BIOGRAPHY
Painter and Tutor based in Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills.
Sun Blessed, Finalist in the Prospect Portrait Prize 2025
Liana Vargas is an oil painter specialising in portraiture. Following a successful 25-year career as a professional dancer, Liana changed direction and pursued her passion for visual art, graduating from the Adelaide Central School of Art in 2012. Soon after, she was awarded a Studio Residency at the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice.
Alongside her exhibiting practice, Liana is a dedicated painting instructor, teaching from her home studio in Hahndorf and at Duthy Street Art in Unley. She also organises National and International Artist Retreats, creating opportunities for her adult students to learn, explore and connect through art.
Liana’s practice is driven by a fearless curiosity and a willingness to experiment with different techniques, styles and approaches to painting. Her portraiture is particularly focused on warmth, character and human connection. Through an evolving and authentic practice, she continues to explore new ways of expressing her ideas through paint.
CURRICULUM VITAE
AWARDS
2026 Noosa Art Prize, Finalist
2026 Smallacombe Self-Portrait Prize, Finalist
2025 Prospect Portrait Prize, Finalist
2025 Smallacombe Self-Portrait Prize, Finalist
2025 Jacksons International Art Prize, Short List
EXHIBITIONS
2026 Loreto Sprint Art Fair
2025 Introducing The Resort Collection, Artists Private Gallery, Hahndorf
2024 SALA Open Artists Studio Gallery, Hahndorf
2022 Duthy Street Matador as Metaphor, Unley
2022 Shut me up, Shut me down, Atelier Crafers
2019 Duthy Street SALA Artists Exhibition, Unley
2018 Duthy Street SALA Artists Exhibition, Unley
2017 Flow of Consciousness, Kensington Gallery
2015 Group Exhibition, The Barn Gallery, Aldgate
2015 Line of Enquiry, Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf
2014 The Venetians, Red Opus Art Space, Kensington
2014 VENICE, Elegant Decay, Rising Sun, Kensington
2014 Artists Voice Group Exhibition, Adelaide Fringe, Hahndorf Academy
2013 Loretto Spring Art Fair, Group Exhibition, Kensington
2013 Artists Voice SALA Group Exhibition, Hahndorf Academy
2012 In Good Company, Graduates, Adelaide Central School of Art
2011 Art After SALA, Group Exhibition, Red Cross Gallery, Rundle St
2011 Espiritu 2, Solo Exhibition, Rising Sun, Kensington
2011 Espiritu, Solo Exhibition, Adelaide Fringe, Bakehouse Theatre
ART TUITION
2008-2012 Bachelor Visual Art, Adelaide Central School of Art, South Australia
2019 Portrait Painting with Professor Timothy Allen, Rome
2014 Residency Scholarship Award Scuola Internationale di Grafica, Venice
STUDIO TEACHING
2018-Current Duthy Street Art, Unley
2012-Current Liana Vargas Art Tuition, Hahndorf
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST RETREATS by Liana
2025 Madrid, Toledo & Sant Aniol de Finestres, Girona ‘Studying the Masters’
2023 Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Florence & Venice ‘Women in Art History’
2019 Tokyo & Kyoto ‘Contemporary Calligraphy’
2019 Rome, Florence & Tuscany ‘Renaissance Portraiture’
NATIONAL ARTIST RETREATS by Liana
2026 Sydney & Bundanon Arts Centre ‘Art Competitions’
2026 Monarto Safari Resort ‘Art Safari’
2022 Queenstown New Zealand ‘Capture Nature’
2022 Hobart ‘Art of Discovery’
2021 Wilpena Pound ‘Sacred Sites’
2020 Stanley Flat ‘Art of Glamping’