DAMIEN SHEN
ARTIST CV September 2026
Damien is represented by MARS GALLERY, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
PH: 03 9521 7517
EMAIL: andy@marsgallery.com.au
Damien Shen is a Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna/Chinese artist, born in Tarntanya/Adelaide. His multidisciplinary practice spans drawing, painting, analogue photography and moving image. Grounded in family, cultural memory and archival research, Shen largely examines how Aboriginal people have been represented, classified and remembered, and the possibilities for reclaiming these images through contemporary acts of authorship, agency and care.
He approaches the archive as living material rather than fixed historical evidence, bringing colonial images into conversation with portraiture and visual influences drawn from his Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Chinese heritage. Recent projects extend into film and performance, card magic and artist-designed objects, using humor, wonder and shared experience to hold difficult histories alongside Aboriginal excellence, optimism and joy.
Shen has exhibited nationally and internationally and his work is held in major public and private collections across Australia and internationally, including several major Australian cultural institutions.
EXHIBITIONS (Group and Solo)
2026 Sept – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery (NSW)
2026 Sept – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery (QLD)
2026 Sept – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Artbank Art Prize (Sydney, NSW)
2026 Sept – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Sydney Contemporary (Sydney, NSW)
2026 July / Nov – CIPX Kaurna Miyurna, (Critical Indigenous Photographic Exchange) Art Gallery South Australia (Adelaide, SA)
2026 June / July – Our Story: Aboriginal/Chinese People in Australia (Xiamen Art Museum, China)
2026 June/Aug – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Riddoch Regional Gallery (SA)
2026 June/Aug – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Manningham Regional Gallery (VIC)
2026 Feb – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Melbourne Art Fair ( Melbourne, VIC)
2026 Feb/June – Darebin Art Prize (Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, Melbourne, VIC)
2026 January – Wyndham Art Prize (Wyndham, Melbourne, VIC)
2025 November – Yitpi Yartapuultiku Group Exhibition, Port Adelaide, SA
2025 September – My Cuzzy Nate and the 654 Club, Adelaide Central Gallery, SA
2025 July – NAIDOC Week (MARS Gallery, Melbourne, VIC)
2025 May / Jan 26 – Our Story: Aboriginal/Chinese People in Australia (National Museum)
2024 Dec / Jan 25 – ‘Watch and Listen’, Nexus Arts Centre, SA
2024 Dec - Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award, Lismore Arts Centre, NSW
2024 Dec – End of year group show, Art Atrium, Sydney, NSW
2024 Dec – ‘DARING’ Curatorial + Co, Sydney, NSW
2024 Nov/Jan 25 – ‘The Views From Here Part 2’, Casula Powerhouse, NSW
2024 Sept – ‘Survey of the Half Caste Problem’ Sydney Contemporary, NSW
2024 Sept/Aug 2025 – ‘Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia’, NGA, ACT
2024 July/Aug – ‘Naidoc Week’, MARS Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2024 June/August – ‘Entombed in Joy’, Frankston Arts Centre, Vic
2024 April – MARS Gallery and Hill Smith Art Advisory pop up, ITL Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2023 Aug/Oct – ‘Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia’, Auckland Art Gallery
2023 July/Sep– ’Alt/Text’ Incinerator Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
2023 July – ’Entombed in Joy’ MARS Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
2022 Dec/ Jan– ’Yellah Fellah’ Manning Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2022 May/Sep– ‘Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia’, National Gallery of Singapore
2022 May/July– ‘While You Were Sleeping Vol.2, aMBUSH Gallery, ANU, ACT
2022 April/June – ‘Old ways, new ways’, Monash Gallery of Art, VIC
2021 Dec/April 2022 – ‘‘Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia’, Art Gallery of WA
