Episode 223 - Ann Cape: A Life in Portraiture

Ann Cape is a celebrated Australian artist whose career spans over four decades, marked by her evocative portraiture, sensitive explorations of memory, and enduring commitment to arts education. Based in Sydney, Cape has established herself as a leading figure in figurative painting, known for her ability to capture not only the physical likeness of her subjects but also a deep psychological presence. Her practice includes painting, drawing, and sculpture, often centered on themes of identity, personal history, and human connection.

Cape studied at the National Art School in Sydney, as well as overseas in London. Her influence extends well beyond her studio, through her teaching, mentorship, and role as a judge in various art awards.

Her portraits have been finalists in numerous national prizes, including the Archibald, the Portia Geach, the Doug Moran, and the Mosman Art Prize. Cape’s work is held in public, private, and corporate collections across Australia, and she has exhibited widely both in solo and group shows.

A standout in her recent work is An Unending Shadow, a deeply personal exhibition created in collaboration with her daughter, artist Sophie Cape. This show dealt with their family’s experience of dementia, merging generations of artistic inquiry to produce a raw and moving body of work.

Cape’s thoughtful, human-centered approach to portraiture makes her an ideal guest for the Art Wank Podcast. In this episode, we discuss her life in art, her process in the studio, her thoughts on the evolving role of portraiture in Australia, and her current exhibition, A Painter’s Painter, curated by Ann herself, is on show at Mosman Art Gallery until August. The exhibition features portraits of Ann’s artist friends alongside their own artworks, offering a unique and intimate perspective on their creative lives and personal connections. 

Thanks for talking to us, Ann.