Why I Paint

Inspired by nature and the everyday moments that make life special, I paint to find serenity, beauty, and meaning in the world. Each piece is a tapestry of stories, emotions, and memories, created to bring a vibrant, positive energy to the space they call home.

Art That Speaks to the Soul: My Journey

What if a painting could do more than just decorate your walls - what if it could transform the energy of your entire home?

Since I was a child, I’ve known that art has the power to affect the way we feel. It has the ability to connect us to something deeper - something that resonates beyond the visual. When I create, I’m not just making a painting; I’m weaving light, emotion, and intention into every layer, infusing it with energy that shifts the mood of a room and elevates the spirit.

Growing up, my dad was my biggest inspiration - he was a man who could do it all. Whether it was painting, playing music, or building things with his hands, he approached everything with focus and passion. Watching him work with such dedication sparked my own love for art and shaped my journey as an artist. His words - "Anyone can make art, you just have to keep practicing" - stuck with me. And so I practiced, every day, honing my skills and pouring my emotions into every piece I made.

By the age of 8, I knew I was going to be an artist. My parents supported my passion, surrounding me with endless rolls of paper, oil paints, and encouragement. That foundation led me to seven years of full-time study in Sydney and New York, winning prestigious prizes like the Lester Prize and the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize along the way.

But the real prize, for me, is when a painting speaks to someone on a deep level. My art is about connection - it’s about creating pieces that evoke emotions, stir memories, and transform spaces into sanctuaries of peace or vibrant creativity. Each painting I create is not just a composition; it’s a living entity, a portal between the physical and the spiritual, designed to lift the energy in your home and spark a personal connection.

Whether you’re a collector or someone looking for art that resonates with your soul, my work is designed to offer more than just beauty - it brings serenity, inspiration, and meaning to your space. If any of my paintings speak to you, you’re not just purchasing art - you’re investing in a transformational piece that will uplift both your surroundings and your spirit.

WHAT COLLECTORS SAY

I knew the portrait was special the moment I saw it...
"I was immediately drawn to Marcus's work when I saw him as an Archibald Prize finalist. His style, colour, and technique were exactly what I was looking for - something with real depth. The portrait of my younger daughter is more than just art; it captures a moment in time and holds great personal significance. Working with Marcus was a seamless and friendly process, and the final piece exceeded all expectations. It’s no surprise it won the Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize. Marcus perfectly captured Meg's essence - her complexity, curiosity, and quiet strength. I would highly recommend Marcus to anyone seeking an exceptional portrait artist." - Dean Curotta

I was overwhelmed with emotion...
"When I first saw the completed portrait, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Marcus captured not just my image, but the essence of who I am, both as a person and in my role within the church. The portrait reflects my identity in a way that feels deeply respectful and true." - Father Miltiades Chryssavgis

The entire energy of the space has shifted...
"Marcus’s artwork is in my living room, and it feels like the entire energy of the space has shifted. It brings me peace every day." - Sam Phillips

The painting speaks to me...
"The colours, the emotions - it’s like the painting speaks to me. It’s not just art, it’s part of my home now." - Leanne Nicholson

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

“Marcus Callum’s painting has an arresting luminosity that matches the sensitivity of the treatment of his subject. It’s a virtuosic demonstration of contemporary realist portrait painting.” 
Dr Andrew Frost, Judge Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award 2018 | Art Guide Australia

"Marcus Callum has won the prestigious 2015 Black Swan Prize for Portraiture with his portrait of well known Australian artist Abdul Abdullah titled ‘Wrecking Ball’. Callum, who is currently completing a Masters of Fine Art at the New York Academy of Art, beat 39 other finalists to take out the $50,000 prize, which was donated by The Lester Group and awarded during a major ceremony at the Linton and Kay Galleries Perth.

The judging panel described “Wrecking Ball” as a “compelling example of the possibilities of contemporary portraiture. While the sitter is outwardly recognisable, at the same time the portrait gives a very strong sense of a resourceful inner life and the sense of flux that characterises selfhood. The artwork has been filtered and processed in a particularly inventive way. A very deliberate sense of perfected craft."
Nicholas Forrest | BLOUINARTINFO

"Senior Curator at the National Portrait Gallery, Dr Christopher Chapman, nominates Marcus Callum's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and works by Fiona Lowry, McCulloch and Zavros as strong works... These works convey a powerful sense of psychological insight."
Sydney Morning Herald | Archibald Prize

"Marcus Callum is an exciting addition to Trinity College's significant art collection. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious Sir William Dobell Scholarship at Sydney's Julian Ashton Art School, and has since gone on to be a multiple finalist in the renowned national Archibald Prize in 2011, 2012 and 2013; an achievement that has assured his position as one of Australia's leading contemporary figurative realist artists."
Campbell Bearstow, Dean, Trinity College | University of Melbourne

"I would also single out Marcus Callum's work, ...virtually as good as anything that might have come out from the Parisian Ecole des Beaux-Arts under the tutelage of David or Ingres."
Eugene Barilo von Reisberg | Charles Nodrum Gallery

CV

Marcus has spent his career perfecting his craft, leading to a reputation synonymous with excellence. His artistic journey includes accolades such as the Dame Joan Sutherland Award in 2014 and a distinguished scholarship to the renowned New York Academy of Art in 2015. Further testament to his artistic calibre, Marcus was a finalist in the prestigious Archibald Prize for three consecutive years from 2011 to 2013. His commitment to artistic distinction was rewarded when he won two of Australia's top portrait painting prizes, the Black Swan Portrait Prize in 2015 and the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize in 2018.

