Andrea Huelin | Artist Biography

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Andrea Huelin is a Melbourne-based painter whose work is defined by a vivid exploration of light, colour, and the narrative potential of everyday scenes. She gained national recognition in 2023 when her portrait of the late comedian Cal Wilson, Clown Jewels, was awarded the Archibald Packing Room Prize.

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Her artistic practice is deeply informed by her background as a journalist and broadcaster. This career in media shaped her into a lifelong observer and "collector of stories," a perspective she now brings to the canvas. Whether she is depicting a collection of vintage glassware, or workers in high-vis uniforms, Huelin approaches her subjects with a journalist’s curiosity, seeking the extraordinary narrative within the ordinary.

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Huelin’s mastery of the medium has been developed through a dedicated, independent studio practice, complemented by a substantial professional history within the Australian arts sector. Her previous experience includes roles in communications, marketing, and policy for public galleries and local government, as well as several years as an art educator teaching at TAFE at both Certificate and Diploma levels. With a Bachelor of Arts in English from Curtin University, her transition to full-time painting represents a shift from telling stories with words to capturing them through light and form.

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Now working from her warehouse studio in Footscray, Huelin continues to experiment with subject matter and scale in her paintings.  She is particularly interested in the "abbreviation" of detail, using economical brushwork to capture the elusive qualities of lustre and light. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across Australia and in Berlin, and is represented in public collections including Artbank, the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, and the Cairns Courthouse collection.

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View Andrea Huelin's artist CV here.