SARAH MUFFORD

Born in Bellingen, NSW, Sarah Mufford recently returned to Gumbaynggirr country on the North Coast after more than 20 years in Sydney. Working predominantly in 2D, her labour-intensive geometric abstractions draw on both Eastern and Western pattern systems, juxtaposing intuitive staining and mark-making processes with hard-edge geometry.

Educated at the Australian National University’s Canberra School of Art, she completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts before undertaking postgraduate studies at the University of Technology Sydney. Over more than three decades she has maintained a consistent national presence, exhibiting widely in both solo and group contexts. Solo presentations include shows at Yarrila Arts & Museum, Nulla Nulla Regional Gallery, Liverpool St Gallery Project Space and AirSpace Projects in Sydney, while group exhibitions have featured work In Alice Springs, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and numerous regional areas.

Her practice has extended beyond exhibition rooms into collaborative and research-based projects. In 2021 she was joint coordinator of the three‑year Art + Science collaboration The White Bluff Project, developed in partnership with Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery. International residencies in Italy and research trips to Iran, India and southern Spain have informed her work, particularly through studies of Islamic and pre‑Islamic art and architecture.

Her work is regularly recognised in numerous awards and prizes. She has been a finalist in The Alice Prize (22,24) and the 2022 Libris Awards, Hazelhurst Art on Paper (17, 19,21) including a commendation. Other distinctions include finalist places in the Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award and the Banyule Works on Paper Award in Melbourne, where she received the Commendation Prize.

Mufford’s practice is characterised by meticulous surface work and a dialogue between instinctive mark-making and structured pattern. Her work synthesises cross-cultural ornamentation and contemporary abstraction, informed by direct research into historical architectural and decorative systems.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025/26  Ornament, Nulla Nulla Regional Gallery, Slim Dusty Centre, Kempsey, NSW
2024  Fluttering on the Surface, Yarrila Arts and Museum, Coffs Harbour NSW
2016  Lotfollah, LS2, Liverpool Street Gallery, East Sydney NSW
2016  Repeat, AirSpace Projects, Sydney NSW
2015  One Between Two, Kensington Contemporary, Sydney NSW
2015  One Between Two, 1st Avenue Gallery, Sawtell NSW
2013 Works on Paper, Artestudio Ginestrelle, Assisi, Italy
2006  Cloisonné, Esa Jaske Gallery, Sydney NSW
2003  Mottled, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney NSW
2001  Monotypes, Ewart Gallery, Sydney NSW
2001  Surface and Structure, Nicky Ginsberg Art Dealer, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney NSW
2001  Encaustic Paintings, Lake Russell Gallery, Coffs Harbour NSW
2000  New Work, The Jackman Gallery, Nicky Ginsberg Art Dealer Melbourne VIC
1999  Humid, Mary Place Gallery, Nicky Ginsberg Art Dealer Sydney NSW
1998  Vanitas, Mary Place Gallery, Nicky Ginsberg Art Dealer Sydney NSW 
1998  Lush, Artichoke Contemporary Art, Sydney NSW

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024/25 Redland Art Prize, Redland Art Gallery Cleveland QLD (Finalist)
2024  Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery QLD (Finalist)
2024  The Alice Prize, Araluen Art Centre Alice Springs, NT (Finalist)
2022  Burn, Side Gallery Brisbane, QLD
2022  Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA), Grafton Regional Gallery NSW (Finalist)
2022  The Alice Prize, Araluen Art Centre Alice Springs, NT (Finalist)
2022  Libris Awards, Artspace Mackay, Qld (Finalist)
2022  Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery NSW (Finalist)
2022  Sydney Contemporary (Paper), Northern Rivers Contemporary, Carriageworks, Sydney NSW
2021   The White Bluff Project Art + Science Collaboration, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery NSW
2020  #bestillproject, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Coffs Harbour NSW
2019  Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery NSW (Finalist)
2019  Five Painters, Byron School of Art Project Space, Mullumbimby NSW
2019  New Year New Work, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Coffs Harbour NSW
2018 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Northern Rivers Contemporary, Carriageworks, Sydney NSW
2017 Neon Summer & Neon Local, Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie NSW. Niomi Sands, Curator
2017  Ebb + Flow: Banyule Award for Works on Paper, Hatch Contemporary Arts Space, Melbourne (Finalist & Highly Commended prize)
2017  Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea NSW (Finalist, Highly Commended)
2017  Human: The Child Artist Response Project Exhibition, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, NSW
2016  Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA), Grafton Regional Gallery NSW (Finalist)
2016  Northern Exposure 4, Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie, NSW
2015  Keeping Company – Saltwater, Manly Regional Gallery, NSW
2013  Artestudio Ginestrelle, International Contemporary Art Exhibition 2013, Gallery Le Logge, Assisi, Italy
2013  Manly Library Artists Acquisitive Book Award, Manly Library, NSW (Finalist)
2011  Keeping Company, Manly Regional Art Gallery, Sydney NSW   
2009  Shelf Life, Delmar Gallery, Sydney NSW
2009  Chapman & Bailey Award, Metro Arts Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2009  Bellingen Art Prize, (Work on Paper) Hyde St, Bellingen, NSW (Winner)
2004  Canberra Art Prize, Italo Club, Canberra ACT (Finalist)
2004  Home Ground, 5 Alumni Painters of the Canberra School of Art, Canberra School of Art Gallery, ACT
2001  CPM Printmaking Awards, Tweed River Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah NSW (Finalist)
1998  Australian Contemporary Art Fair (ACAF6), Melbourne VIC
1998  King’s School Art Prize Invitational, Sydney NSW (Finalist)
1996  Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney NSW (Finalist)

