Shan Richards is a Sydney-based visual artist whose vibrant oil and acrylic paintings create immersive, layered worlds. With a couture design background and international experience in fashion and fine art, she brings a tactile, sculptural quality to her work. Her award-winning pieces often feature geishas, koi and roses, blending bold colour with fabric-inspired folds to evoke depth and meaning.
Trained at East Sydney Design Studio and Whitehouse Institute of Design, Shan refined her couture skills with industry mentors before expanding into painting, including studies at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Her practice moves between two distinct styles: her detailed surreal couture oil paintings, and her intuitive abstract acrylic works. While the couture series is rich in symbolism and technical detail, her abstract pieces are guided by emotion and inspired by the psychological effects of colour on wellbeing. These works explore how colours interact on the canvas and within us, drawing from memory, intuition and her lifelong fascination with colour’s power to uplift and transform.
Today, her practice bridges painting, wellbeing and storytelling, including her role with MDOK, a healthcare wellbeing initiative at Sydney Local Health District. She continues to exhibit nationally and internationally, exploring new connections between art, emotion and human experience with colour as the thread that unites it all.
In my art, I blend the refined elegance of moulage draping techniques with the delicate intricacy of origami-inspired fabric pleats, creating what I refer to as 'couture' artworks. Drawing inspiration from my extensive global travels and exposure to diverse cultures, each piece becomes a vibrant celebration of colour and a reflection of the unique figurative style I've cultivated over the years.
From abstract explorations to detailed figurative works, I explore the profound impact of colour on emotions and how art can contribute positively to wellbeing. Through my creations, I aim to showcase how colours can evoke specific moods, creating a positive response and ultimately enhancing overall wellbeing. My abstract pieces are like kaleidoscopes of vibrant colours, inviting viewers on a journey of visual stimulation and emotional connection. Just as my figurative works capture the essence of diverse cultures and experiences, my abstract compositions delve into the depths of colour psychology, creating a symphony of hues that uplift and inspire. Through this dual approach, I strive to create art that not only captivates the eye but also nourishes the soul, offering a sanctuary of beauty and positivity in an often chaotic world.
Select Exhibitions.
2024 Group Exhibition, July Brilliance, Rochfort Gallery, North Sydney NSW, AUS
2024 Affordable Art Fair Sydney, Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, AUS
2023 Group Exhibition, Bluethumb Gallery Show Art Prize Finalist, Brunswick, Melbourne, AUS
2023 Bluethumb Art Prize Finalist Bluethumb, Australia-wide online prize, Australia
2023 Colonial First State: Curated Private Collection Exhibit, Sydney, AUS
2022 Group Exhibit, May Street Artists Studio, Christmas Group Show, St Peters, Sydney, AUS
2020 Live in Art, Invitation Art Prize 2020: People’s Choice Award Winner, Sydney, AUS
2020 Group Exhibit 1: Live in Art, Invitation Art Prize, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, Sydney
2020 Group Exhibit 2: Live in Art, Invitation Art Prize, InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, Sydney
2019 Solo Exhibition, Origami Kaleidoscope; Between Two Worlds: ARO Gallery, Sydney, AUS
2018 Interstate Group Exhibition, Emerge: Third Edition, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, AUS
2018 Solo Exhibition, The Art Space Bar, Shinjuku, Japan
2018 Art Fair, Tokyo International Art Fair, Tokyo Japan
2017 IWOST Open studios exhibition, May Street Studios, St Peters, AUS
2016 Group Exhibition, Christmas Exhibition, Day Fine Art Blackheath, AUS
2016 Group Exhibition, Breakthrough Art Festival, Ambush Gallery, Sydney, AUS
2016 Solo Exhibition, Wander ~ Lust ~ Colour, Loco Project, Bondi Beach, Sydney, AUS
2016 Group exhibition & Open studios, May Street Studios, St Peters, NSW, AUS
2016 Showcase: RAW Sydney FUTURES, Manning bar, Sydney, AUS
2015 Group exhibition, Loco Project Glebe Pop up exhibition, Glebe, Sydney, AUS
2015 Group exhibition, Fresh Batch, Platform72, Chippendale, Sydney, AUS
2015 Group exhibition, 20/20 Vision, Gauge Gallery, Glebe, Sydney, AUS
