Esther Erlich

Esther Erlich is one of Australia's most respected portrait artists whose imaginative works are eagerly collected.  Her style is raw, vital and spontaneous, yet also displays the skill and gloss of a well-seasoned artist. It is the brilliant combination of striking, even haunting portrait-like features with the light, grace and somewhat abstract fluidity of her more decorative style that makes her work so inspiring.
Erlich brings us face to face with our own reality, but softens the blow with a hint of froth and bubble.
Esther Erlich has had 39 solo exhibitions and 61 group shows since 1983.

WINNER OF THE DOUG MORAN PORTRAIT PRIZE 1998, WINNER ARCHIBALD PEOPLES' CHOICE 2000 & DOBELL DRAWING PRIZE FINALIST 2007 & CHARLATAN INK PRIZE 2011, NEW YORK.
 
PLAIN curated by Dr Guy Morag 2011 – international artists touring exhibition (Israel)
Finalist in the 2011 Charlatan Ink Art Prize New York (USA)
Finalist in the 2011 Black Swan Art Prize (Perth)
2009 James Farrell Self Portraiture Award, Castlemaine Art Gallery
Finalist 2009 Banyule Works on Paper Art Award
Finalist 2009 Black Swan Prize (WA)
Selected for the 2009 Salon des Refuse exhibition (National Trust SH Ervin Gallery Sydney)
Finalist in the 2008 Black Swan Prize for portraiture (WA)
Finalist in the 2008 Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
Selected for the 2008 Salon des Refuse exhibition (National Trust SH Ervin Gallery & Tweed River Art Gallery)
Finalist in the 2007 Dobell Prize at the AGNSW  
Finalist in the 2007 Hutchins Art Prize (Tasmania)
Finalist in the 2007 Whyalla Art Prize (South Australia)
Finalist in the 2007 Archibald Prize with “Tim” (portrait of Tim Rogers)
Nine times finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award (‘07,’02’,01,2000,’99,’98,’96,’95,&’89)
Exhibited in the 2006 Delhi Art & Design Fair, and Australian High Commission Delhi India.
Exhibited March 2007 in group show at New Delhi India, Gurgaon (Gallery Alternatives)
Finalist in the 2006 Doug Moran National Portrait prize.
Finalist in the 2005 Archibald Prize with “Lindy Wills”
Finalist in the 2005 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize
Finalist in the 2005 Banyule Works on Paper Art Award
Finalist in the 2002 Archibald Prize with “Deborah Conway” & included in the Salon des Refuse with “Man Working”( portrait of Colin Hay).
Winner of the 2000 Archibald Prize Peoples’ Choice Award in Sydney & Melbourne with ”Never Been Better”,( portrait of Bill Leak).
Winner of the 1998 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize with “Gaunt and Glorious”,( portrait of Steve Moneghetti)
December 2001, painting of Lynne Golding exhibited as Victorian Arts  Centre’s  Artwork  of the Month”
2001 invited to exhibit in the National Tour of, “Portraits 2001 – An Australian Odyssey”
1993 included in the Salon des Refuses (Archibald)
1993 exhibited  at  the  International  Womens’ Exhibition in Kyushu’ Japan
Finalist in the 1990 Doug Moran National Portrait  Prize .
Finalist in the 1989 Winsor Newton Prize (Sydney);
Second prize winner of the 1987 VTU Art Prize.

PUBLIC ACQUISITIONS
 
National Portrait Gallery , “The Hon. Jim Carlton AO with Cravat”
Tweed Valley Regional Art Gallery , “Gaunt and Glorious”(Steve Moneghetti)
National Library ACT , “Louis Kahan”, “Andrew Sibley” and pencil study for Gaunt and Glorious.
Hutchins Foundation Collection, “Grunt II”
Holocaust Museum Vic. “Mr Socolovitz”
ALP Building Canberra, “Barry Jones”
Royal Overseas League, Australian Collection, “Nine Two Nine”
Performing Arts Museum, Victorian Arts Centre, “Lynne Golding”
Council for Adult Education, “Warming Up”
Macrobertson Girls High School, portrait of Leslie Boston