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Sally Lee Anderson originally studied printmaking at UNSW Art and Design, but first decided to focus on painting during an artist residency in Reykjavik, Iceland. ‘I think my printmaking always had a painterly aesthetic,’ she describes. ‘Without the tools in Iceland, painting was the natural alternative, and I loved the immediacy of it.’
Sally didn’t look back, and by the time she returned to Australia she’d decided to pursue painting. Her expressive aesthetic quickly garnered attention, with group show invitations coming in from across the country, and support from retailers such as Sydney store Small Spaces.
The fresh-faced artist’s paintings integrate abstracted landscapes with interiors, and take cues from everyday interactions. Sally is interested in how we bring the elements of outdoor landscapes inside our homes – through a piece of art, a plant, or collected fragments of nature.
Originally from Alstonville, NSW, Sally now splits her time between Sydney and the Northern Rivers. Earlier this year, she spent time working on a flower farm growing bromeliads. This plant, with its vibrant tropical colours, made such an impression on Sally that she’s currently creating a series featuring them.
Working predominantly with a muted colour palette, the artist will often add an unexpected contrast, like a brush of bright magenta. ‘For me, working with colour is very intuitive; I might spend weeks working with dusky colours, only to come in one day needing to mix a cyan blue,’ she tells.
The paintings are an ongoing process of adding layers and marks. Sometimes Sally will paint over a work in her studio that she’d thought she was long done with. ‘My partner once said that my pieces are a bit like découpage… with individual snippets and cut-outs layered heavily onto a surface,’ she says. ‘My mum has always loved crafts and used to actually découpage the furniture in our house… maybe that’s unknowingly made an impression on me!’
The Washdown and Salvation Jane by Sally Anderson
February 3rd – 23rd
Edwina Corlette Gallery
2/555 Brunswick St, New Farm, Brisbane
To see more, visit Sally’s website here.
