Rebecca Driffield is an Australian artist based in Paris since 1986.
As a figurative artist, she is predominantly concerned with the portrayal of the human face, exploring the unspoken messages contained in the regard. Her works are expressionistic and often contain rich narratives of psychological depth built into cinematic compositions. Driffield summons within her work a rich variety of art forms, from cinema and comic-strip to music and literature.
Driffield exhibits internationally in galleries, artfairs and museums around the world. Her paintings are in the permanent collections of the National Portrait Gallery, the Tavistock Institute, the British Institute of Psychoanalysis and the BBC in London, the Frissiras Museum in Athens, as well as in private collections across Europe, Australia, Russia, Cambodia and the USA.
The eye lingers on each element of the scenery, on each face. Everything within the enclosed pictorial space tells its own story ; unity of time, unity of place, yet multiplicity of inner Worlds and states of mind.
2023
Inauguration exhibition for the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery London. Portrait of Claire Tomalin – on permanent display to the public in Room 33
Solo exhibition, Zookeeper, Paris, France
2019 - 2020
Portrait of Claire Tomalin acquired by The National Portrait Gallery of London for the permanent collection
“Blue Chip XXI: The Collector’s Exhibition”, at Niagara Galleries, Melbourne, Australia
2018
BP Portrait Award Exhibition;
49 portraits selected among 2667 candidates from 88 countries, including Rebecca Driffield’s Portrait of Claire Tomalin
Exhibition on tour around Great Britain at the following museums:
– The National Portrait Gallery, London (14 June - 23 September 2018)
– Wolverhampton Art Gallery (13 October - 2 December 2018)
– Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh (December 2018 - March 2019)
– Winchester Discovery Centre (March - June 2019)
Solo Exhibition at Zookeeper Paris, Rue Notre-Dame de Nazareth, Paris, France
“Face to face” Exhibition of BP Portrait Award Artists 2018 at CassArt Islington, London, UK
“Evasion#1” with Dépôt Art Gallery and Philippos Vazakas at Espace Christiane Peugeot, Paris
Presentation of two paintings for the ARTBOX.PROJECT (Switzerland) at the Armory Art Weeks, New York, USA
2017
"MigrArtion" with Melkart Galerie at Espace Christiane Peugeot, Paris, France
2016
"Sixième Sens" at Melkart Galerie, Paris, France
"Elles" at Frissiras Museum, Athens, Greece
2015
Solo Exhibition at Cloisters Temple Chambers, London, UK
2014
Exhibition with The Pearl of Albion at Red Lion Street, London, UK
Solo Exhibition at Galerie BE-Espace, Paris, France
2013
Solo Exhibition at Galerie Peirce, Paris, France
Painting and drawing, Art Auction, Hôtel Arturo Lopez, Neuilly-Sur-Seine, France
2012
“Next Generation” Summer School Workshop; invited to give workshop / theme: the Olympic Games,
at The National Portrait
Gallery, London, U“Music in paintings”, Exhibition at Galerie Boissière+Gomendio, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
2011
Gala Exhibition “Mystery postcards”, The National Portrait Gallery, London
Solo Exhibition at Galerie Pierce, Paris, France
2008
The Tallinn Winter Exhibition for the Children of Narva, Tamm Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
Exhibition at 22nd edition of the Grand Prix des Peintures, Saint- Grégoire, France
Exhibition at the Thanassis Frissiras Gallery stand at ArtAthina, Athens
Solo Exhibition of Paintings at the Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2007
Exhibition at Studio Véronique de Guitarre, Saint-Germain-des-prés, Paris, France
Exhibition at the Galerie Pierce stand, ArtLondon/art fair, London, UK
“AIDES” exhibition, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris, France
Portia Geach Portrait Prize Exhibition at S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney, Australia (selected as finalist)
Exhibition at the Thanassis Frissiras Gallery stand, ArtAthina, Athens, Greece
Autumn Exhibition, Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2006
150th Gala Exhibition “Mystery postcards”,The National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
“Anthropography” at Frissiras Museum, Athens, Greece
2005
“The Figure Show” at Jill George Gallery, London, UK
“Fresh Ground” inaugural exhibition at Thanassis Frissiras Art Gallery, Athens, Greece “Star Portraits”, group exhibition from BBC series at five venues in the UK:
– County Hall Gallery, London
– New Walk Art Gallery, Leicester
– Naughton Gallery Queens University, Belfast
Solo Exhibition at Gourlay’s Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Solo Exhibition at Les 7 Lézards Jazz club, Paris, France
2003
Selected as 1 of 12 artists to paint for 1 of the 4 programs, BBC series "Star Portraits"
2001
“Kulturaustausch 2000” Berlin/Paris Exhibition, Berlin, Germany
Inaugural Exhibition at the Frissiras Museum, Athens, Greece
Solo Exhibition at Galerie Jean Boucher, Cesson-Sevigny, France
Solo Exhibition at Le Présidial Cultural Center, Quimperlé, France
1999
BP Portrait Award Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
Awarded 2nd Prize – 'Boyish Boo’ chosen by the NPG as the publicity image for Award Exhibition (press, subway posters etc.)
1998
"Paris-Chili" group exhibition with Le Génie de la Bastille, Paris, France
Solo Exhibition at the Tavistock Institute, London, UK
Solo Exhibition at Gourlay's Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Solo Exhibition at Les 7 Lézards Jazz club, Paris, France
1993
Solo Exhibition «Jazz Men”, Hot Brass Jazz club, La Villette, Paris, France
1990
“Salon de la Jeune Peinture” art fair, Grand Palais, Paris, France
1989
XXI International Festival of Painting, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France
Exhibition “Premio Internazionale di Pittura VIII Francia D’Argento”,
Tuscany, Italy.
Awarded 2nd Prize by Jean-Marie Drot, Director of the French Academy, Villa Medecis, Rome
Exhibition “8 Australian artists, Bicentenary of the French Revolution”, Australian Embassy, Paris, France
1988
Exhibition at the «Salon d’Automne», Grand Palais, Paris, France
“Salon de la Jeune Peinture” art fair, Grand Palais, Paris, France. Received Special Mention from the Jury and selected for Solo Exhibition within the salon
1986
Exhibition at the “Salon d’Automne”, Grand Palais, Paris, France