Wendy Stokes: drawn to ‘fragile persistence’
Wendy Stokes, Flower in the Wind 6, 2025, acrylic, gesso, pastel and progresso on Fabriano paper, 100cm x 70cm, unframed.
Wendy Stokes lives opposite the ocean and rugged headlands of Port Macquarie, Guruk. She has walked and swum in these atmospheric spaces for six decades. Her familiarity with this landscape informs her artwork, conjuring metaphors around strength, fragility, loss and renewal.
“I am drawn to the fragile persistence of flowers within inhospitable environments; moments where petals emerge between stone —small, vulnerable forms surviving within a harsh coastal landscape —potent symbols of endurance, care, and temporality.”
Stokes is exhibited in major public institutions including Glasshouse Port Macquarie. Her work has been a finalist in The Glover Prize; EMSLA, The Fleurieu Water Prize, Country Energy Landscape Prize; Sunshine Coast Art Award; Fishers Ghost Award; Dobell Prize for Drawing and three times finalist and acquisition in The JADA prize.
Stokes’ artworks are held in collections at the National Gallery of Australia; Art Gallery New South Wales; Warrnambool, Tamworth, Grafton, Bathurst, Gosford, Port Macquarie Glasshouse, Coffs Harbour, Manly and Geelong Regional Galleries; Newcastle University; Charles Sturt University; Parliament House, Canberra and extensive corporate collections.
SHIFTING TERRITORY
Wendy Stokes, Jo Davidson & Malcolm Harding
4 March - 4 April 2026
At Luminance Gallery Port Macquarie
2/26 Clarence Street, across the forecourt from Glasshouse.
Please join us for an artist’s floortalk and celebration of this exhibition on Saturday 14 March 2026 at 11am. All welcome. RSVP to Luminance Gallery.