
b. 1989, Adelaide S.A
Donovan Christie’s work celebrates the nostalgic character and charm of everyday life, those often-overlooked moments, places, and objects that quietly shape our collective memory. Emerging from Adelaide’s graffiti scene as a teen, Donovan developed a heightened awareness to his surroundings, which continues to inform his work today.
With a realist approach and a strong eye for detail, Donovan invites us to pause and re-examine the familiar. Through oil paint, he documents the urban landscape and cultural relics of contemporary Australia; corner stores, ghost signs, snack foods, print media, and household icons, capturing their significance before they inevitably are erased from history. His work becomes a time capsule of the recent times, resonating across generations and backgrounds by unlocking memories long forgotten by the viewer.
Born in the ’80s and raised in the ’90s, Donovan’s love for anything with wheels and his connection to the community had him outside, leading the pack around the streets of Adelaide. He began selling his hand made gift cards door to door as early as 4 years old. Self-taught and driven, he began his professional art career in 2010 and opening his own gallery in 2012. Since then, his work has been widely recognised—exhibited in major galleries across Australia, and selected as a finalist in numerous prestigious prizes including the Mosman Art Prize, John Leslie Landscape Prize, Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, and Parklands Art Prize.
Represented by Lennox St. Gallery (Melbourne) and Nanda\Hobbs (Sydney), whilst also working closely with Hill-Smith Art Advisory (Adelaide), Donovan continues to build on his growing legacy. He was awarded Channel 9’s Young Achiever of the Year for Arts & Fashion in 2016, and named one of Australia’s Top 100 Most Collectible Artists in both 2023 and 2025.
As Donovan continues to expand his body of work, each conceptual exhibition becomes a new chapter in an unfolding visual narrative. In time, these chapters will form a cohesive retrospective, revealing the full scope of his vision and foresight as an artist who not only captures the present, but also preserves it for the future.
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions //
- 2025 – TOP FLOOR – Nanda\Hobbs Gallery (Syd)
- 2022 – The Milk Bars Are on Me – Metro Gallery (Melb)
- 2020 – Faces and Places – Holdfast Bay Discovery Centre
- 2018 – Be Kind Rewind – Metro Gallery (Melb)
- 2018 – Business Class – Adelaide Airport & Hill Smith Gallery
- 2017 – Business As Usual – Studio Bowden
- 2015 – Frontin – The Space Gallery
- 2013 – Street Struck – Carclew Arts Centre
- 2012 – Surface – Onkaparanga Arts Centre
- 2012 – Artillery – Brown Sugar Gallery
- 2011 – These Streets Raised Me – Gallery on Waymouth
- 2010 – Urban Streetscapes – Greenhill Galleries
- 2010 – A Treat From The Street – The Producers
Selected Group Exhibitions //
2023
- Spring 1883 Art Fair – Lennox St. Gallery, Melbourne
- Selected Group Show – Lennox St. Gallery, Melbourne
- The Prospect Art Show – Newmarch Gallery, Adelaide
- SpringArt – Loreto College, Adelaide
2022
- Mosman Art Prize – Mosman Gallery
- John Leslie Art Prize – Gippsland Gallery
- Gallery M – Contemporary Art Prize
2020
- Elaine Bermingham Watercolour Prize – QCA Galleries, Griffiths University
- John Leslie Art Prize – Gippsland Gallery
- Lethbridge 20000 – Lethbridge Gallery
- The 21st Prospect Art Show – Newmarch Gallery
2019
- Feels Like Home / Praxis Art Space
- Summer Group Show / Metro Gallery (Melb)
- Borderland / NAB Foyer Adelaide
- Primary and Secondary / Studio Bowden
2018
- Affordable Art Fair / Hong Kong
- Summer Group Show / Metro Gallery (Melb)
- Artists to Watch / Lethbridge Gallery (Brisbane)
