JANA VODESIL-BARUFFI

Award-Winning Portrait & Figurative Artist

Capturing the Inner Life of the Human Experience

Jana Vodesil-Baruffi

I am an award-winning artist based in Australia, with works exhibited nationally, internationally and recognised in major art prizes.

My practice is grounded in realism, with an evolving direction toward a more expressive, impressionistic approach, allowing space for movement, atmosphere, and emotional interpretation.

I create contemporary portraiture and fantastic realism paintings that explore identity, memory, and the emotional depth of being human.

From intimate portraits to large-scale multi-figure commissions, each work is designed to hold presence, meaning, and lasting connection.

I am a member of West Australian Portrait Artists and West Australian Society of Art. My work can be viewed in my studio/gallery, Metamorphosis Art Gallery. Some of my paintings are reproduced into small (20) high quality, limited edition prints on canvas or paper.

Art gives me an opportunity to express feelings, ideas and velues without speaking.

EXHIBITIONS

Group Exhibitions 

  • 2026 WAPA, Small Works, Perth, Western Australia

  • 2026 WASA Annual Exhibition, Western Australia

  • 2025 Feminine Fragility, Moore’s Building Gallery, Western Australia

  • 2025 WAPA, Council House, Perth Western Australia

  • 2025 WASA Annual Exhibition, Western Australia

  • 2025 24th Japan International Art Exhibition, Tokyo

  • 2024 WASA Annual Exhibition, Western Australia

  • 2024 Chasing Dreams in the Deep Blue, Qingdao International Artists Exhibition

  • 2024 23rd Japan International Art Exhibition, Tokyo

  • 2024 Visceral Pleasures, Metamorphosis Gallery, Western Australia

  • 2023 WASA Annual Exhibition, Western Australia

  • 2023 Black and White, Metamorphosis Gallery, Western Australia

  • 2023 In and Out of our minds, Metamorphosis Gallery, Western Australia

  • 2022, Duet, Mt Pleasant , Western Australia

  • 2021, Mindscapes, CASM, Moores Building Art Gallery, Western Australia

  • 2019, Mindscapes, CASM, Gomboc Gallery Sculpture Park, Western Australia

  • 2018, Mindscapes, CASM, Moores Building Art Gallery, Western Australia 

  • 2018, Skin Deep, WAPA, Moores Building Art Gallery, Western Australia 

  • 2017, Cambridge Studio Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 

  • 2017, Royal Perth Golf Club, South Perth, Western Australia, 

  • 2016, Kidogo Art House, Fremantle, Western Australia, 

  • 2017/2015, Paintings for a Cause Calendar Competition, Metamorphosis Art Gallery, Willetton, Australia 

  • 2017/2016/2015, WAPA, Kidogo Arthouse, Fremantle, Western Australia, 

  • 2015, Portraits of Life, Pluslife, Perth City Farm, Western Australia, 

  • 2015, Master Dei College, Western Australia, 

  • 2016/2015/2014, Surrealism Now, Metamorphosis Art Gallery, Western Australia, 

  • 2015/2014/2013, The Royal Agricultural Society of WA Art Award, Western Australia, 

  • 2013/2012/2011, Metamorphosis Art Gallery, Western Australia, 

  • 2010, Out from Down Under and Beyond, Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York, United States of America 

  • 2009, Scarpateti, Sondrio, Italy 

  • 2021,2017/2015/2012/2008/2007/2006, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Western Australia, 

  • 2006, Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award, New South Wales, Australia 

