bio
As a mid-career artist, working across three decades in drawing, painting, sculpture and public art, Deb can’t remember a time when she wasn’t trying to ‘make something ‘of the world around her.
Deb’s practice has been grounded in observational drawing and she continues to come back to this language to try and share what she sees. There are stories in all things, tales of loss and destruction but also of great hope and redemption, small smiles and quiet humour.
The natural world whispers renewal and hope in ways that can’t be ignored. Beauty, Truth and Grace are there silently shouting.
Deb’s practice has revolved around objects as metaphors, collections as carriers of our stories and museums as repositories of our collective archives.
Deb works backwards and forwards across drawing, painting and sculpture as a way of having conversations that are meaningful, and offers the practice of mindful observation as a quiet antidote to consumption.
“Paradox is truth standing on her head trying to get attention” – G.K. Chesterton
As a mid-career artist, working across three decades in drawing, painting, sculpture and public art, Deb can’t remember a time when she wasn’t trying to ‘make something ‘of the world around her.
Deb’s practice has been grounded in observational drawing and she continues to come back to this language to try and share what she sees. There are stories in all things, tales of loss and destruction but also of great hope and redemption, small smiles and quiet humour.
The natural world whispers renewal and hope in ways that can’t be ignored. Beauty, Truth and Grace are there silently shouting.
Deb’s practice has revolved around objects as metaphors, collections as carriers of our stories and museums as repositories of our collective archives.
Deb works backwards and forwards across drawing, painting and sculpture as a way of having conversations that are meaningful,and offers the practice of mindful observation as a quiet antidote to consumption.
“Paradox is truth standing on her head trying to get attention” – G.K. Chesterton
cv
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Nature & Culture – animal as object, Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD
2024 A Sketchbook Practice, The Condensery, QLD
2023 Everyday Sketchbook, Ipswich Gallery, QLD
2022 Animal as Object – nature and culture, Tweed Regional Gallery, N.S.W
2020 Drawing to DisPossess, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2019 The Short Story, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2019 Australien Future, Migration Museum South Australia
2019 Australien Future, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum, QLD
2018 Australien Future, Redland Art Gallery, QLD
2018 Broome Sketchbook, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2018 Rewind – a replay of the last decade, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2015 Vogels en Dingen, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2014 Recent Works, Regional Arts House, Teneriffe, QLD
2014 Objects and Ornithology. Tweed Regional Gallery, NSW
2013 Recovery- The Flood Objects Project. (touring exhibition) featured at Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich, Qld. Toured to four locations, including Dogwood Crossing Miles, Gympie Art Gallery, Rockhampton Art Gallery and The Vera Wade Gallery, Brisbane
2012 Collectie Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Coffs Harbour, N.S.W.
2011 Honestly! Lorraine Pilgrim, Broadbeach
2010 Vroom! Albury Regional Gallery, N.S.W
2009 Bugs on Toy Cars, Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, N.S.W.
2008 Small Wares and Trifles, Lorraine Pilgrim + Nyst Gallery, Southport, Gold Coast.
2007 Sacred and Banal – the collection continues, Hardy Brothers, Brisbane.
2007 Interpreting the Collection- an artist’s view, Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich.
2007 Banality & Sacredness – A Collection, Hardy Brothers, Brisbane.
2006 Holland, Belgium, France, Hardy Brothers, Brisbane.
2005 A Postcard a Day, Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich.
Education
2004-2006 Bachelor of Fine Art, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Australia.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Summer Salon 22, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport, QLD
2020 Art Has No Borders, MArts, Murwillumbah NSW
2019 Shiver, One Space Gallery, Brisbane
2019 Pivot, One Space Gallery, Brisbane
2017 AfterImage, One Space Gallery, Brisbane
2016 Quiet Observers, Lorraine Pilgrim, Southport
2016 Still Life – ReAnimating the InAnimate, Pine Rivers Gallery
2015 15 Artists, Redcliffe Regional Gallery, Brisbane
2013 Drawing a Line Caboolture Regional Gallery
2011 Exchange, Gatakers ArtSpace, Maryborough
2010 Net Work, TLF show. Ballarat Regional Gallery, VIC
2009 Still Life 1930’s-present Gold Coast Art Gallery, Gold Coast
2007 15 Artists, Redcliffe Regional Gallery, Brisbane
Prizes & Awards
2018 Winner Urban Sketching competition – The Centre for Transformative Work Design, Curtin University Western Australia
2016 Winner Best Painting Ipswich Art Awards, Ipswich
2014 Winner Best of Show, 1st Prize Still Life, Ipswich Art Awards, Ipswich
2009 Winner Sponsor’s Prize, Eutick Memorial Still Life Awards, Coffs Harbour
2008 Winner New Generation People’s Choice Award, Art Brisbane.
2008 1st Prize Still Life section Wilston Art Show, Brisbane.
