About the Artist

LUCILA Zentner - Biography

LUCILA ZENTNER

Lucila Zentner

ARTIST

BA MBBS FRANZCR AANMS

I am an Australian oil painter, Archibald finalist 2025 and represented by Audrey Fine Art Sydney and Paper Pear Gallery Wagga Wagga.

I lead a double life, both sides of it visual. As an artist I make images from my imagination. As a doctor - radiologist and nuclear medicine specialist - I interpret images through a medical lens.

Through imaginative recollection I am most present in the moment by seeing things as a painting, a visual poem.

I paint my family members in kangaroo hats.

Also a little lone kangaroo-hatted figure who goes on holidays on his own.

Of course, I also paint flowers - they are there, they don't complain and they are so beautiful.

I paint trees and waterways because I love them.

I paint portraits because the human face is so incredibly fascinating and difficult.

I don't paint cities, or buildings or roads because I don't much like them.

My works are held in private collections in Australia, USA and UK. I have a piece in the Gippsland Art Gallery permanent collection and several commissioned pieces in the St John of God Hospital Ballarat and the Lucas Community centre in Lucas.

In 2025 I was a finalist in the Archibald prize - something I had coveted since childhood. In 2019-20 I won the AGES Society Art Prize and since starting painting in 2015 I have been a finalist in over 20 National Competitions - mostly for portraiture, including Salone des Refuses and Portia Geach.

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LUCILA ZENTNER

BA, MBBS (HONS), FRANZCR, AANMS

Represented by: Audrey Fine Art Sydney and Paper Pear Gallery Wagga Wagga

Email: [email protected]
Main Art Studio: Wahroonga, NSW | Country Art Studio: Moama, NSW

ARTIST STATEMENT

"In the way one talks to a friend and takes pleasure in re-living a story;

I paint to prolong a moment.

Time is a Thief, and painting is my defence.

In the way one listens to sad music to cry;

I paint in protestation.

In the way one talks to a friend to make sense of something;

I paint to understand a subject.

In the way one enjoys life and beauty simply and without reference to anyone else,

I paint for the sheer love"

Lucila Zentner 2015

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2026 | The Enigma of Being Oneself, Audrey Fine Art, Circular Quay, Sydney, NSW
2025 | Solo Exhibition, Seaview Gallery, Queenscliff, VIC
2024 | Flowers in Blue Vase, Gallery 1819, Singapore
2024 | Surrender, Owen Dixon Chambers East, Melbourne, VIC
2023 | Solo Exhibition, Seaview Gallery, Queenscliff, VIC
2023 | Impressions, Flowers and Landscapes in a Moment", Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach, NSW
2022 | My Flowers, Seaview Gallery, Queenscliff, VIC (
2022 | Dancing Poppies, Michael Reid Murrurundi, NSW (February)
2019 | Landscapes, Interiors and Love, Accent Gallery / Gallery on Sturt, Ballarat, VIC (April)
2017 | In the Bright Sun, The Foundry, Echuca, VIC
2015 | Time is a Thief, Accent Gallery / Gallery on Sturt, Ballarat, VIC

