Wynne Prize finalist brings the quiet light of home to Inverloch

THE windswept coastlines and rolling green hills of south-west Victoria have come to Inverloch with three-time Wynne Prize finalist Kathryn Ryan’s exhibition What the Light Holds now showing at RACV Inverloch Resort.

The free exhibition in the resort’s Zenith Gallery is open to the public and resort guests until December 2, bringing together painting and drawing from the Warrnambool artist whose work captures the emotional terrains of landscapes and invites audiences into spaces that feel familiar yet otherworldly.

Ms Ryan grew up in south-west Victoria and completed her Fine Arts degree in Warrnambool, where she still lives, and said the region had deeply influenced her art practice and worldview.

“The landscape I grew up in, windswept coastlines against rolling green hills and cypress trees, has always informed my practice and who I am,” Ms Ryan said.

“The space and light, the quiet stillness that this landscape can offer, draws me in, seeping into my subconsciousness.

“This place has a therapeutic effect, teaching me to contemplate and not rush my life.

“Engagement with the natural world has always been central to my practice, revealing the beauty and depth of the landscape while creating a space for reflection.”

Ms Ryan has exhibited in major galleries across Melbourne and Sydney during her nearly 40 years as a professional artist, with her works acquired by significant public and private galleries around the world.

The Wynne Prize, run by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is one of Australia’s most significant art awards.

In 2021 Ms Ryan was one of eight recipients of RACV’s Victorian Visual Arts Grant, worth $10,000 and aimed at supporting artists impacted by COVID-19.

“The grant came at an important time for me, helping me gain more confidence in my artwork and to push myself and my practice even further,” Ms Ryan said.

RACV head of visual arts Mardi Nowak said Ms Ryan balanced vast spaces and delicate detailed work within her paintings to elicit an emotional response from the audience.

“Within the exhibition, Ryan captures the luminous quality of the natural world through meticulous layers of paint, built up over many months to achieve a remarkable depth and light,” Ms Nowak said.

“The moodiness and drama of the landscape portrayed in the paintings reveals a deep intimacy with south-west Victoria.

“The exhibition is a great reason to explore the Inverloch area and support the work of local Victorian artists.”

RACV’s exhibitions are open to members and the public across its resorts and clubs, with the RACV Art Collection established in 2003 to spotlight living Australian artists and help develop and promote local Victorian art.

Ms Ryan will be at the exhibition in Inverloch on Saturday October 17 and Sunday October 18.