Steve May
Australian Painter
Steve May (b. 1969, Essendon, Victoria) is an Australian contemporary painter whose work focuses on portraiture, realism and the quiet psychological space between sitter and viewer. Based in regional Victoria, May draws on more than three decades of professional visual practice, combining fine-art training with the precision of custom automotive paintwork to create technically refined and deeply atmospheric paintings.
He has been a finalist or entrant in many of Australia’s major portrait awards, including Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Kilgour Prize, and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. His work has appeared in numerous publications, interviews, and on national television, and his paintings of Australian musicians and cultural figures have gained significant attention.
May’s practice is grounded in observation, craftsmanship, and a long-standing commitment to contemporary figurative representation.
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Latest Works
View Instagram for new works and new exhibition details.
Selected Exhibitions
ART PRIZES
Kilgour Prize Finalist - 2018
Newcastle Art Gallery
Black Swan Art Prize Finalist - 2017
Gallery of Western Australia
Moran Art Prize Semi Finalist - 2017
Sydney
Geelong College Art Prize Finalist - 2015
Geelong
Flanagan Art Prize Finalist - 2015
Ballarat
Moran Art Prize Semi Finalist - 2013
Sydney
Moran Art Prize Finalist - 2012
Sydney
Exhibitions - Solo
In the Park -2019
Tacit Galleries - Collingwood
We are not ourselves -2018
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Daddy's Gone - 2017
West End Art Space - West Melbourne
Rolling Restos - 2016
Alternating Current Artspace - Windsor
Two For The Price Of One in (Materialism) - 2016
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
The good, the bad and the ugly - 2013
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Inked Society - 2011
Synergy Gallery - Northcote
Exhibitions - Group
Steve has been involved in group shows locally and internationally over the years, recently exhibiting at:
The Eucy Art Show - 2025
Brigewater
The Victorian Salon des Refuses - 2024
Melbourne
New Milestone
Alternating Current Art Space
Melbourne - 2023
For Each A Road
City Library
Melbourne - 2022
Stacked
Kustom Lane Gallery
Melbourne - 2022
Pirate Collective
St Kilda - 2022
Heroes,Villians and Mad Monsters
Kustom Lane Gallery
Melbourne - 2021
Celebration 2020
Satellite Projects
Melbourne - 2020
The Waiting Room
Satellite Projects
Melbourne - 2020
The Victorian Salon des Refuses - 2020
Melbourne
Red Stocking - 2019
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Marvellous Melbourne -2019
Pan Pacific Hotel - Melbourne
Compact - 2019
Alternating Current Artspace - Windsor
Red Stocking - 2018
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Marvellous Melbourne
Media House Gallery (The Age) - 2018
Melbourne
You Kick Like A Girl - Women In Football
Red Gallery - 2018
Summer Salon - 2018
Collingwood Gallery
St John Hospital Touring Exhibition - 2017
Western Australia
Brunswick Street Art Prize - 2017
Brunswick Street Gallery - Fitzroy
Red Stocking Group Show - 2017
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Northcote Gallery Window Space -2016, 2017 & 2019
Hidden Faces - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2024
Pan Pacific Hotel - Docklands
All Teeth and Swagger - 2017
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Red ball AFL Exhibition - 2017
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Chalk and Cheese Group Show - 2016
Alternating Current Artspace - Windsor
Northcote live drawing exhibition - 2015
Northcote
Local Flavour - 2015
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
Oilstanded BraIn - 2013
Melbourne
Mooneyes Art Exhibition - 2011
Yokohama, Japan
Pins and Needles - 2009, 2010 & 2011
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
California Screamin - 2009, 2010 & 2011
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
Chopper and Bobbers - 2009, 2010 & 2011
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
Market for the cool - 2008
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
Exhibitions - Selected
The Victorian Salon des Refuses - 2020
Melbourne
Marvellous Melbourne -2019
Pan Pacific Hotel - Melbourne
Marvellous Melbourne
Media House Gallery (The Age) - 2018
Melbourne
Kilgour Prize Finalist - 2018
Newcastle Art Gallery
Black Swan Art Prize Finalist - 2017
Gallery of Western Australia
St John Hospital Touring Exhibition - 2017
Western Australia
Geelong College Art Prize - 2015
Geelong - Victoria
Flanagan Art Prize - 2015
Ballarat - Victoria
Hidden Faces
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
Melbourne
Moran Art Prize Finalist - 2012
Sydney
Mooneyes Art Exhibition - 2011
Yokohama, Japan
House Of Kolor
Prestigious Painters Awards - 2010
USA