Costa won the Archibald Prize (2019) with a portrait of leading contemporary artist and Zen Buddhist Lindy Lee, Paddington Art Prize (2014) with a work entitled Fallen Tree Port Hacking River R.N.P, Ashfield Prize (1979) with a work entitled Grand Valley, Victoria Pass. His works are held in both Corporate and Private collections. A painter of both Landscapes and Portraiture he has exhibited in numerous solo exhibitions.

He has been a finalist in many Art prize exhibitions including Archibald Prize (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019), the Wynne Prize (1988, 2014), Sulman prize (2001), Dobell prize for Drawing (1999, 2004, 2008, 2012) at the Art Gallery of NSW. He has also been a finalist in the Doug Moran Prize for Portraiture (2004, 2007, 2011, 2015), Kilgour Prize for Portraiture (2013,2016, 2020), Paddington Art Prize for Landscape Painting (2004,2008, 2012, 2014) and the Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing (2006, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2019).

“My interest lies in the life force and the unique rhythms of the Australian landscape, where feelings not facts dominate my work. I am prepared to sacrifice details ,insisting on the reconstruction of my experience of place in an attempt to pin down the quintessential elements of my subject .I am always interested in transcending appearances in order to discover new pictorial truths.”

Costa’s interest lies in German Expressionism and is drawn to distortion and exaggerations, anything which makes for a more insistent image and one which is made from necessity. More recently, the works of the Neo Expressionists working in Europe, known as the Transavanguardia, have also captured his attention. He is also drawn to 11th century mosaics because of their ability to convey both spiritual and emotional content within a compressed space.

“All of my work begins with drawing from my direct contact with the subject, collecting information and sensations, the emotional feelings over and above the physical reality. The challenge for me is to trap the energy of my subject, all the things I cannot see. I am especially drawn to the unique rhythms of the Australian landscape. Ultimately, the invention and the unity of the work is what matters most. I am always interested in transcending appearances in order to discover new pictorial truths.” - Tony Costa