UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITION 2022 - NEBUCHADNEZZAR TREE DREAMING - SHOALHAVEN REGIONAL GALLERY

I’m really excited about my upcoming exhibition at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery this February which includes works on paper and ceramics. Huge thanks to the lovely curatorial team Bronwyn Coulston and Bridget Macleod at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery for their incredible support and assistance in helping me make my show such a pleasurable experience.

Artist Statement:

…”I fell in love with a tree. As ludicrous as it sounds, this was no ordinary tree. It was a tree within a tree. And as my love for it grew, so did my need to connect with its environment.

This infatuation began in 2018 when I was Artist-in-Residence at Bundanon Trust. I made a subconscious connection to this tree through Arthur Boyd’s painting: ‘Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the tree’ 1966-69. The discovery took me on a journey like Nebuchadnezzar, on a lusting experience to creatively claim everything around me without any acknowledgement of God.

The exhibition illustrates personal and universal evocations exploring power, lust, greed, pleasure, guilt and emotional, spiritual and physical deprivation and highlights my ongoing interest in hybrid dialogues between art history and psychological phenomenons.

Each work on paper is accompanied by a response in clay to further reinforce surreal and existential insights into the artists’ work and creative process”.


- Louisa Chircop 2021

Due to Covid the official public opening of the exhibition has been cancelled however a private event may be organised at a later date and bookings will be made available via a bookings link.

IMAGE: LOUISA CHIRCOP,

'NEBUCHADNEZZAR TREE DREAMING (SERIES)'

MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER, 50CM X 40CM

FINALIST - PADDINGTON ART PRIZE 2021

What an honour to be selected as a finalist amongst such an amazing line up of Australian artists with my work ‘Bush Embrace - Pulpit Rock Bundanon’ in this year’s Paddington Art Prize. The exhibition of national finalists will be exhibited at Defiance Gallery Paddington Sydney and the winners will be announced on Thursday 14 October 2021 with the exhibition open from the 15th October until to Sunday 24 October 2021 .

Congratulations to all the finalists! and a huge thank you to the highIy esteemed panel of judges Katherine Roberts Senior Curator at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Tim Allen Visual Artist and Winner of the 2017 Paddington Art Prize and Steven Alderton Director and CEO of the National Art School for selecting my work. I cannot wait to see their selection.

See selected finalists here

The Paddington Art Prize is a $30,000 National acquisitive prize, awarded annually for a painting inspired by the Australian landscape. Established in 2004 by Arts Patron, Marlene Antico OAM, this National prize takes its place among the country’s most lucrative and highly coveted painting prizes.

 The prize encourages the interpretation of the landscape as a significant contemporary genre, its long tradition in Australian painting as a key contributor to our national ethos, and is a positive initiative in private patronage of the arts in Australia.

Marlene Antico OAM, created the Prize in order to assist with the monetary difficulties that often impede artists from showcasing their works. As an art student, gallery owner and volunteer guide at the AGNSW for over 10 years, she has underscored her commitment to supporting contemporary Australian artists, aware, of the financial concerns that prevent many artists from devoting themselves entirely to their art practice.

 In 2017, Chris Antico, Marlene’s son joined as Principal Co-sponsor of the prize. The Paddington Art Prize appreciates the ongoing generosity of the following key sponsors and supporters: Marlene Antico OAM, Chris Antico, UNSW Art & Design, The Sydney Art Store, Sofala Cottage, Charvin Oils, Lucio’s Italian Restaurant, Defiance Gallery,  Nock Art Foundation, Tracey Deep Floral Sculptures, Valiant Hire and Woollahra Municipal Council.



‘Bush Embrace - Pulpit Rock Bundanon’, Mixed media and photomontage on watercolour paper, 150cm x 100cmBush Embrace is about the Australian landscape during the pandemic. The solitude and the longing for company and simple contact. Like giving a hug (something we’ve all missed). This interplay of mixed media with a subconscious painting approach exposes life and landscape at its most bittersweet.

‘Bush Embrace - Pulpit Rock Bundanon’, Mixed media and photomontage on watercolour paper, 150cm x 100cm

Bush Embrace is about the Australian landscape during the pandemic. The solitude and the longing for company and simple contact. Like giving a hug (something we’ve all missed). This interplay of mixed media with a subconscious painting approach exposes life and landscape at its most bittersweet.

FINALIST - HAZELHURST ART ON PAPER AWARD 2019

Since 2001 The Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award has been a significant national biennial exhibition that aims to elevate the status of works on paper while supporting and promoting artists working with this medium. So thrilled to be a finalist this year with my work ‘Fright and Delight-Bundanon’, a work that was inspired when I was artist-in-residence at Bundanon Trust last year. Congratulations and best wishes to all artists who are finalists. This will be an amazing exhibition.

Exhibition launch and announcement of award recipients will be held on Friday 20th Sept 6pm at Hazelhurst Gallery.

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