Drawing with Artist Damien Shen

Join Damien Shen, Australian contemporary visual artist in 'Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia', for a special kōrero and drawing workshop. Damien will begin in the exhibition, discussing his ways of working, and will then share his tips for finessing drawing techniques in a workshop in the Gallery’s North Atrium. For those wanting to try out and develop their drawing skills, this workshop is one not to miss.

This workshop is free, but spaces are limited to 35 people – get in quickly to secure your spot!


Damien Shen is a South Australian man of Ngarrindjeri (Aboriginal) and Chinese descent. As an artist he draws on both of these powerful cultural influences to create works of intense personal meaning. In using his artistic talent to share his story, he aims to open the eyes of viewers to new ways of seeing Australian identity and Aboriginal art. In February 2016, Damien Shen was the winner of the Blake Prize (emerging category), in December 2015 the winner of the Prospect Portraiture prize, and a finalist in the prestigious Whyalla Art Prize and Telstra National

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. He was also hand-picked for the Art Gallery of South Australia’s Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art. His works are held in numerous public collections around Australia, including the National Gallery of Australia, Monash Gallery of Art, Art Gallery of Ballarat and internationally the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection (Virginia, USA).

Image courtesy of Damien Shen