- Lethbridge 10000 / Lethbridge Gallery (Brisbane)
2017
- Asia Contemporary Art Show / Hong Kong
- Summer Group Show / Metro Gallery (Melb)
- Linden Postcard Show / Linden New Art
- Adelaide Hills Landscape Art Prize / Hahndorf Academy
- Form / Hill Smith Gallery
- Emma Hack Art Prize / Burnside Village
- Bluethumb Art Prize / No Vacancy Gallery (Melb)
- Charity Auction / Magpie Springs
2016
- Menagerie / Hill Smith Gallery
- Mitcham Art Prize / Gallery One
- Youthscape / Royal South Australian Society of Arts
- Coonawarra Art Prize / Penola Gallery
2015
- Christmas Exhibit / Art Images Gallery
- Emma Hack Art Prize / Adelaide Convention Centre
- ‘40x40x40’ / Brunswick Street Gallery (Melb)
- Prospect Portrait Prize / Prospect Gallery
- Spring ART / Loreto College
- Royal Adelaide Art Prize / Wayville Showgrounds
- Frog Cakes / SAHMRI / Light Square Gallery
- King of Canvas / Onkaparinga Arts Centre
- Cranium / M2 Gallery (Sydney)
2014
- Waterhouse Art Prize / SA Museum
- GuitarART Prize / Adelaide Festival Centre
- Youthscape / Royal South Australian Society of Arts
2013
- ‘40x40x40’ / Brunswick Street Gallery (Melb)
- Salon Hang / Rosemont Estate Cellar Door
- Parklands Art Prize / Adelaide Festival Centre
- King of Canvas / Onkaparinga Arts Centre
2012
- A Curious Creature / Urban Cow Studio
- Youthscape / Royal South Australian Society of Arts
- This is it! / These Walls Dont Lie Gallery
- Bike Art Adelaide / Juxtapose Studios
- 6 Years Later Magazine Launch / No Vacancy (Melb)
2011
- RSASA Still Alive / Royal South Australian Society of Arts
- Mental Health Week / Adelaide Town Hall
- Uchiwa Fan Exhibition / Espionage Gallery
- Acry-Licks / Bunka Adelaide
Awards
2018
- Lethbridge 10000
- Prospect Portrait Prize
2017
- Emma Hack Art Prize (Finalist)
- Bluethumb Art Prize (Finalist)
2016
- Young Achiever of the Year Arts Category (Winner)
- Royal Society of the Arts S.A Youthscape (2D Category Winner)
- Coonawarra Art Prize (Finalist)
- Gallery One Art Prize (Finalist)
2015
- Kym Bonython Encouragement Award (Winner)
- City of Unley Studies of Urban Life Award (Winner)
- Art Images Exhibit Award (Winner)
- Prospect Portrait Prize (Finalist)
- Emma Hack Art Prize (Finalist)
- Hawkesbury Art Prize (Finalist)
- King of Canvas (Highly Commended)
2014
- The Waterhouse Art Prize (Finalist)
- Lethbridge 10000 (Finalist)
- Parklands Art Prize (Finalist)
- Port Adelaide Art Prize (Peoples Choice)
2013
- SALA Statewide Artist of the year (Winner)
- Adelaide Review Artist Cover (Finalist)
- King of Canvas (Finalist)
2012
- BSG Small Scale Art Prize (Finalist)
- Royal Society of the Arts S.A Youthscape (Finalist)
- Rip It Up Youth Award (Finalist)
2011
- Rip It Up Youth Award (Finalist)
- King of Canvas (Finalist) 2010
- Royal Society of the Arts S.A Youthscape (Finalist)
- SALA Youth Arts Prize (Runner Up)
- Flagstaff Rotary Art Show (Highly Commended)
Selected Publications
- The Adelaide Review (John Neylon) – May 2018
- The Advertiser (Kurtis Eichler) – March 2018
- Coast City Weekly – October 2017
- Sunday Mail – August 2017
- Collage – August 2017
- The Advertiser (Peter Goers) – August 2017
- The City (Sophie Perri) – August 2017
- Fritz Magazine (Katie Spain) – June 2017
- The City (Sophie Perri) – March 2017
- Fritz Magazine (Katie Spain) – December 2016
- Bluethumb Online Gallery – November 2016
- Adelaide Matters – August 2016
- Bluethumb Gallery – May 2016
- Skellen Designs – November 2015
- The Sunday Mail – October 2015
- The Advertiser – September 2015
- The Advertiser – September 2015
- The City – September 2015
- Aspire Magazine – September 2015
- Aspire Magazine – August 2015
- SA Weekend – August 2014
- Adelaide Review – July 2014
- The City – June 2013
- Adelaide Review – October 2012
- Adelaide Review – October 2011
- Eastern Courier – July 2010