Michael Zavros (b.1974) is one of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary artists, known for his hyper-realist depictions of beauty, luxury, and the often-unsettling allure of perfection. Working across painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography, Zavros constructs meticulously detailed images that are both visually sumptuous and deeply reflective.
Raised on the Gold Coast, Zavros graduated from the Queensland College of Art in 1996 and has since exhibited widely in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. His accolades include the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (2010), the inaugural Bulgari Art Award (2012), and multiple distinguished drawing awards. He has been an Archibald Prize finalist on several occasions.
Zavros’s work has been showcased in prestigious venues such as the Art Gallery of New South Wales, QAGOMA, the National Portrait Gallery, and Art Basel Hong Kong. His practice explores the aesthetics of desire, artifice, and the surreal tension between excess and emptiness.
His works are held in major public and private collections worldwide, including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, QAGOMA, and the Australian War Memorial.
Image: Michael Zavros, The Sunking, 2025, Oil on canvas, 152 x 122 cm (Detail)