2021 Feb/April – ‘The Gathering’, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA
2021 Jan/Mar – ‘Stone from another mountain, Benalla Art Gallery, Vic
2020 December – ‘Body Language’, The Museum of Art and Culture, Lake Macquarie, NSW
2020 April/ May – ‘A Stone from Another Mountain’ (MARS Gallery, Melbourne)
2020 Jan/ March – Collection of The Hon. Paul Guest OAM QC (Bendigo Art Gallery, Vic)
2019 November – ‘Between Two Worlds’, Newcastle Gallery, NSW
2019 October – Tarnanthi, AGSA, Adelaide, SA
2019 October/November – Incinerator Gallery, Aberfeldie, Vic
2019 August/November – 36th Telstra Art Award (Museum and Art Gallery of NT, Darwin)
2019 August – ‘One In, All In’, Yarta Purtli Art Gallery, Port Augusta
2019 July – ‘Olive Cotton Award’, Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah, NSW
2019 June – ‘One In, All In’, Walter Nichols Art Gallery, Port Lincoln, SA
2019 May – ‘While you were sleeping’, Australian National University, ACT
2019 May – ‘Body Language’, National Gallery of Australia, ACT
2019 May – ‘Unbranded’, La Trobe Art Institute, VIC
2019 April – ‘One In, All In’, Tandanya, Adelaide, SA
2019 March - Castlemaine Arts Festival, VIC
2018 November – Collection of The Hon. Paul Guest OAM QC (Bendigo Art Gallery, Vic)
2018 August – SALA Festival (SASA Gallery, UniSA, Adelaide)
2018 September - King & Wood Mallesons Contemporary ATSI Art Prize (Sydney, NSW)
2018 August – Spring 1883 (Melbourne, Vic)
2018 June/July - Stanthorpe Art Prize (Stanthorpe, NSW)
2018 June – ‘The unity of oppression’ (Murray Bridge Regional Gallery, SA)
2018 April – ‘The unity of oppression’ (Nexus Arts, SA)
2018 March – ‘30/30 Vision’ (Prospect Gallery, SA)
2018 March – ‘Collectors Space’ (May Space, Sydney)
2018 Feb – ‘Resolution’ NGA Tour (Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, NSW)
2018 Feb – ‘Passenger’ (Perera-Picco Artpace, SA)
2018 Jan/Feb– ‘TELL’ Sydney Festival (NSW)
2017 Nov – ‘National Still Life Award’ (Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, NSW)
2017 Nov – ‘Not Fair’ (Windsor, VIC)
2017 Nov – ‘Fisher Ghost Art Award’ (Campbelltown Arts Centre, NSW)
2017 October – ‘Namatjira Project Auction (Art Gallery of South Australia, SA)
2017 October – ‘Bowness Prize’ (Monash Gallery of Art, VIC)
2017 October – ‘Tarnanthi ATSI Art Festival’ (Tandanya, Adelaide, SA)
2017 October – ‘Romancing the skull (Ballarat Art Gallery, VIC)
2017 Sept– ‘9 Hours Underground’ Sydney Opera House (NSW)
2017 Aug/Sept– ‘TELL’ Ballarat International Foto Biennale (Vic)
2017 Aug/Oct – ‘Resolution’ NGA Tour (Shepparton Art Museum, Shepparton, VIC)
2017 July – ‘BLAK MIRROR’ (Gallery Lane Cove, Lane Cove, NSW)
2017 July – ‘Naidoc Week’ (MARS Gallery, Melbourne, VIC)
2017 July – ‘On the fabric of the Ngarrindjeri body Vol II’ (CS Gallery, Melton, VIC)
2017 June/Oct – ‘On the fabric….Vol II’ (Monash Civic Centre, VIC)
2017 June/July – ‘Speaking as country’ (Murray Bridge Regional Gallery, SA)
2017 June/Aug – ‘Resolutions’ NGA Tour (Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs, NT)
2017 May/July – ‘Looking at You Through Me’ (Campbelltown Arts Centre, NSW)
2017 May – ‘SALA Expo’ - Dashun Gallery, Jinan (Shandong, China)
2017 April – ‘Wonderwalls Festival’ (Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide, SA)
2017 May – Kaurna Room group show (Tandanya)
2017 April/May – ‘The 64th Blake Prize Tour’ (Kinross Arts Centre, Toorak, Vic)
2017 Mar/May – ‘Resolution’ NGA Tour (Perc Tucker Gallery, Townsville, QLD)
2017 March – ‘Wyndham Art Prize’ (Wyndham Art Gallery, Melbourne)
2017 Feb – ‘The 64th Blake Prize Tour’ (Delmar Gallery, NSW)
2016 Dec – ‘Rightfully Ours, Rightfully Yours’ (Perth Centre for Photography, WA)
2016 Nov/Dec – ‘The 64th Blake Prize Tour’ (Wangaratta Art Gallery, NSW)
2016 Sept/Dec – ‘Resolution’ (Tweed River Art Gallery, NSW)
2016 Sept/Dec – ‘On the fabric of the Ngarrindjeri body’ (Kluge-Ruhe, Virginia, USA)
2016 Sept/Nov – ‘Divine Interventions’ (Nexus Arts, Adelaide)
2016 September – (MARS Gallery, Melbourne)
