Tory Burke – Australian Abstract Artist

Australian abstract artist Tory Burke is the creative force behind Studio Elwood, known for her contemporary oil paintings and limited edition giclée prints. Based in Melbourne, her work explores colour, form and balance through refined geometric compositions designed for modern interiors.

Born into a creative family, Tory Burke developed her artistic practice while studying Art and Design at the Melbourne School of Art in the early 1990s. It was here that she began exploring abstraction, leading to her now recognisable style defined by strong line work, tonal layering and considered composition.

Her work is characterised by a balance of minimalism and structure, often featuring large-scale canvases, geometric forms and a refined colour palette. Each piece is designed not only as an artwork, but as an integral element within an interior space.

Renowned for her unique and dynamic contemporary oil paintings, Australian artist Tory Burke is the creative behind Studio Elwood, an art brand creating accessible, original artworks and limited-edition art prints. Born into a family of creatives, Tory sought an outlet for her own expression. As a student of Art and Design at Melbourne School of Art in the early 1990’s, she began exploring a contemporary aesthetic which led to her signature abstract style.

An encounter with the abstract artwork of Tory Burke is an immediate and compelling visual experience. Adopting a sense of minimalism, all works are striking and remarkable graphic images. Large canvases with strong line work, balanced geometric composition and considered colours, culminating in a striking and bold artwork.

Studio Elwood Artist Tory Burke

 

Artistic Approach

Tory’s work begins on Italian linen, chosen for its natural texture and warmth. Through a process of layering—from thin, translucent washes to thick impasto—each artwork develops depth and tactility.

Using charcoal to map out form, her compositions are guided by balance and proportion, creating a sense of harmony across the picture plane. The result is artwork that feels both structured and expressive.

Influence & Style

Tory Burke’s work draws inspiration from leading Australian artists including Margaret Preston, Brett Whiteley and John Olsen, as well as the strong tonal contrasts seen in the work of Albert Namatjira.

Her practice reflects a contemporary interpretation of abstraction—where colour, form and spatial balance combine to create visually compelling and timeless pieces.

Designed for Modern Interiors

Studio Elwood artworks are created to live within real spaces.

  • Living rooms as statement pieces above sofas
  • Bedrooms for calm, tonal balance
  • Dining rooms for structure and presence
  • Hallways and entry spaces for visual flow

Recognition

Tory Burke’s work has been featured in:

  • Australian Home Beautiful
  • Inside Out
  • The Age
  • Sydney Morning Herald (Good Weekend)

Her artworks are held in private collections and commercial spaces across Australia.

Explore the Collection

Discover original artworks and limited edition prints:

👉 Shop Abstract Art Prints
👉 View Large Wall Art
👉 Explore Living Room Art

Tory chooses to paint on a lux Italian linen, which provides the ideal neutral base with which she can utilise a large colour palette, working from a middle value towards light to dark while concentrating on a consciously placed colour scheme. Raw arcing shapes are drawn on the picture plane in charcoal using a divine subdivision, to create a fine balance.

Experimenting with texture, Tory works with refined thin layers of lux oil paint rubbed into linen, a tactile stucco effect as well as an extreme thick impasto style.

Several well renowned Australian artists continue to inspire and influence Tory’s practice. The abstract style and minimalism of Robert Jacks; Margaret Preston’s graphic still life pieces; Brett Whiteley’s unusual use of space and perspective; the freedom in John Olsen’s fluid and simple line work. But it is Albert Namatjira’s strong colour contrasts, particularly his beautiful white ghost gums, that appeal greatly to Tory.

Studio Elwood’s pieces have featured in Australian Home Beautiful, Inside Out and The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend. Her commissions are enjoyed in private homes and corporate offices across the country.