Nicole Slater: Rose Gold

Rose Gold is a solo exhibition by Australian artist Nicole Slater, showcasing a series of large-scale equestrian portraits that reflect her deep, lifelong connection to horses.

A professional breeder with years of experience, Slater brings an intimate understanding of equine anatomy to her work — knowledge that informs the physical accuracy and presence of each portrait. As a self-taught painter, she combines technical precision with emotional depth. This fusion of lived experience and artistic skill allows her to capture not only the form of her subjects but also their spirit, creating powerful, nuanced representations of the horses she knows so well.

Nicole runs a thoroughbred breeding property in rural Victoria with her husband, sporting legend Billy Slater. Together, they care for rescue horses and other animals, living a life surrounded by livestock and native wildlife. This close relationship with animals and the natural environment informs every aspect of Nicole’s art.

In Rose Gold, the horse is presented not just as a subject, but as a symbol of memory, light and presence. The warm, fading tones of sunset — Slater’s favourite time of day — become a gentle reminder to pause, reflect and appreciate fleeting beauty.

_{Image: Nicole Slater, Chilli Rose 2025, acrylic on linen. Courtesy of the artist.}