First solo exhibition for emerging artist

Contemporary abstract landscape artist Emma O’Connell is set to debut her highly anticipated first solo exhibition, Grounded in Abstraction, opening Friday, June 13, at Theia Studios, Woy Woy.

Based on the Central Coast, O’Connell is emerging as a distinctive voice in Australian contemporary art.

Her work is instantly recognisable for its signature palette of rich earthy tones of burnt oranges, earthy browns, deep reds, and rust, it reflects a deep connection to the vast and resilient beauty of the Australian landscape.

“I don’t paint a specific place,” she said.

“I paint the feelings they evoke — the emotional landscape, the stories, the colour, and the energy that move through them.”

Entirely self-taught, with a background in Visual Communication and Design, O’Connell’s process is deeply intuitive.

Through free-flowing brush strokes and layered mark-making, her paintings emerge gradually, built over time until they feel alive, grounded, and full of movement.

She creates through instinct, not with a plan, allowing each piece to evolve into its own.

“My process is just as much about feeling as it is about painting,” she said.

“The work becomes what it needs to be.

“I refine and rework each canvas until it carries the energy I’m looking for — something that feels alive, like the land itself.”

The solo show follows a string of notable accomplishments: O’Connell’s work has been featured in six group exhibitions across NSW over the past year, including the standout Gigantic show at Tyger Gallery in Yass and the Northern Beaches Art Prize in Sydney.

Her paintings are held in private collections across NSW, QLD, VIC, and WA, and she is proudly represented by both Tyger Gallery and Northern Beaches Gallery.

Earlier this year, O’Connell completed a three-month artist residency at Bookface Erina Fair, where she showcased her work, offering shoppers and locals an opportunity to engage with her art in a dynamic, community-driven space.

Her work, though grounded on the Central Coast, is steadily gaining attention across the Australian art scene, with each exhibition adding a new layer to her growing reputation.

Opening night is June 13, from 6pm to 8pm at Theia Studios, Woy Woy.