The STA Region is blessed with more than our fair share of nationally established artists and this week we got to visit Alison Alder at her studio near Braidwood.

Alison’s work is recognised across Australia in particular her screen prints and increasingly a current focus on woven textile work using natural plant dyes.

One of her woven works Budawang II took out top honours at the QPRC Art Award in 2025. The 2026 prize winners will be announced at the opening of the 2026 QPRC and Bendigo Bank Art Awards this weekend (details below)

Alison’s practise is deeply connected to place and reflects a keen commitment to social and political themes. She empowers communities through art and shines a light on hidden histories and stories with intelligence and sharp insight.

Her work has been exhibited in several key Australian exhibitions including, amongst others, Know My Name at the National Gallery of Australia (Canberra), Making It New: Focus on Contemporary Australian Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Sydney) and See You at the Barricades at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Her work has been exhibited in several key Australian exhibitions including, amongst others, Know My Name at the National Gallery of Australia (Canberra), Identity:23 at the National Portrait Gallery, Making It New: Focus on Contemporary Australian Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Sydney) and See You at the Barricades at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Alison was the inaugural Artist in Residence at the Australian Parliamentary Library where she created a series of screen prints of Australian Prime Ministers that were exhibited at Parliament House in 2024/25.

Her work is held in major Australian public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, most State galleries, numerous regional galleries, the Australian War Memorial, the Australian Parliament Collection and private collections including the Cruthers Collection of Women’s Art. In the USA her work is held in the collections of the Centre for the Study of Political Graphics, the Interference Archive and the New York Public Library Print Collection.

Alison is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University, School of Art and Design and works full-time in her studio.