BIO
Nic Plowman is an Australian artist whose practice is grounded in drawing, with a particular dedication to both traditional and experimental approaches. His work is defined by acute observation and an exploration of time, memory, and lived experience. Recognised for capturing both vulnerability and resilience, he employs a visual language that balances intimacy with visceral energy. Engaging with the semiotics of image-making, compositional strategies, and the enduring relevance of the figure and portraiture, Plowman’s practice seeks to bridge the personal and the universal. In the studio, he cultivates a dynamic balance between rigour and play, guided by curiosity and open-ended experimentation.
Born with Tricuspid Atresia (congenital heart disease) into a strong matriarchal family environment, Plowman grew up in an extended household of four women and five boys — his mother, two aunties, younger brother, and four older cousins. This collective resilience, forged through divorce, death, and tragedy, continues to shape his outlook. His narrative interests are further informed by life experiences including two open-heart surgeries, a six-metre fall, and a recent battle with cancer. Through his art, he seeks to articulate these realities, exploring the tensions between vulnerability and resilience, fear and triumph, fragility and strength. For him, art-making is both symptom and remedy — a way of transcribing life into marks, images, and material traces.
Plowman has presented 18 solo exhibitions and participated in over 70 group shows. He has been recognised in major awards including the Dobell Drawing Prize (Highly Commended, 2025; Finalist 2023), the Kedumba Drawing Award (Acquired into Collection, 2023; Finalist 2024), the Doug Moran Portrait Prize (2012 finalist, 2018 semi-finalist), and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship (2002, 2006). His work is represented in notable public and private collections in Australia and internationally, and he has undertaken residencies both locally and abroad.
Alongside his studio practice, Plowman is a leading arts educator, heading the life drawing program at The Art Room in Melbourne, facilitating drawing sessions at the National Gallery of Victoria, and serving as Head of Education at Zart. He lives and works in Melbourne, Australia.
