Tom Polo uses painting to explore how conversation, gesture and exchange are embodied acts of portraiture. Working between abstraction and figuration, his paintings blur boundaries between the self and others, to mask and unveil the complexities of our inner worlds. Drawing upon acute observation, social encounters and personal histories, Polo’s practice records the emotional and performative relationships between people within social, theatrical and psychological space.
Polo has exhibited extensively in Australia in solo and group shows, with significant exhibitions including his presentation at Art Basel Hong Kong with Ames Yavuz, Hong Kong (2026); in a part of your mind, I am you, Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery (2025), Free/State, Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Art Gallery of South Australia (2022); soft secrets, Galerie Transit, Brussels (2022); The National 4: New Australian Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (2019); and Primavera 2017: Young Australian Artists, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (2017). Polo has been selected as a finalist for the Archibald Prize (2026), Fisher's Ghost Art Award (2026), Ramsay Art Prize (2025), and the Ramsay Art Prize in 2021, Australia’s premier prize for emerging artists.
Polo has been the recipient of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship and has undertaken residences at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris; Parramatta Artists Studios, Sydney; ACME Studios, London; ARTSPACE, Sydney; Palazzo Monti, Brescia; and in 2024 undertook a four month residency at ISCP, New York, awarded through Creative Australia.
His works are held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney; and Artbank, Australia amongst others.
recsue/remedy
2025
acrylic on canvas
60.0 × 50.0 cm
in a part of your mind, I am you
2025
Nugunggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery
installation view
lean reach
2025
acrylic and ink on canvas
213.0 × 198.0 cm
Melbourne Art Fair
2024
Melbourne
installation view
triple witness (second)
2025
oil stick and acrylic on Fleximirror
160.0 × 140.0 cm
in a part of your mind, I am you
2025
Ngunggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery
installation view
in a part of your mind, I am you
2025
Ngunggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery
installation view
a moment later, face in the wrong place
2025
acrylic and Flashe on canvas
213.0 × 198.0 cm
bodycave
2025
STATION Naarm | Melbourne
installation view
when to become once more again
2024
acrylic and Flashe on canvas
60.0 × 50.0 cm
memory of more/ us there
2024
acrylic and Flashe on canvas
60.0 × 50.0 cm
don't forget to let go
2022
acrylic, Flashe and wax pastel on canvas
213.0 × 198.0 cm
heavy hand liquid leg
acrylic Flashe and oil stick on canvas
182.0 × 138.0 cm
bodycave
2025
STATION Naarm | Melbourne
installation view
back chat in two parts
2025
acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas
158 × 246 cm
bloom (other sides of you)
2022
acrylic, Flashe and wax pastel on canvas
213.0 × 198.0 cm
2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State
2022
Art Gallery of South Australia
installation view
Photo: Saul Steed
2022 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Free/State
2022
Art Gallery of South Australia
installation view
Photo: Saul Steed
prayer in profile,
2024
acrylic Flashe and oil stick on canvas
182.0 × 138.0 cm
exit strategy
2025
STATION Naarm | Melbourne
installation view
Photo: Sam Lynch
Death to doubt
2018
acrylic on linen
206.5 × 206.5 cm
stains, stages, strangers
2021
STATION Naarm | Melbourne
installation view
Photo: Christo Crocker
Spring 1883
2014
Melbourne
installation view
Spring 1883
2014
Melbourne
installation view
Naarm / Melbourne
9 Ellis Street
South Yarra, Victoria 3141
Australia
+61 3 9826 2470
Gadigal / Sydney
91 Campbell Street
Surry Hills, New South Wales 2010
Australia
+61 2 9055 4688
