Jenny Watson (b. 1951, Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian artist whose work explores themes of self, memory, and identity through a highly personal and autobiographical lens. She began her career in the early 1970s and gained international recognition for her unique approach to painting, which often incorporates a mix of materials, such as velvet, hessian, taffeta, and collaged elements, alongside text and imagery. Watson’s subject matter frequently draws from her own life, particularly her experiences growing up in suburban Melbourne, her dreams, and the emotions tied to her memories.

In the late 1970s, Watson’s work was marked by photorealist depictions of her childhood homes, and by the early 1980s, her focus shifted inward to explore the inner world of dreams, desires, and the unconscious. This shift coincided with her involvement in the Melbourne art scene, where she was part of a movement that rejected traditional art forms in favor of raw, unrefined expression. Influenced by punk aesthetics, Watson’s work embraces spontaneity and embraces a deliberately naïve style that highlights direct expression over formal skill.

Watson’s work often reflects on the construction of identity and femininity, exploring how personal memories and experiences shape the self. Her paintings feature recurring motifs from her girlhood, such as horses, bedrooms, and dreamlike figures, which reflect both the innocence and complexity of early self-formation. Her 1988 series Bottled Memories epitomizes this exploration of identity through fragmented memories and associations, while works like Self Portrait as a Narcotic (1989) portray the artist’s desire to contain and project her own intoxicating power, using the image of a syringe to symbolize self-representation and agency.

Through her use of varied materials and unorthodox techniques, Watson continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of contemporary art, combining personal narrative with broader reflections on memory, desire, and the social construction of femininity.

Her work has been exhibited extensively in Australia and internationally, and is held in major public collections worldwide. Over the past 20 years, Watson has exhibited numerous times through Stalke Gallery, further cementing her presence in the contemporary art scene.

Artist profile