Deb Mostert

As a mid-career artist, working across three decades in drawing, painting, sculpture and public art, Deb can’t remember a time when she wasn’t trying to ‘make something ‘of the world around her.

Deb’s practice has been grounded in observational drawing, and she continues to come back to this language to try and share what she sees. There are stories in all things, tales of loss and destruction but also of great hope and redemption, small smiles and quiet humour.

Deb’s practice has revolved around objects as metaphors, collections as carriers of our stories and museums as repositories of our collective archives.

Deb works backwards and forwards across drawing, painting and sculpture as a way of having conversations that are meaningful and offers the practice of mindful observation as a quiet antidote to consumption.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions

2024-25 Nature & Culture – animal as object, Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD
2024 A Sketchbook Practice, The Condensery, QLD
2023 Everyday Sketchbook, Ipswich Gallery, QLD
2022 Animal as Object – nature and culture, Tweed Regional Gallery, N.S.W
2020 Drawing to DisPossess, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2019 The Short Story, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2019 Australien Future, Migration Museum South Australia, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum, QLD
2018 Australien Future, Redland Art Gallery,  QLD
2018 Broome Sketchbook, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2018 Rewind – a replay of the last decade, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2015 Vogels en Dingen, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2014 Recent Works, Regional Arts House, Teneriffe, QLD
2014 Objects and Ornithology. Tweed Regional Gallery, NSW
2013 Recovery- The Flood Objects Project. (touring exhibition) featured at Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich, Qld. Toured to four locations, including Dogwood Crossing Miles, Gympie Art Gallery, Rockhampton Art Gallery and The Vera Wade Gallery,
2012 Collectie Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Coffs Harbour, N.S.W.
2011 Honestly! Lorraine Pilgrim, Broadbeach
2010 Vroom! Albury Regional Gallery, N.S.W
2009 Bugs on Toy Cars, Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, N.S.W.
2008 Small Wares and Trifles, Lorraine Pilgrim + Nyst Gallery, Southport, Gold Coast.
2007 Interpreting the Collection- an artist’s view, Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich.
2007 Banality & Sacredness – A Collection, Hardy Brothers, Brisbane.
2006 Holland, Belgium, France, Hardy Brothers, Brisbane.
2005 A Postcard a Day, Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2025 Strange Kinship, Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, QLD
2020 Art Has No Borders, MArts, Murwillumbah NSW
2019 Shiver, One Space Gallery, Brisbane
2019 Pivot, One Space Gallery, Brisbane
2017 AfterImage, One Space Gallery, Brisbane
2016 Quiet Observers, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport
2016 Still Life – ReAnimating the InAnimate, Pine Rivers Gallery
2015 15 Artists, Redcliffe Regional Gallery, Brisbane 
2013 Drawing a Line Caboolture Regional Gallery
2011 Exchange, Gatakers ArtSpace, Maryborough
2010 Net Work, TLF show. Ballarat Regional Gallery, VIC  
2009 Still Life 1930’s-present Gold Coast Art Gallery, Gold Coast
2007 15 Artists, Redcliffe Regional Gallery, Brisbane

Grants & Awards

2022 Finalist KAAF Art Prize, NSW
2020 Finalist Muswellbrook Art Prize, NSW
2019 Finalist Manly Artist Book Award, NSW
2018 Finalist Marie Ellis Prize for Drawing, QLD
2018 Winner Urban Sketching competition – The Centre for Transformative Work Design, Curtin University Western Australia
2018 Arts Qld funding Professional Development
2017 Arts Qld funding Professional Development, RADF funding for Professional Development
2017 Finalist Elaine Birmingham Watercolour Landscape Prize, QLD
2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009,2008 Finalist Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour Gallery
2017,2011, 2008 Finalist, Clayton Utz Art Prize, Brisbane
2016 Finalist Grace Cossington Smith Art Award, N.S.W
2016, 2014, 2011, 2008 Finalist Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards
2016 Winner Best Painting Ipswich Art Awards, Ipswich
2016, 2014, 2010, 2008 Finalist Redland Art Awards, Cleveland Art Gallery
2016, 2013, 2011, 2008 Finalist Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Sunshine Coast
2014, 2012 Finalist Bale Painting Prize, Geelong Regional Gallery, Victoria.
2014 Winner Best of Show, 1st Prize Still Life, Ipswich Art Awards, Ipswich
2014 2012 Finalist Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery
2012 Australian Artist Grant (Janet Holmes a Court Artist Grant)
2011 RADF funding for Professional Development
2010, 2007 Finalist Gold Coast Art Prize, Gold Coast.
2009 Winner Sponsor’s Prize, Eutick Memorial Still Life Awards, Coffs Harbour
2009 Janet Holmes a Court Artist Grant August round
2009 Finalist Salon des Refuses, S.H Erwin Gallery, N.S.W
2008 Winner New Generation People’s Choice Award, Art Brisbane
2008 RADF funding for concept development of ‘Parables’ series
2007 Winner Best of Show: Ipswich Art Awards, Ipswich.
2007 RADF funding for 10-week artist in residency at Ipswich Art Gallery
2006 Finalist Theiss Art Prize, Dell Gallery, QCA.

Collections

Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Redland Art Gallery, HOTA Gold Coast Art Gallery, Brisbane City Council,
Ipswich Art Gallery, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Gold Coast University Hospital, Mater Private Hospital, Springfield 
Private collections in Australia, Netherlands.

Artist in Residence

2025 | Somerville House
2024 | Sunshine Coast Marine Bioblitz
2022, 2023 | World Science Festival, Queensland Museum

Public Art Commissions

2025-2020 | Bronze Discovery sculptures of native creatures for various parks for Brisbane City Council
2022 | RAMSAR mural, Boondall Wetlands Centre, Brisbane City Council
2018 | Crosscut Kookaburras Mural for Ipswich City Council, Fused Festival
2018 | Frogmouth Teapot Mural for Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Canvas
2017 | Wellington Point Mural for Redland City Council
2017 |.William Jolly Bridge Projection for Brisbane City Council
2016 | Bronze Graceville Wunderkammers for Brisbane City Council

Publications

Creative Inquiry : Visual Art for Queensland Senior Secondary Students, 2nd edition published by Cambridge Press 2025 case study
The Museum Sketchbook 2024 published by Tiny Owl Workshop, Brisbane