Joshua McPherson is a Sydney-based artist and educator whose practice spans painting, drawing and sculpture, with a particular focus on portraiture. A four-time finalist across Australia's major portrait prizes — including the Archibald Prize, the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and the Kilgour Portrait Prize, where he has twice won the People's Choice Award — his work is held in private collections nationally and internationally.
Joshua trained at Australia's oldest art school, the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney's historic Rocks district, before travelling to Florence to study classical realist drawing and painting at the prestigious Florence Academy of Art, where he completed a Diploma of Fine Art and received the Academy's Painting of the Year award. He went on to teach at both institutions and won the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, and has exhibited in Florence, London and the United States.
Alongside his studio practice, Joshua is currently Artist in Residence with Sydney Catholic Schools, where he leads large-scale collaborative projects — including the sustainability-focused Sculptures by the Schools, a two-time People's Choice Award winner — and offers specialised painting tuition from his Sydney studio.
Prizes & Scholarships
2020 Finalist & Peoples Choice, Kilgour Portrait Prize, Newcastle
2019 Semi Finalist, BP International Portrait Prize, London
2019 Finalist & People’s Choice, Kilgour Portrait Prize, Newcastle
2019 Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2019 Finalist & People’s Choice, Kilgour Portrait Prize, Newcastle
2019 Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2018 Semi Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2015 Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2014 Finalist & Packers Prize Winner, Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, Bega
2014 Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2013 Finalist, Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, Sydney
2013 Finalist, Archibald Prize, Sydney
2013 Finalist, Rick Amor Self Portrait Prize, Montsalvat
2012 Works selected for the EMSLA Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour
2010 Awarded A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, Melbourne
2008 Work selected for the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, Melbourne
2008 Painting of the Year, Florence Academy of Art
2007 Excellence in Drawing the Figure, Florence Academy of Art
2003 Work selected for the Mosman Art Prize
2003 Work selected for the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, Melbourne
2000 The Joshua Smith Prize, Julian Ashton Art School
2000 Award for excellence in Fine Drawing, Julian Ashton Art School
1999 Scholarship & excellence in Drawing & Life Painting Julian Ashton, Sydney
Exhibitions
2020 Kilgour Portrait Prize, Newcastle Gallery
2019 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2019 Kilgour Portrait Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery
2015 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2014 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney
2013 Archibald Prize, Sydney
2012 EMSLA Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour
2010 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, Corsini Stables, Florence Italy
2009 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, Corsini Stables, Florence Italy
2008 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, WH Patterson Gallery, London
2007 Florence Academy Alumni Exhibition, Corsini Stables, Florence Italy
Qualifications &Training
2005-2008 Diploma of Fine Arts – The Florence Academy of Art, Italy
1997-2002 Diploma of Fine Arts – Julian Ashton Art School, The Rocks, Sydney