Sarah Hickey’s large-scale figurative works draw on intuition, memory, and spiritual symbolism. Her painted forms—archetypal, mythic, and deeply expressive—explore the divine feminine and masculine through layered compositions that begin as intimate collages. Rich in iconography and pattern, her work navigates identity, transformation, and the thresholds between inner and outer worlds.

Her recent series, Portals, explores themes of liminality and sacred passage, traversing personal and universal narratives through figurative and still life works.

Sarah holds degrees in Fine Arts and Education from Griffith University Queensland College of Art. She has presented ten solo exhibitions and participated in over thirty group shows, with national recognition in prizes including The Percival Portrait Prize, The Doug Moran, and The Lester Prize.

CV

Bachelor of Visual Arts in Fine Art, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, 1997.

Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education, Griffith University, 2002.

 

Residencies:

2025 - Greywood Arts Residency, Killeagh, Ireland.

2017 – Tweed River Regional Gallery, NSW, Australia.

2017 – Graniti Art Project/Murales, Sicily, Italy.

 

Awards:

2025 - Winner TNBT Prize, Toowoomba Gallery

2025 - Finalist Callinan Chambers Art Prize, Brisbane

2024 - Finalist Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery

2024/2022/2020 - Finalist The Percival Portrait Awards, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

2023/2022/2019/2017/2016/2011 - Finalist in the Clayton Utz Art Awards, QLD

2022 - Semi-Finalist The Doug Moran Portrait Prize

2020 - Semi-finalist The Lester Art Prize, WA

2020 - Finalist Brisbane Portrait Prize, QLD

2019 - Finalist in The Kennedy Arts Prize, SA

2019 - Finalist in the Southern Buoy Portrait Prize, VIC

2019/2018/2017/2016/2015/2014/2013 - Finalist Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award, QLD

2018/16 - Finalist in the RQAS Queensland Figurative Art Prize, QLD

2018 - Winner of the Mixed Media Category at Rotary Art Spectacular, QLD

2019/2018/2017/2016/2015/2014/2013 - Finalist Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award, QLD

2016 - Finalist Kirribilli Centre 40th Anniversary Art Prize, NSW

2016/2015 - Finalist SHE Art Awards, Walker Street Gallery, Dandenong, VIC

2014 - Finalist Redland Art Awards, QLD

2014 - Finalist Moreton Bay Region Art Award, QLD

2012 - Finalist Kenilworth Painting Prize, QLD

2012 - Finalist and recipient of the People's Choice Award Marie Ellis OAM Prize for Drawing, QLD

2012 - Finalist Mandorla Art Award, WA

2012 - Finalist Xstrata Percival Portrait Award, QLD

 

Solo Exhibitions

2024 - Of Days and Deities, Grainger Gallery, Sept 2024, Canberra

2020 - Home, Hearth & Harbingers, Brisbane, Qld.

2019 - Kindred, Boom Gallery, Geelong, VIC

2018 - Camouflage, Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington

2017 - Interior Jungles, Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington

2015 - Vessel, Graydon Gallery, New Farm

2014 - Roost and Brood, Graydon Gallery, New Farm

2013 - Viscera, Graydon Gallery, New Farm

2012 - Tabernacle of Skin, Lust For Life Gallery, Fortitude Valley

2011 - Horned Lace Idols, White Canvas Gallery, Fortitude Valley

2010 - Menagerie at White Canvas Gallery, Fortitude Valley

 

Group Exhibitions

2024/2022/2020 – The Percival Portrait Awards, Townsville

2023 - Spring Jardin and Falling Flowers, Grainger Gallery, Canberra

2022 - Spring Song, Grainger Gallery, Canberra

2020 - Finalist’s Exhibition Brisbane Portrait Prize, Brisbane

2020 - Finalist’s Exhibition The Kennedy Arts Prize, Adelaide

2019 - Finalist’s Exhibition in the Southern Buoy Portrait Prize, Mornington, VIC.

2019/2018/2017/2016/2015/2014 - Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Award, Paddington.

2019/2017/2016/2011 - Clayton Utz Art Awards, Brisbane.

2016/2015 - SHE Art Awards, Walker Street Gallery, Dandenong.

2014 - Finalists Exhibition Redland Art Awards.

2014 - Finalists Exhibition Moreton Bay Art Awards.

2012 - Kenilworth Art Award - Exhibition of Finalists, Kenilworth.

2012 - Marie Ellis OAM Award - Exhibition of finalists, Jugglers Art Space, Fortitude Valley.

2012 - Toyota Community Spirit Emerging Art Awards, Melbourne.

2011 - Folk Art / Fine Art, BSG, Melbourne.