Mia Behrens
Mia Behrens is an emerging painter specialising in realistic portraiture and figurative work. Her practice centralises themes of human connection and sense of self, distilling unique moments, memories and emotions through her delicate brushwork. Integral to these themes is her individual growth as a person, a woman, and someone who loves deeply.
Mia’s patience with detail allows her to contemplate and relive fleeting moments. Through both her commission and exhibition practices, time is spent studying human intricacies to create familiar likeness. Furthering this relatability, glimpses of vivid colour reoccur in her paintings to entice viewers to look closer and empathise with the moments of human connection depicted.
Within the first few years of Mia’s practice, she embarked on numerous group and solo exhibitions and competitions. Her most notable accomplishments include the Smallacombe Self Portrait Prize First Place Award, the RSASA 6th Biennial Portrait Prize Carbins Trust Young Artists Award, the Hillsmith Art Advisory Award, and the ACSA School Leavers Scholarship, amongst many others.
Mia strives to maintain a shifting practice, defined by the ever moving world and people around her.
Education
2023 Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts, Adelaide Central School of Art
2019 SACE, Kildare College, Adelaide
Awards
2026 Highly Commended, National Print and Drawing Award, work ‘Making Order’, Swanhill, Victoria
2025 First Place Award, Smallacombe Self Portrait Prize ($10,000), work ‘Emerging’, Gallery One, Adelaide
Contemporary SpringART Judges Commendation by Daryl Austin and Rachel McElwee, work ‘Remains’, Loreto College, Adelaide
2024 M&M Carbin’s Trust Young Artist 19-30 Years Award ($6000), work ‘Own’, Royal South Australia Society of the Arts, Adelaide
Margaret Raymond Drawing Award ($250), work ‘Making Order’, Royal South Australian Society of the Arts, Adelaide
Merit Award, work ‘Untitled’, Royal South Australian Society of the Arts, Adelaide
2023 Hill Smith Art Advisory Award for Painting ($5000), Adelaide Central School of Art
2020 School Leavers Scholarship ($4000), Adelaide Central School of Art
2019 Dux of Visual Arts, Kildare College, Adelaide
Solo Exhibitions
2025 ‘Macclesfield Through my Brush’ following four week residency, The Stable, Three Brothers Arms Hotel, Macclesfield, Mt Barker, Adelaide
‘Endless Stories’, Calico Cat Gallery, Adelaide
Selected Group Exhibitions
2026 ‘Urban Families’ The Basement Gallery and Studio, Adelaide
‘National Print and Drawing Awards’ Swanhill, Victoria
‘Smallacombe Self Portrait Prize’ Gallery One, Adelaide
‘Incognito Art Show’ Brisbane
‘Limitless’ The Mill, Adelaide
2025 ‘Forms’ BMGart, Adelaide
’Loreto Spring Art’ Loreto College, Adelaide
‘Smallacombe Self Portrait Prize’ Gallery One, Adelaide
‘Fifty Squared Art Prize’ Brunswick Street Gallery, Victoria
2024 ‘Loreto SpringART’ (Featured emerging artist of the year) Loreto College, Adelaide
‘6th Biennial Portrait Prize’ Royal South Australian Society of the Arts, Adelaide
‘Youthscape’ Royal South Australian Society of the Arts, Adelaide
‘Small Works Art Prize’ Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
‘Members Spring Exhibition’, Royal South Australian Society of the Arts, Adelaide
‘Limitless’ The Mill, Adelaide
‘FELTauction’ Feltspace, Adelaide
2023 ‘Graduate Exhibition’, Adelaide Central School of Art
2021 ‘Colour Exhibition’, Adelaide Central School of Art
‘Out Exhibition’, Adelaide Central School of Art
2020 ‘Wish You Were Here’, Adelaide Central School of Art
Publications and Records
2025 Illustrated and published ‘Awesome Earthling - An ABC’ children's book, Adelaide
Smallacombe Portrait Prize Adelaide - Meet the artists and see the exhibition’ Discussion on video with Art in Adelaide
‘Mia Paints Macclesfield’ Deirdre Graham, The Southern Argus
‘Mia Behrens; Holding a Mirror to Macclesfield’ Make Believe Dream Create
Radio interview ‘Star in the Arts’
Awesome Earthlings Story Book
Visit this page to view and purchase my first storybook! Written by Sue Coad, illustrated by me!
