it.

 It was a lovely long, far ranging, very open and, at times, emotional conversation. Which isn’t surprising given her horrific experiences in Paris whilst attending the Whiteley Scholarship. 

 But I reckon Natasha is very brave. In life as well as her art. 

 We discussed the enormous effect her dyslexia and ADHD had on her life and how the Nat. Art School helped smooth some paths for her. It was a beautiful insight to an artist’s mind and thinking and creative process. 

 With her experimentations (especially with copper) and successes and persistence and resilience and her constant challenging of existing structures of bias...it’s little wonder she’s been described as a key figure in a new generation of Australian artists. 

 Head to the link in my bio to hear our conversation. 

Natasha is represented by N.Smith Gallery

Insta images

1 NW portrait by Janie Barrett

2 Dear Hilma (The quiet point of a meeting), 2022 oil on copper 30 x 22 cm

3 The Voyeur (formerly Untitled) 2023 oil on copper 60x60 reference Egon Schiele The Hermits (Self portrait with Gustav Klimt 1912)

4 Portrait of a Young Medusa 2023 oil on copper 26x18 sitter: Montaigne (profile Portrait of a Young Lady 1465)

5 The Yellow Odalisque of Brunswick 2024 oil on copper 53x50 sitter Atong Atem (reference Matisse Yellow Odalisque 1937)

6 Dreaming of rose scented tea leaves carried to me on a summer breeze 2025 oil & pigment on copper 74x100