About / CV

Tom Duffy (b. 2000) is a multidisciplinary artist of Cabrogal Dharug descent currently living and working on the land of the Wodi Wodi people in Dharawal Country. His practice expands across oil painting, printmaking, design, and public art, that incorporates a theoretical framework of archival appropriation and storytelling that experiments with conceptions of spirituality and fiction to present more embodied retellings of history than what is presented in the fragmented colonial archive.


In 2025, Tom was selected for HATCHED: National Graduate Show at PICA, where he was awarded the Dr Harold Schenberg Art Prize, selected by guest judge Archie Moore. His work has been exhibited at Hazelhurst Arts Centre, the Newington Armory, Goulburn Regional Gallery, Wollongong Art Gallery, the University of Wollongong, and additional local and regional galleries, and has been featured in the National Indigenous Times, ABC, and Australian Arts Review. Following his Honours exhibition, a major work was acquired for the permanent collection of the Wollongong Art Gallery.


Though strongly focused on expanding upon the traditions of oil painting through a First Nations intervention, Tom was recently commsioned by the Campbelltown Arts Centre to develop a public art trail through the Health & Education Precinct under the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant. This expanded his practice into fabrication design where he used storytelling and archival approaches to engage in truth telling of disputed narratives within the local area.

Education

2025 – Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours); First Class, University of Wollongong

2024 – Bachelor of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong

  • Diana Wood Conroy Prize
  • Jock Perkins Design Prize
  • NAVA Ignition Prize for Professional Practice

Solo Exhibitions

2025 – Lucy’s Creek, University of Wollongong

2023 – Don’t Look Too Closely, Kiama Old Fire Station

Group Exhibitions

2025 – HATCHED National Grad Show, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)

2025 – Vital Signs, Hazelhurst Arts Centre

2024 – UOW Graduate Show, University of Wollongong TAEM Gallery

2019 – ArtExpress, Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Newington Armoury, New England Regional Art Museum, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Western Plains Cultural Centre, and Tamworth Regional Gallery 

Prizes

2026 – Semi-finalist: Macquarie Emerging Artist Prize, Macquarie Group

2026 – Finalist: Goulburn Art Award, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery

2026 – Shortlisted: Art Bank Prize, Art Bank

2025 – Highly Commended; Finalist: Wollongong Art Prize, Wollongong Art Gallery

2025 – Winner: Dr Harold Schenberg Art Prize, Hatched: National Graduate Show, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Grants / Commisions

CHEP Connectivity & Wayfinding: Commissioned and produced by Campbelltown Arts Centre 2026 through Campbelltown City Council. Proudly funded by NSW Government through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program

Creative Dialogues 2026: Promotional material commissioned by Wollongong City Council

Art in Unexpected Places: Bus shelter series commissioned by Shellharbour City Council

Press

2025 – ABC (August 9th): ‘Hatched show in Perth reveals nation’s top graduate artists’ eclectic works’

2025 – Australian Arts Review (August 2nd): ‘PICA announces the Hatched: National Graduate Show 2025 Award Recipients’

2025 – National Indigenous Times (August 1st): ‘Dharug artist Tom Duffy among most exceptional prize winners at Hatched: National Graduate Show awards

Collections

Wollongong Art Gallery