The Stillness Within
Fiona O’Byrne is a Melbourne-based painter who finds extraordinary beauty in the quiet corners of domestic life. Her work - a collection of delicate still lifes and intimate portraits - serves as a visual "slow down," inviting the viewer to step away from the noise of the digital world and find rest in the ordinary.
Originally trained as a Landscape Architect, Fiona’s transition to oil painting in her mid-thirties brought a new perspective to her lifelong connection with nature. Whether she is painting a sprig of wattle gathered on a morning walk or a family member in a moment of repose, she seeks to capture the "quiet interiority" of her subjects through classical techniques and a rich, tactile surface.
“I want to evoke a world of simplicity and harmony,” Fiona says. “For me, it isn’t about the variety of the subjects, but the intensity with which they are experienced. I want to help people appreciate the beauty in the everyday.”
Fiona’s practice is a meditation on domestic realism. By distilling the essence of commonplace objects - a favourite bowl, a seasonal bloom, or a familiar face - she highlights the poignancy of a life lived with intention. Her work is a humble celebration of the here and now, taught through the lens of light, shadow, and a deep love for the craft of painting.
Exhibitions & Awards
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 FortyFive Downsairs, Melbourne
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 AK Bellinger Gallery, Inverell
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Project Solstice
Westgarth Gallery, Northcote, Victoria
2019 Nature Rendered Permanent
Ladder Art Space, Kew, Victoria
2020, 2018, 2016 A.M.E Bale Art Prize
Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Glen Eira, Victoria
AWARDS
2022, 2020, Semi-finalist, The Lester Prize
2020, Semi-finalist, The Shirley Hannon National Portrait Award
2020, 2018, 2016, Semi-finalist, AME Bale Art Prize in the Medium of Oils and/or Acrylics
2017 Semi-finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
2015 Recipient of Norma Bull Portraiture Scholarship ($5,000)