Two awards received for my artworks at York Art Show, 2016. 'An Australian Landscape' receives first prize in the "Time" themed category and "Cloudscape' was awarded a Highly Commended.

'An Australian Landscape'

'Cloudscape'



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (Oct 2016)

'Going Coastal' receives 'Highly Commended' at Vasse Art Award 2016 in Busselton.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ( April 2016)

Kondinin Art Prize, 'Works on canvas' - 1st prize winner

My painting 'From Yeerakine Rock', won the 'Works on canvas' prize in the Kondinin Art Prize (for the 3rd time).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (October 2014)



'Selfie' selected as a finalist in the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, 2013.

See the other finalists here

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (September 2013)

Prints available

Prints of my artworks can be ordered directly through my online store at this link; or if you're outside Australia, through my Saatchi Online artist profile here

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (August 2013)

My second solo exhibition for 2013, 'Friend or Faux' at La Petite Galerie in Northbridge.

Featuring a new suite of glass-tile mosaics and screenprints based on the pixel matrix of QR-codes. Read an interview here about ideas behind the exhibition.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (August 2013)

My solo exhibition "Free and Uneasy" held at PS Art Space, Fremantle, will be part of The Fringe World Festival 2013.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (February 2013)

Kondinin Art Prize, 'Works on canvas' - 1st prize winner

'Generations', won the 'Works on canvas' prize in this regional art show. My painting "Kondinin Lake" won the same prize in 2010.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (October 2012)

Blake Prize Director's Cut Exhibition

My painting “Between Dharamsala and Beijing” has been selected for 61st Blake Prize Director’s Cut online exhibition on the Blake Society’s website from 16 January 2013 until 16 April 2013.

My work was short-listed for the exhibition. "The annual Blake Prize Directors’ Cut Exhibition... gives people an opportunity to continue the Blake Prize conversation by viewing a selection of highly regarded works by 137 contemporary artists chosen from this year’s short-listed entries... The Directors Cut, in its third year, reveals how the prize continues to grow and inspire artists with increasingly diverse representations of religious beliefs, spirituality and experiences that express issues associated with human justice.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (October 2012)

7-day Painting Residency in China

In late August, 2012, I travelled to China as part of the 7-day “Paint Chengdu Artist Exchange”. Based in Perth's sister city, Chengdu, we were guided through the city by our hosts, and then given a studio and 2.5 days in which to produce two paintings inspired by our impressions of the culture and/or landscape in Chengdu. These were later exhibited at the "2012 China International Friendship Cities Conference” in Chengdu.

It was a chance for Perth artists to experience Chinese culture first-hand and a unique opportunity to promote our own art practice internationally – while also representing the artistic output of Perth to the rest of the world. It was inspiring to know that opportunities for artists extend well beyond political and cultural divides. With this in mind, and in attempt to build on the positive experiences of the initial project, three of the four Perth artists involved plan to each create a small series of artworks based our experiences of Chinese/Australian cultural connections. We hope to exhibit these in a group show in 2013. We’re currently looking for a venue in Perth, and would also hope to exhibit back in China at some stage.

Thanks to the International Relations Office of the Lord Mayor (Perth) for helping with the organisation of the project; the Department of Culture and the Arts for the Artflight grant, and especially to our hosts in China – Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office.

Considering the time constraints, I’m happy with the paintings I produced (below). These have now become part of the permanent collection of the Chengdu FAO and will be displayed at an International Museum in Tianfu Square (central Chengdu city).

Click on the images above to see my paintings and photos from the residency.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (September 2012)

My portrait of a friend, Ian Barnes, has been selected as a finalist in the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, 2012.

The exhibition will be held at the new Linton and Kay Gallery in St. Georges Terrace; 21 September - 1 October. There's some stiff competition this year with many awesome works selected... view the other finalists here.

7-day Painting Residency and Artist Exchange in Chengdu, China

I'll be travelling to Chengdu in China for 7 days in late August to participate in an artist exchange and painting residency. The City of Perth are sending four Perth painters over to each create two works based on their impressions of Chengdu, which is a 'sister city' of Perth. The paintings will then be exhibited at the 2012 China International Friendship Cities Conference in China in September 2012, and will become part of the Chengdu Foreign Affairs Office art collection.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (August 2012)

Open Studio and Exhibition at PS Art Space

My studio, Pakenham Street Art Space in Fremantle is having an 'open studio' and studio artist exhibition, this Friday 4 May. Exhibition continues until 28 May. Witness the wonderful diversity of artists operating at PSAS. This is a unique opportunity to experience the internal workings of an artist's studio and to meet the practitioners in their environment. Hopefully see you there (my studio is #28, ground floor).



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Paintings from an Artist Residency

View the results of my residency at 87 Artzone in Queensland here. 11 paintings in 20-something days. Most works represented a departure in style from my usual, needing to work faster with a more relaxed approach to painting... at least momentarily.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (February 2012)

My portrait of local contortionist, Kim Upton, selected as a finalist in the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, 2011.

View the other finalists here.



'Kimtortion', oil on canvas, 115 x 77cm

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (September 2011)

'Venus, Evening Star' painting featured on Kill Teen Angst's, No Walls In The Sky CD cover.

The guys from Perth indie rock band, Kill Teen Angst asked if they could use a painting of mine on the cover of their debut album. I ended up designing the CD packaging as well. Check out their music here.... or take look at the original painting here.







+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (April 2011)

Stills From Life Debut solo exhibition at Linton & Kay Contemporary - Backspace Gallery October 23-November 5, 2010

Thanks to everyone down at Linton and Kay for all their help with presenting my first solo show :) And cheers to everyone that took the time to go and see the exhibition.





+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (November 2010)

Interview with X-Press Magazine (Issue 1236 / October 21, 2010) "Stills From Life - Oiled Up"

"Painter Steve Makse explores human identity and materialism in his debut solo exhibition Stills From Life at Linton & Kay Contemporary - Back Space Gallery from Saturday, October 23. For Steve Makse, the material world is an unreliable narrator, a spurious reflection that distorts our self-image and worth. He flouts flat screen TVs and gossip magazines, finding refuge in his art and the esoteric paintings of 16th century Holland..."

Download the interview here (1.4Mb PDF)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (October 2010)

Kondinin Centenary Art Show, 2010 'Works on canvas' - 1st prize winner

My painting, Kondinin Lake, recently won the 'Works on canvas' prize in this regional art show. Depicting a sunset on a salt lake near the West Australian wheatbelt town of Kondinin, it's a somewhat bittersweet image – as while the lake is a visually beautiful place, it's badly affected by increasing soil salinity – a result human impact on the land. It's my largest oil on canvas so far (140cm x 80 cm).



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (October 2010)

Third Space Project, China

Recently returned from Shanghai, China for the first stage of the Third Space Project between School of Communications & Arts Edith Cowan University Perth Australia (ECU), and University of Shanghai Science & Technology (USST), China. The project involves making artworks through a collaborative arrangement with artists from USST, focusing on the connections and polarities of the individual artists involved. The artworks - which will be exhibited in both Perth and China in 2010 - should sit between cultures, and as such, exist in and represent a third space.

Click on the image below to see a selection of my photos from China.