AWARDS & MAJOR PRIZES

2026 | Finalist: Burwood Art Prize (Youth of Spring)
2026 | Finalist: Muswellbrook Art Prize (Cat in the Storm)
2025 | Finalist: Archibald Prize (Wendy in the Gallery – Portrait of Wendy Sharpe AM)
2025 | Finalist: Gosford Art Prize (The Agricultural Project)
2025 | Salon des Refusés: Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award (Alma in Little Women)
2023 | Longlisted: Visual Artists Association (UK) Professional Prize ("he Tree at Mrs Macquarie's Point)
2023 | Finalist: National Capital Art Prize (Studio Moments)
2023 | Finalist: Vincent Prize (Martin as Sherlock Holmes)
2022 | Finalist: John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery (After the Rain)
2022 | Finalist: Basil Sellers Art Prize (Roses – Where the Wild Things Grow)
2022 | Semi-Finalist: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (Kangaroo Dreaming)
2022 | Finalist: Kangaroo Valley Art Prize (The Land Itself Grew in Shapes to Mimic His Art)
2022 | Salon des Refusés: S.H. Ervin Gallery, National Trust (Kangaroo Dreaming)
2021 | Finalist: Hawkesbury Art Prize (Kangaroo Dreaming)
2021 | Finalist: Southern Buoy Landscape Prize (I Closed My Eyes and I Could Still See Trees)
2021 | Finalist: The Vincent Prize (Monday's Dream)
2020 | Finalist: The Vincent Prize (Girl with Duck)
2020 | Finalist: Mission to Seafarers Art Prize (Australia 2020 – Between Lands and Longings)
2020 | Finalist: Southern Buoy Portrait Prize (Girl with Duck)
2020 | Finalist: Southern Buoy Landscape Prize (Old Shoreham)
2019 | Winner: AGES Society Art Prize 2019/20
2018 | Finalist: Southern Buoy Studios Portrait Prize (Martin 6)
2018 | Finalist: Basil Sellers Art Prize (Daylesford Garden)
2018 | Finalist (x2): Kangaroo Valley Art Prize (Fishing and Chasing Seagulls)
2018 | Finalist: Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize (The Professor's Daydream)
2018 | Finalist: Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize (Rising Waters (Swan Hill))
2018 | Finalist: Pro Hart Outback Prize (Storms over Nulla Vale)
2018 | Semi-Finalist: BP Portrait Award UK (Civilisation)
2018 | Finalist: Percival Portrait Prize (Hide and Seek)
2018 | Finalist: Maldon and District Portrait Prize (Merlyn)
2018 | Finalist: Maldon and District Portrait Prize (Joie de Vivre)
2017 | Hidden Faces of the Archibald: Victoria's Salon des Refusés, Melbourne (Merlyn Quaife AM)
2017 | Finalist: Portia Geach Memorial Award (Breakfast Dreaming)
2017 | Finalist: Manning Prize (Naked and Nude) (Into the Wilderness)
2017 | Finalist: Corangamarah Art Prize (Cape Horn in Colour)
2017 | Finalist: Rick Amor Self Portrait Prize (Self Portrait)
2017 | Highly Commended: Echuca Moama Arts Initiative Portrait Prize (Martin)
2016 | Hidden Faces of the Archibald: Victoria's Salon des Refusés, Melbourne (Dr Paul Carter)
2016 | Semi-Finalist: Doug Moran Portrait Prize (Self Portrait)
2016 | Finalist: Australian Contemporary Art Awards (Wildflowers of EMKATDEE)
2016 | Finalist: Australian Contemporary Art Awards (Flooding at the Rivergums)
1994 | Winner: University of Melbourne Student Diary Cover Competition (Faces in the Crowd)

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025 | Highland Fling, Paper Pear Gallery, Berrima NSW
2021 | Group Show with Michael Reid in conjunction with A Country Style Magazine,
2021 | Group Show in Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba, QLD
2021 | Allambee Inaugural Art Show, Allambee, VIC
2020 | Across the Table, Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach, NSW (October)
2020 | A Timeless Moment, The Moree Gallery, Moree, NSW
2020 | A Country Interior, Michael Reid Murrurundi in combination with Country Style Magazine
2020 | Florals, Michael Reid Direct, Sydney, NSW (March)
2020 | Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, NSW (Disrupted by COVID)
2019 | Indoor Garden, Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach, NSW
2019 | Points of View, Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach, NSW (July)
2018 | Mystery Artist Fundraiser, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Wahroonga, NSW
2018 | Petals and Pods, Rochfort Gallery, North Sydney, NSW
1994 | Through One Hundred Eyes, Trinity College, Melbourne, VIC

COMMISSIONS & PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

2017 | The Medical Cow, University of Melbourne Rural Medical School, Shepparton, VIC
2015 | Community Centre Commissions (x4), Lucas Community Centre, Ballarat, VIC
2015 | Hospital Commissions (x4), St John of God Hospital, Ballarat, VIC

MEDIA, PRESS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2025 | Book illustrations: “Binna Burra Bell”, written by Catherine Mcleod, published by Binna Burra Foundation, distributed by John Reeid Books
2021 | Featured Artist: A Country Style Magazine, “Picture this, Doctor-turned Artist draws on her love of the country to create oil paintings that sing of Australia” (4 March)
2021 | Featured Artist: Art Edit Magazine, “Remembered Innocence” (July Issue)
2021 | Book Illustration: Portrait used on the back cover of the published novel “Further Tales of a Country Doctor” by Dr Paul Carter
2021 | Invited Speaker: Ku-ring-gai Arts Society (June)
2017 | Invited Speaker: Shepparton Art Museum Mother's Day Luncheon addressing “Babies, Motherhood and Art” (Press coverage by Shepparton News: “Hear of Artists Link to Whimsy through Children”)
2015 | Media Feature: Solo exhibition media coverage in The Courier “Art Works” and interviewed on ABC Ballarat Regional Radio

PHILANTHROPY

2022 | After the Rain, donated to Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC
2021 | Painting donated to the Echuca-Moama Bridge project fundraiser (June)

CREDENTIALS & TERTIARY EDUCATION

Current Appointment:
Consultant Radiologist and Nuclear Medicine Specialist, Lumus Imaging

2009 | Fellow (AANMS) — Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine
2008 | Fellow (FRANZCR) — Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
2000 | MBBS (Hons) — University of Sydney
1993 | BA (Hons) — University of Melbourne

photo credit Jodi Barker

LUCILA Zentner - Biography