2016 June – ‘We walk into the fire’ (Alaska Projects, Sydney)
2016 June – ‘The People who belong to this land’ (Adelaide Town Hall)
2016 June – ‘Chippendale Art New World Prize’ (Sydney)
2016 June – ‘Body of Evidence’ (Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide)
2016 March – ‘Wyndham Art Prize’ (Wyndham Art Gallery, Melbourne)
2016 February/April – ‘The 64th Blake Prize’ (Casula Powerhouse, Sydney)
2016 February/March – ‘New Journeys’ (Kapunda Community Gallery, SA)
2016 February – ‘Fire Monkey Studio’ (Hawke Centre, Adelaide)
2015 December – ‘2015 Prospect Portraiture Prize’ (Prospect Gallery)
2015 October/November – ‘New Journeys’ (Port Pirie, SA)
2015 October – ‘Reconciliation Room’ (Adelaide Town Hall, SA)
2015 October – ‘Tarnanthi ATSI Art Festival’ (SA Migration Museum)
2015 October/December – Our Mob 2015 (Adelaide Festival Centre)
2015 October/November – ‘Whyalla Art Prize’ (Whyalla, SA)
2015 August/November – Telstra Art Award (Museum and Art Gallery of NT, Darwin)
2015 August/September – SALA Week (Adelaide Airport)
2015 August/September – SALA Week (Advertiser Building, Adelaide)
2015 June/July – ‘New Journeys’ (Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa SA)
2015 May/June – ‘Ngarrindjeri Expressions’ (Murray Bridge Regional Gallery)
2015 March/April – ‘New Journeys’ (Walkway Gallery, Bordertown)
2015 January/February – ‘New Journeys’ (Port Augusta Cultural Centre)
2014 October/November– ‘Our Mob 2014’ (Adelaide Festival Centre)
2014 October – ‘Convergence’ (Adelaide Airport)
2014 September – ‘DNA – Deadly Nui Art (Blak Dot Gallery, Melbourne)
2014 September – ‘Displacement placement replacement’ (Nexus Gallery)
2014 July/August – ‘Convergence’ (Tandanya)
2014 May/June – ‘Urban indigenous Stories’ (Prospect Gallery)
2014 April/June - ‘Drawing on the heroes who shape us’ (Artspace Gallery)
EDUCATION
2007 Graduate Certificate in Management Australian Institute of Business
2000 Bachelor of Visual Communications (Illustration) University of South Australia
AWARDS
2026 Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize (Finalist)
2026 Gosford Art Prize (Finalist)
2026 Bowness Art Prize (Finalist)
2026 Sunshine Coast National Art Prize (Finalist)
2026 Artbank Art Prize (Finalist)
2026 Darebin Art Prize (Finalist)
2026 Wyndham Art Prize (Finalist)
2024 Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award (Winner - Innovation Category)
2020 Bowness Art Prize (Finalist)
2019 Incinerator Art Award (Finalist)
2019 Olive Cotton Award (Finalist)
2019 36th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (Finalist)
2018 King & Wood Mallesons Contemporary ATSI Art Prize (Finalist)
2018 Stanthorpe Art Prize (Finalist)
2017 Fisher Ghost Art Award (Finalist)
2017 National Still Life Art Prize (Finalist)
2017 Bowness Art Prize (Finalist)
2017 3rd Biennial RSASA Portrait Prize (finalist)
2017 Wyndham Art Prize (Finalist)
2016 Chippendale Art New World Prize (Finalist)
2016 Wyndham Art Prize (Finalist)
2016 The 64th Blake Prize (Winner - Emerging Artist Category)
2015 Prospect Portraiture Prize (Winner)
2015 Whyalla Art Prize (Finalist)
2015 32nd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (Finalist)
2014 South Australian NAIDOC Award – Artist of the Year (Winner)
RESIDENCIES
2017 May – SALA Artist delegation to Jinan (Shandong, China)
2016 October - Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection (Virginia, USA)
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Australia (ACT)
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection (Virginia, USA)
The Wesfarmers Collection (AUS)
Australian War Memorial (ACT)
Monash Gallery of Art (VIC)
Art Gallery of Ballarat (VIC)
Bendigo Art Gallery (VIC)
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (NSW)
Adelaide Festival Centre (SA)
Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute (SA)
City of Prospect - Prospect Art Gallery (SA)
Murray Bridge Regional Gallery (SA)
New Castle Art Gallery (NSW)
Flinders University Museum of Art (SA)
Melbourne Grammar School (VIC)
Manningham Regional Gallery (VIC)
Tweed heads Regional Gallery (NSW)