That's it, I'm off

For more than two decades, Australian figurative artist Maggie Buckle quietly painted the world as she saw it before finally allowing anyone else to see it too. Today, she creates original contemporary oil paintings that explore the beautifully awkward, humorous and deeply human moments that connect us all. Blending traditional portraiture with a distinctly original visual language, her work reveals the vulnerability, absurdity and quiet truths that so often exist beneath the surface of everyday life. Originally trained as a building designer, Maggie jokes that she simply redirected a lifetime of overthinking into painting. Entirely self taught, she developed her practice in private, patiently refining an artistic voice that feels unmistakably her own. When she eventually began sharing her work, the response was immediate. Her studio quickly emptied, commissions travelled across Australia, and her original paintings found collectors within hours of their release. It became clear that the deeply personal way she saw the world resonated just as powerfully with others. Maggie's work resists easy definition. Her contemporary figurative paintings are thoughtful yet playful, sincere yet quietly irreverent, balancing emotional honesty with moments of unexpected humour. Rather than offering answers, they invite reflection, encouraging viewers to find beauty in life's imperfections and familiarity within its contradictions. Each portrait offers a quiet conversation about identity, belonging and the wonderfully complex experience of being human. Reserved by nature, Maggie rarely seeks the spotlight. Instead, she lets her paintings speak with warmth, intelligence and quiet confidence. Her work gives shape to the thoughts and feelings we often struggle to articulate ourselves, finding beauty in vulnerability, humour in imperfection and connection in our shared humanity. It is this rare ability to make viewers feel both seen and understood that gives her original artworks their lasting emotional resonance. Discover original Maggie Buckle paintings, contemporary Australian figurative art and original portrait artworks through Stevens Street Gallery.