Sam Paine: A Year in Mudgee

25 September – 22 November 2026

For more than twenty years, Mudgee artist Sam Paine has captured the landscapes of the region through bold colour, expressive texture, and a deep connection to place. A Year in Mudgee follows the seasonal rhythms of the Mudgee Region, reflecting the subtle and dramatic transformations that occur across a single year.

From the sun-bleached golds of summer paddocks to the lush greens brought by winter rain, the exhibition celebrates the changing character of a landscape that is both familiar and ever evolving. The vivid colours of autumn and spring reveal moments of transition, marking the passage of time across country, farmland, rivers, hills and roads that form part of daily life in the region.

These are not distant or imagined places. They are local landmarks, well-travelled roads and quiet corners connected to memories, stories and personal histories. Through his paintings, Paine invites viewers to pause and see these familiar scenes anew, recognising both their beauty and their significance within the shared experience of living in the Mudgee Region.

Working primarily in oil paint, Paine builds each composition with palette knives, creating richly textured surfaces and distinctive impasto effects. His paintings are characterised by chunky, simplified forms and vibrant colour palettes that convey not only the appearance of the landscape but also its atmosphere, energy and emotional resonance.

Born and raised in Mudgee, Paine's relationship with the region spans a lifetime. A Year in Mudgee reflects both an intimate knowledge of place and a close observation of the changing seasons. The exhibition is a celebration of the landscapes that shape local identity, offering a personal portrait of country viewed through the eyes of an artist whose life and practice are deeply rooted in this region.

Through these works, viewers are invited to experience the familiar landscapes of Mudgee as records of time, memory and belonging, revealing the remarkable beauty found in the everyday places around us.

SAM PAINE: A YEAR IN MUDGEE
25 September – 22 November 2026
Exhibition Opening: 5:30pm Friday 25 September 2026

Image: Sam Paine Tinja Lane, January 2026, oil on board, 30 x 30 cm