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.
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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.
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May’s practice is grounded in observation, craftsmanship, and a long-standing commitment to contemporary figurative representation.
Latest Works
View Instagram for new works and new exhibition details.
Selected Exhibitions
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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
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Geelong College Art Prize Finalist - 2015
Geelong
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Flanagan Art Prize Finalist - 2015
Ballarat
Moran Art Prize Semi Finalist - 2013
Sydney
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Moran Art Prize Finalist - 2012
Sydney
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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
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Two For The Price Of One in (Materialism) - 2016
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
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The good, the bad and the ugly - 2013
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
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Inked Society - 2011
Synergy Gallery - Northcote
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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
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New Milestone
Alternating Current Art Space
Melbourne - 2023
For Each A Road
City Library
Melbourne - 2022
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Stacked
Kustom Lane Gallery
Melbourne - 2022
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Pirate Collective
St Kilda - 2022
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Heroes,Villians and Mad Monsters
Kustom Lane Gallery
Melbourne - 2021
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Celebration 2020
Satellite Projects
Melbourne - 2020
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The Waiting Room
Satellite Projects
Melbourne - 2020
The Victorian Salon des Refuses - 2020
Melbourne
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Red Stocking - 2019
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
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Marvellous Melbourne -2019
Pan Pacific Hotel - Melbourne
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Compact - 2019
Alternating Current Artspace - Windsor
Red Stocking - 2018
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
Marvellous Melbourne
Media House Gallery (The Age) - 2018
Melbourne
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You Kick Like A Girl - Women In Football
Red Gallery - 2018
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Summer Salon - 2018
Collingwood Gallery
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St John Hospital Touring Exhibition - 2017
Western Australia
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Brunswick Street Art Prize - 2017
Brunswick Street Gallery - Fitzroy
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Red Stocking Group Show - 2017
Red Gallery - Fitzroy
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Northcote Gallery Window Space -2016, 2017 & 2019
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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
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Northcote live drawing exhibition - 2015
Northcote
Local Flavour - 2015
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
Oilstanded BraIn - 2013
Melbourne
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Mooneyes Art Exhibition - 2011
Yokohama, Japan
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Pins and Needles - 2009, 2010 & 2011
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
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California Screamin - 2009, 2010 & 2011
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
Chopper and Bobbers - 2009, 2010 & 2011
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
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Market for the cool - 2008
Kustom Lane Gallery - Hawthorn
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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
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Kilgour Prize Finalist - 2018
Newcastle Art Gallery
Black Swan Art Prize Finalist - 2017
Gallery of Western Australia
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St John Hospital Touring Exhibition - 2017
Western Australia
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Geelong College Art Prize - 2015
Geelong - Victoria
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Flanagan Art Prize - 2015
Ballarat - Victoria
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Hidden Faces
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
Melbourne
Moran Art Prize Finalist - 2012
Sydney
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Mooneyes Art Exhibition - 2011
Yokohama, Japan
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House Of Kolor
Prestigious Painters Awards - 2010
USA
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