AWARDS
2021 Finalist, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art's International Biennial Portrait Competition, USA
2020 Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon, USA
2020 Finalist, Lethbridge Art Award, Brisbane, QLD
2020 Longlisted, Aesthetica Art Prize, UK
2019 Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon, USA
2018 Winner, Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize, Bega, NSW
2018 Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney, NSW
2018 Finalist, Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, The Wallace Collection, London
2017 Semi-Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney, NSW
2016 Finalist, Portrait Society of America's Members Only Commissioned Portrait Competition, USA
2016 Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon, USA
2016 Valerie and Harry Cooper Portrait Award, New York
2016 Academy Scholar Award, New York Academy of Art
2016 Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
2015 Winner, Black Swan Portrait Prize, Perth, WA
2015 Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
2015 Academy Scholar Award, New York Academy of Art
2015 Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon, USA
2014 Finalist, Eutick Memorial Still Life Prize, Coffs Harbour, NSW
2014 Finalist, Percival Portrait Prize, Townsville, QLD
2014 Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship, New York
2013 Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
2013 Finalist, Tatersalls Landscape Prize, Brisbane, QLD
2013 Finalist, Art Renewal Center International Salon, USA
2013 Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2013 Semi-Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney, NSW
2012 Finalist, Alice Bale Prize, Melbourne, VIC
2012 Finalist, Black Swan Portrait Prize, Perth, WA
2012 Finalist, Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize, NSW
2012 Semi-Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney, NSW
2012 Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2011 Finalist, Alice Bale Prize, Melbourne, VIC
2011 Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
2010 Finalist, Alice Bale Prize, Melbourne, VIC
2010 Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney, NSW
2010 Finalist ("Honourable Mention"), Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, NSW
2009 Joshua Smith Prize for Drawing, Sydney, NSW
2009 Sir William Dobell Scholarship, Sydney, NSW

EXHIBITIONS
2021 Iconic, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, USA
2021 Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art's International Biennial Portrait Competition, USA
2020 Ethereal Epiphany, 33 Contemporary, Chicago
2020 Ad Art Show, The Oculus, World Trade Center, New York
2020 Looking Up Looking Forward, 33 Contemporary, Chicago
2020 Razor's Edge, 33 Contemporary, Chicago
2020 Lethbridge Art Award, Brisbane, QLD
2020 Light Correlations, 33 Contemporary, Chicago
2020 Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition, York Art Gallery, UK
2019 Accessible Art Fair, BOZAR, Brussels, Belgium
2018 Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize Exhibition, Bega, NSW
2018 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize Exhibition, Sydney and national tour
2016 Justin Miller Art, Autumn Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2016 Tribeca Ball, New York Academy of Art, New York
2015 Black Swan Portrait Prize Exhibition, Perth, WA
2015 Mosman Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
2015 Justin Miller Art, Winter Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2014 Eutick Memorial Still Life Exhibition, Coffs Harbour, NSW
2014 Portrait Artists Australia, Embassy of Australia, Washington DC
2013 Tatersalls Landscape Prize Exhibition, Brisbane, QLD
2013 Mosman Art Prize, Sydney, NSW
2013 Archibald Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney and regional tour
2012 Alice Bale Prize Exhibition, Melbourne, VIC
2012 Black Swan Portrait Prize Exhibition, Perth, WA
2012 Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize Exhibition, Bega, NSW
2012 Archibald Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney and regional tour
2011 The Blake Prize Directors Cut Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2011 Alice Bale Prize Exhibition, Melbourne, VIC
2011 Archibald Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney and regional tour
2010 Alice Bale Prize Exhibition, Melbourne, VIC
2010 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize Exhibition, Sydney and national tour
2010 Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize Exhibition, Bega, NSW
2010 Julian Ashton Art School Student and Teachers Exhibition, Sydney, NSW

PROJECTS
2015 Curator and co-Director, Project [504], Sydney, NSW

EDUCATION
2015 New York Academy of Art, New York
2014 National Art School, Sydney, NSW
2014 New York Academy of Art, New York (Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship)
2014 Art Students League, New York (Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship)
2009 Diploma of Fine Art, Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, NSW
2009 Sir William Dobell Scholarship, Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, NSW
1990 Bachelor of Arts Honours, University of Southampton, UK

SELECTED COMMISSIONS
2019 Kenelm Storey, UK
2018 Lez Brotherston, Theatre Designer, UK
2016 University of Western Sydney
2013 Trinity College, University of Melbourne