BIO
ABOUT THE ARTIST: MARILYN ROSS
Born in Sydney in 1953, Marilyn began her creative journey at
ESTC in Darlinghurst, completing 'Fashion: Design and
Teaching' in 1974.
During an extensive career in fashion, she designed for
prominent Australian brands and established her own highly
successful label. Seeking inspiration for her collections in
Italy, Germany and France, it was during this period that
Marilyn began exploring European museum collections.
Reinventing herself as an artist, for the last two decades she
has maintained a full time art practice, working from her
studio at One + 2 in Lilyfield, Sydney.
Continuing formal studies alongside her studio practice, Marilyn has trained with many
highly esteemed artists, including Aida Tomescu, Juliet Holmes à Court, and Pam
Cowper.
By beginning with figurative motifs, through a reductive process, Marilyn creates
innovative abstractions on paper and canvas. She is drawn to the textural possibilities of
mixing dry and wet media to create tactile layered surfaces. The beauty of colour is
explored, while distinctive gestural mark making and intriguing passages of collage are
ever present in her atmospheric compositions.
Since 2005 Marilyn's work has been exhibited in numerous Sydney galleries, including the
prestigious Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf in Double Bay, Art Gallery on Darling in Balmain,
and The Corner Gallery in Stanmore. A commended Art Prize finalist, she is continually
developing new work.
ARTISTIC TRAINING
Weekly classes
2011 - 2016 Drawing, Jennifer Keeler-Milne, All Saints Hall, Woollahra, NSW
2009 Mixed media, Pam Cowper, Waverley Woollahra Art School, Bondi, NSW
2002 - 2011 Mixed media, Tony Tozer, Willoughby Arts Centre, Willoughby, NSW
2002 - 2009 Oil painting, Mike Lamble, Northshore School of Art, Mosman, NSW
1998 - 2001 Watercolour, Peter Doharty, The Royal Art Society of New South Wales, Lavender Bay, NSW
1990 - 1992 Life Drawing, Stephen Wesley Gorton, Paddington Art School, Paddington, NSW
Workshops
2016 Painting with acrylic, Juliet Holmes à Court, Bundanon, NSW
2011 Painting with acrylic, Aida Tomescu, Willoughby Arts Centre, Willoughby, NSW
2008 - 2011 Painting with acrylic, Juliet Holmes à Court AGNSW, Sydney, NSWEXHIBITIONS
Solo
2009 'Second solo', Gallery 41, Woolloomooloo, NSW
2007 'Ewart Artist Solo Exhibition', Ewart Gallery, Willoughby, NSW
Duo
2025, 2024, ‘Pathways to Painting’, Art Gallery on Darling, Balmain, NSW
2021 'Elements In Play', The Corner Gallery, Stanmore, NSW
2020 ‘Beyond The Mark’, The Corner Gallery, Stanmore, NSW
Group
2023 ‘The Natural Connection’, Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, Double Bay, NSW
2023 'Wanderings', Balmain Watch House Gallery, Balmain, NSW
2019 'Christmas Exhibition', One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2016 ‘Chair’, One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2014 'Glebe group show', The Shop Gallery, Glebe, NSW
2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022 'Lost’, One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2009 'Studio', One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2007 'Royal Art Society Group Show', Royal Art Society, Lavender Bay, NSW
2005 'Drummoyne Art Society Group Show', Drummoyne Civic Hall, Drummoyne, NSW
2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 'Ewart Exhibition', Ewart Gallery, Willoughby, NSW
AWARDS
2023 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize, 'Highly commended', Hunters Hill, NSW
2022 Finalist Lake Art Prize, Museum of Art and Culture, Lake Macquarie, NSW
2016, 2015, 2011 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize, Hunters Hill, NSW
2012 Finalist Drummoyne Art Prize, 'Commended', Drummoyne, NSW
2011 Finalist Drummoyne Art Prize, 'Very highly commended’, Drummoyne NSW
Born in Sydney in 1953, Marilyn began her creative journey at
ESTC in Darlinghurst, completing 'Fashion: Design and
Teaching' in 1974.