  • 2012/2008/2007/2006, LaSalle College Fine Art Exhibition, Western Australia, 

  • 2006, City of Canning Art Award, Western Australia, 

  • 2006, Art show at the SAS Regiment Auxiliary, Western Australia, 

  • 2006/2005, City of Belmont Art Award, Western Australia, 

  • 2005/2006, Mazenod College Fine Art Exhibition, Western Australia, 

  • 2005, Murdoch Hospice Art Show, Western Australia, 

  • 2005, City of Canning Art Award, Western Australia, 

  • 2017/2016/2011/20062005//1988, City of Melville Art Award, Western Australia, 

  • 1988, Bicentennial Art Award, York, Western Australia, 

  • 1987, Matilda Bay Restaurant Art Award, Western Australia, 

  • 1985/1984, Melbourne Art Show, New South Wales, Australia

Solo Exhibitions 

  • 2023, ‘Half the Sky’, Metamorphosis Art Studio/Gallery, Western Australia,  

  • 2018/2017/2016/2015/2014/2013, Metamorphosis Art Studio/Gallery, Western Australia,  

  • 2014/2013, Permanent Impressions, Perth-Central Park and 10 regional towns of Western Australia,  

  • 2012, One artist, one day, one year, The West Australian Club, Western Australia,  

  • 2011/2010, Canning College Computing Centre, Western Australia,  

  • 2010, Love affair with Italy, Italian Club, Fremantle, Western Australia,  

  • 2009, Ente Filarmonico Italiano, Arezzo, Italy 

  • 2008, Ground Beneath my Feet, Linton & Kay Gallery, Subiaco, Western Australia,  

  • 2006, Life, Death and in Between, St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia,  

  • 2007/2006/2005, Denada Café, Western Australia, Australia 

  • 2005, Then and Now, Pastels, oils, acrylic and drawings, Atwell Gallery, Western Australia,  

  • 1989, Pastels at Gomboc Gallery, Western Australia,  

  • 1984, Ceramic, china painting, copper enameling and drawings (private art studio), Australia

PUBLICATIONS

  • Trough the Artists’ Eyes: The Lester Prize - The Black Swan, 2019, Book

  • Artists of Perth, Gabi Mills and Lisa Shearon, Premium Publishers, 2017, Book 

  • Extra.ordinary. Business Women, Carmen Jenner and Clare McAlaney, Creatavision Publishing, 2017, Book 

  • Colour in Your Life, Graeme Stevenson, 2015, Television Series 

  • Permanent Impressions – a salute to contemporary heroines, Jana Vodesil-Baruffi and Carmen Jenner, Carina Hoang Communications, 2013, Book

    The book won the bronze medal in the Best Regional Non-Fiction category for the 2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards in New York. 

Jana’s work has been featured many times in magazines such as Home and Garden, The Building and Design Yearbook, The Finishing Touch, and The West Australian Newspaper, and many of her articles on the subject of decorative art have been published.

VIEW AWARDS

2022 Finalist, Lethbridge 20000, QLD

2021 Finalist, Lester Prize, Western Australia

2021 1st & 2nd Place, American Art Awards – Portraiture, USA

2021 5th Place, American Art Awards – Landscape, USA

2020 Finalist, Darling Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery, ACT

2019 Finalist, Lethbridge 20000, QLD

2019 5th and 4th Place in American Art Awards - Portraiture, landscape, Fantasy and Religious art, USA

2018 Semi-finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, NSW

2018 Finalist, Liberty Liquors Portrait Prize, Western Australia

2017 Winner, Lester Prize for Portraiture, Western Australia

2017 Winner, Paintings for a Cause Calendar Competition,Western Australia

2017 Finalist, Pro Hart Outback Art Prize, NSW 2017 Finalist,

RSASA/SALA Portrait Prize, WA 2016 Finalist, Paintings for a Cause, WA

2015 Finalis Lester Prize for Portraiture, WA

2014 Winner, City of Melville Art Award, WA

2013 Most Creative Award, Belmont Business Enterprise Centre, WA

2012 Finalist, Lester Prize for Portraiture, WA

2009 Finalist, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, WA

2008 Finalist, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, WA

2007 People’s Choice Award, Black Swan Prize, WA

2007 Finalist, Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award, WA

2006 Winner, City of Canning Art Award, WA

1988 Winner, City of Melville Art Award, WA

1988 Overall winner and first prize in Pastel, Bicentennial Art Exhibition in York, WA