about — Sophie Westerman

Sophie Westerman was born in Melbourne in 1991. Her practice focuses on printmaking, in particular etching and lithography which she uses to create quiet and minimal compositions. Her work is concerned with intimacy and memory, often using domestic motifs such as a house or quilt. She draws upon her interest in architecture and literature with her writing practice informing her titles, charging her images with narrative and emotion.

Westerman completed a Bachelor of Fine Art (Printmaking) in 2011 and a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Creative Writing) in 2013. She was awarded the James Northfield Lithography Scholarship from the Australian Print Workshop in 2015 and in 2019 her artwork was selected for the Melbourne Art Tram series as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival.

Westerman is a founding member of 5 Press, a collective of five Melbourne based artists including August Carpenter, Cheralyn Lim, Sarah McConnell and Jaime Powell. The collective was formed with the intention of investigating the artist book form, through traditional printmaking and book binding techniques. They have participated in a number of art book fairs around Australia including the Melbourne Art Book Fair, Singapore Art Book Fair and Sydney Contemporary Art Fair.

For enquiries and commissions please contact sophie.westerman@hotmail.com

b. 1991, lives and works in Melbourne, Australia

education

2013 - Graduate Diploma in Arts (Creative Writing), University of Melbourne

2011 - Bachelor of Fine Art (Printmaking), Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne

solo + collaborative exhibitions

2019 - I think we were friends once, maybe, Port Jackson Press, Melbourne

2017 - Close Distance, Hub Furniture, Melbourne + Sydney

2015 - Soft Copy (with Jaime Powell), Seventh Gallery, Melbourne

2014 - Create/Cancel (with Jaime Powell), Bus Projects, Melbourne

I have no memory of this place, Community Project Wall, Hawthorn Arts Centre, Melbourne

selected group exhibitions

2023 - Melbourne Now, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

2022 - Abstract, Line & Colour, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne

2019 - Ritual Practice, Modern Times, Melbourne

Friends and Family, Daine Singer, Melbourne

She lives in a bungalow, Jacombe ARI, Myrniong

2018 - Summer Salon, Port Jackson Press, Melbourne

Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne

2017 - Litho, Mono, Screen & Unique State Prints, Queenscliff Gallery and Workshop, Queenscliff

Queenscliff Literary Festival Exhibition and Great Authors Print Exchange, Queenscliff Gallery

and Workshop, Queenscliff

2016 - Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne

Panoply, Metropolis Gallery, Geelong

Portland Artist Residency, Portland Art Centre, Portland

between here and there, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne

Editions, Tacit Contemporary, Melbourne

2015 - Linden Postcard Show, Linden New Art, Melbourne

Mark Making Form, George Patton Gallery Project Spaces, Melbourne

2014 - Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne

Artist's Book (reprised), George Patton Gallery, Melbourne

Editions, Tacit Contemporary, Melbourne

Bright Sparks, Firestation Print Studio Gallery, Melbourne

2013 - CamArt, Camberwell Girls Grammar School, Melbourne

2012 - Impressions, Australian Print Workshop, Melbourne

residencies

2015 - Portland Artist Residency, Portland, Australia

awards + commissions

2019 - Melbourne Art Tram, Melbourne International Arts Festival

2016 - Print Council of Australia Print Commission Emerging Artist Award

2015 - Australian Print Workshop James Northfield Trust Lithography Scholarship

2011 - National Gallery of Victoria Women's Association Encouragement Award

5 Press

2023 - Paper Contemporary, Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks, Sydney