During an extensive career in fashion, she designed for
prominent Australian brands and established her own highly
successful label. Seeking inspiration for her collections in
Italy, Germany and France, it was during this period that
Marilyn began exploring European museum collections.
Reinventing herself as an artist, for the last two decades she
has maintained a full time art practice, working from her
studio at One + 2 in Lilyfield, Sydney.
Continuing formal studies alongside her studio practice, Marilyn has trained with many
highly esteemed artists, including Aida Tomescu, Juliet Holmes à Court, and Pam
Cowper.
By beginning with figurative motifs, through a reductive process, Marilyn creates
innovative abstractions on paper and canvas. She is drawn to the textural possibilities of
mixing dry and wet media to create tactile layered surfaces. The beauty of colour is
explored, while distinctive gestural mark making and intriguing passages of collage are
ever present in her atmospheric compositions.
Since 2005 Marilyn's work has been exhibited in numerous Sydney galleries, including the
prestigious Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf in Double Bay, Art Gallery on Darling in Balmain,
and The Corner Gallery in Stanmore. A commended Art Prize finalist, she is continually
developing new work.
ARTISTIC TRAINING
Weekly classes
2011 - 2016 Drawing, Jennifer Keeler-Milne, All Saints Hall, Woollahra, NSW
2009 Mixed media, Pam Cowper, Waverley Woollahra Art School, Bondi, NSW
2002 - 2011 Mixed media, Tony Tozer, Willoughby Arts Centre, Willoughby, NSW
2002 - 2009 Oil painting, Mike Lamble, Northshore School of Art, Mosman, NSW
1998 - 2001 Watercolour, Peter Doharty, The Royal Art Society of New South Wales, Lavender Bay, NSW
1990 - 1992 Life Drawing, Stephen Wesley Gorton, Paddington Art School, Paddington, NSW
Workshops
2016 Painting with acrylic, Juliet Holmes à Court, Bundanon, NSW
2011 Painting with acrylic, Aida Tomescu, Willoughby Arts Centre, Willoughby, NSW
2008 - 2011 Painting with acrylic, Juliet Holmes à Court AGNSW, Sydney, NSWEXHIBITIONS
Solo
2009 'Second solo', Gallery 41, Woolloomooloo, NSW
2007 'Ewart Artist Solo Exhibition', Ewart Gallery, Willoughby, NSW
Duo
2025, 2024, ‘Pathways to Painting’, Art Gallery on Darling, Balmain, NSW
2021 'Elements In Play', The Corner Gallery, Stanmore, NSW
2020 ‘Beyond The Mark’, The Corner Gallery, Stanmore, NSW
Group
2023 ‘The Natural Connection’, Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, Double Bay, NSW
2023 'Wanderings', Balmain Watch House Gallery, Balmain, NSW
2019 'Christmas Exhibition', One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2016 ‘Chair’, One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2014 'Glebe group show', The Shop Gallery, Glebe, NSW
2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022 'Lost’, One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2009 'Studio', One + 2 Gallery, Lilyfield, NSW
2007 'Royal Art Society Group Show', Royal Art Society, Lavender Bay, NSW
2005 'Drummoyne Art Society Group Show', Drummoyne Civic Hall, Drummoyne, NSW
2002, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 'Ewart Exhibition', Ewart Gallery, Willoughby, NSW
AWARDS
2023 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize, 'Highly commended', Hunters Hill, NSW
2022 Finalist Lake Art Prize, Museum of Art and Culture, Lake Macquarie, NSW
2016, 2015, 2011 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize, Hunters Hill, NSW
2012 Finalist Drummoyne Art Prize, 'Commended', Drummoyne, NSW
2011 Finalist Drummoyne Art Prize, 'Very highly commended’, Drummoyne NSW