Award winning artist, Michelle Hungerford will be our guest judge for ‘Art on Show’ 2026.

Artist Michelle Hungerford divides her time between the New England and the Blue Mountains regions of NSW, Australia. She is a full-time artist, primarily known for her landscape painting.

Michelle began her formal education in 1987, enrolling in a Fine Arts course at Tamworth TAFE. After years of part-time study, painting and raising her children, she graduated 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the University of Newcastle, where she was awarded the University Medal.

While at university, Michelle achieved significant recognition. In 2002, she won the Watt space Student Acquisitive Prize and the prestigious National Tertiary Prize, judged by David Boyd.

The same year she represented Newcastle University in “Hatched,” the National Graduate show at PICA in Perth, W.A.

In 2006, Michelle held her first international solo exhibition at New Hall, Cambridge University. In 2009, she held her second solo exhibition at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, UK. This led to a second work being acquired for the New Hall Women’s Collection.

In 2015, after extensive time painting and traveling throughout Germany and Europe, Michelle participated in a two-person exhibition in Berlin. She then was invited to exhibited at the Australian Embassy in Berlin, Germany in 2016.

Closer to home, Michelle has exhibited widely in regional and commercial galleries. She has been a finalist in numerous art prizes, including Paddington, Mosman, Kedumba and the Parliamentary Plein air prize, receiving commendations on many occasions. In 2018, she won the Defiance Gallery Award at the Paddington Art show, receiving the wonderful Nock residency in Queenstown, NZ.

Michelle’s work is held in numerous private and public collections across Australia, UK, Europe and America.

Previous Judges

2014 Judge – Artist, GW Bot

2013 Judge – Bekett Rozentals
Curator of Australian Art, National Gallery of Victoria

2021 Judge – Emma Kindred
Curator of Australian Prints & Drawings, National Gallery of Australia

2011 Judge – Artist, Joe Furionger

2010 Judge – Artist, Ron McBurnie

2009 Judge – Natalie Wilson
Curator of Australian Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales

2008 Judge – Angela G0ddard
Program Officer Regional Services, Queensland Art Gallery

2007 Judge – Michael Wardell
Director Art Space Mackay

2006 Judge – Christine Campbell
Executive Officer, Flying Arts Alliance

Banner Image:
Ben Ranson, Cape Hillsbrough (detail)