EDUCATION 

2002  Master of Education (Visual Arts), University of Technology, Sydney
1995  Bachelor of Arts (Visual), Australian National University, Canberra School of Art

AWARDS/ GRANTS & RESIDENCIES 

2025 Country Arts Support Program Grant, Arts Mid North Coast
2024 Finalist, Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery QLD
2024  Finalist, The Alice Prize, Araluen Art Centre Alice Springs, NT
2022  Finalist, Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA), Grafton Regional Gallery NSW
2022  Finalist, The Alice Prize, Araluen Art Centre Alice Springs, NT
2022  Finalist, Libris Awards, Artspace Mackay (artwork acquired by NSW State Library)
2022  Finalist, Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea NSW
2021/20/19/18 Arts and Cultural Grants, Coffs Harbour Council for The White Bluff Project Art + Science Collaboration
2019  Finalist, Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea NSW
2018 Artist in Residence, Neon Summer & Neon Local, Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie
2017  Create NSW Quick Start Grant, for Sculpture by the Sea, Small Oceans Collaboration
2017 Winner Commendation, Finalist Banyule Award for Works on Paper, Hatch Contemporary Arts Space, Melbourne
2017  Highly Commended, Finalist Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea NSW
2016  Finalist, Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA), Grafton Regional Gallery NSW
2013  Residency, Artestudio Ginestrelle, Assisi, Italy
2013  Finalist, Manly Library Artists Acquisitive Book Award, Manly Library, NSW
2009  Finalist, Chapman & Bailey Award, Metro Arts Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2009 Winner, Works on Paper, Bellingen Art Prize, NSW
2004  Finalist, Canberra Art Prize, Italo Club, Canberra ACT
2002  Marketing Grant, National Association of Visual Arts
2001  Finalist, CPM Printmaking Awards, Tweed River Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah
1998  Finalist, King’s School Art Prize Invitational, Sydney NSW
1996  Finalist, Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney NSW

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 2020  WOODCUT @ Crown Sydney, Commission
2018–2022 The White Bluff Project Art + Science Collaboration, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Joint Coordinator and participant
2016  Silk Road Codex, Research project into sacred geometric forms Rajasthan, India; Spain, and Iran
2013 Artist in Residence, Artestudio Ginestrelle, Assisi, Italy
2012  Research Trip, Quattrocento and Cinquecento Painting- Rome, Assisi, Arezzo, Florence and Siena; Italy
2005- 2020 Part/ Full Time Teacher, TAFE NSW Sydney and Coffs Harbour
1999  Samoa Research Trip, University of Technology, Sydney

REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

2024  Dr Sam Bowker, Fluttering on the Surface, Exhibition Essay
2022  JADA Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award. Grafton Regional Gallery, Exhibition catalogue
2022  42nd Alice Prize National Contemporary Art Award, Exhibition Catalogue
2021  The White Bluff Project, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Exhib catalogue ISBN 978-0-646-83393-4
2021  Anna Dowd, Layered Meanings: White Bluff Project, Harbour Magazine #10. p18/19
2018 Ben Eckersley Bellbottom, Interview and illustration p22/23 February 2018
2017  ebb + flow, Banyule Award for Works on Paper, Melbourne Vic. Exhibition catalogue
2016  National Library of Australia, PANDORA Archive http://pandora.nla.gov.au/tep/160792 
2016  JADA Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award. Grafton Regional Gallery, Exhibition catalogue
2013 Artestudio Ginestrelle, Assisi International Contemporary Art Guide, Exhibition catalogue
2004  Emma Epstein, Homeground, ANU Goanna Press. Exhibition catalogue       
2004  John Stockdill, Home Coming, Artlook #03 August 04, p 19-21. Review
2003  B. Malkin, Spotlight, Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), Nov
2002 Sarah Mufford, The Stuff of Painting: Painting Research in the Studio Setting, UTS, Sydney.
2001  Victoria Hynes, Surface and Structure. Exhibition Catalogue
2001  Claire O’Rourke, Spotlight, SMH, Feb12, p 14
1999  Top Exhibitions of 1999, Sun Herald, December 19 p 11
1998  Sebastian Smee, An Orgy in the Orchard, SMH, Metro, Dec 4. Exhibition Review
1998  Maggie Alderson, Tooty Fruity, Sydney Morning Herald, Good Living, March. Exhibition review
1998  ACAF6, Sixth Australian Contemporary Art Fair, p68 Exhibition Catalogue

COLLECTIONS

 State Library of NSW, Woodcut @Crown Sydney, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Private Collections: Australia, Canada, USA, New Zealand