2007 Winner Best of Show: Ipswich Art Awards, Ipswich.
2005 Queensland Times Acquisition prize. Ipswich Annual Art Awards
2003 1st Prize Watercolour. Noosa Art Show, Noosa, Queensland
2002 Highly Commended – Ipswich Annual Arts AwardsAcquisition prize – Ipswich Art Gallery
2001 1st Place Watercolour. Brookfield Show, Brisbane
2001 1st place Watercolour – Ipswich Art Awards
2001 1st Place Local Artist – Ipswich Art Awards
2001 Acquisition prize – Ipswich Art Gallery
Curated Finalist
2022 KAAF Art Prize, NSW
2020 Finalist Muswellbrook Art Prize, NSW
2019 Finalist Manly Artist Book Award, NSW
2018 Finalist Marie Ellis Prize for Drawing, QLD
2017 Finalist Elaine Birmingham Watercolour Landscape Prize, QLD
2016 Finalist Grace Cossington Smith Art Award, N.S.W
2016, 2014, 2010, 2008Finalist Redland Art Awards, Cleveland Art Gallery
2016, 2013, 2011, 2008 Finalist Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Sunshine Coast
2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009,2008 Finalist Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery
2014, 2012 Finalist Bale Painting Prize, Geelong Regional Gallery, Victoria.
2014 Finalist Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
2014 Finalist Milburn Art Prize, Brisbane Institute of Art
2014 2012 Finalist Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award, Grafton Regional Gallery
2017,2011, 2008 Finalist, Clayton Utz Art Prize, Brisbane
2016, 2014, 2011, 2008 Finalist Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards
2010, 2007 Finalist Gold Coast Art Prize, Gold Coast.
2010 Finalist Northern Rivers Portrait Prize, Lismore Regional Gallery
2009 Finalist Salon des Refuses, S.H Erwin Gallery, N.S.W
2006 Finalist Theiss Art Prize, Dell Gallery, QCA.
Public Art Commissions
Bronze Discovery sculptures for Brisbane City Council 2022,
Mural Ellen Grove for Brisbane City Council 2021,
Bronze Boobook Owl sculpture for Brisbane City Council, Bradbury Park 2020
Crosscut Kookaburras Mural for Ipswich City Council, Fused Festival 2018
Frogmouth Teapot Mural for Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Canvas 2018
Graceville Wunderkammers for Brisbane City Council 2016
Wellington Point Mural for Redland City Council 2017
William Jolly Bridge Projection for Brisbane City Council 2017
Collections
Children’s Hospital, Brisbane
Redland Art Gallery
HOTA Gold Coast Art Gallery
Brisbane City Council
Ipswich Art Gallery
Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery
Gold Coast University Hospital
Mater Private Hospital, Springfield
Private collections in Australia, Netherlands.
Artist in Residence
Sunshine Coast Marine Bioblitz, World Science Festival, Coomera Anglican, All Saints Anglican College, Coorparoo State School, Brisbane, St Margaret’s, All Saints Merrimac, Westside Christian College, Ipswich, Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich, Robertson State School, Bardon State School.
Grants
2018 Arts Qld funding Professional Development
2017 Arts Qld funding Professional Development, RADF funding for Professional Development
2012 Australian Artist Grant (Janet Holmes a Court Artist Grant)
2011 RADF funding for Professional Development
2009 Janet Holmes a Court Artist Grant August round
2008 RADF funding for concept development of ‘Parables’ series
2007 RADF funding for 10-week artist in residency at Ipswich Art Gallery
Bibliography
2024 Martin-Chew, Louise. Catalogue essay ‘A Sketchbook Practice’
2024 Qld Womens Writers Stuffed, an anthology, front cover
2023 Peters, Hendridus Wildlife Australia Magazine Spring edition pages 32,33
2023 McDonald, Bob and Evelyn God in Nature pages 66,67
2019 Australian Artist Magazine
2018 Martin-Chew, Louise. Crossing the Line Catalogue essay. August 2018
2013 Lund, Michael. Top Spot. Courier Mail, Friday 1st Feb 2013
2013 Wolffe, Sharne Recovery Art Notes, Art Monthly, March 2013
2013 Browne, Sally Tide of Memories U on Sunday, Sunday Mail, 13th Jan, 2013
2013 Hallesy, Darren. ‘Exhibition features paintings….’ Ipswich Life Magazine pg. 12
2013 Gould, Joel. ‘Artist paints emotions left in wake of 2011 flood’ QT 5th Jan 2013
2010 Front cover Paradise Magazine, Gold Coast Bulletin Dec 11, 2010
2010 Art Almanac. Front cover and profile page 5. February
2010 Kubler, Alison. Catalogue essay ‘Untold Stories’ Lorriane Pilgrim + Nyst Gallery, Feb
2009 Girdham, Ronnie. ‘Toy Story revives past’ The Sunday Mail, Feb 28, pg 16
2009 Franklin, Adrian. ‘Collecting the 20th Century’ UNSW Press, image of portrait page 2.
2009 Clarke, Suzanna. ‘Forensic Innocence of Castaways’ The Courier Mail Mar 26 pg 52
2009 Australian Artist. Image of Niccole Warren portrait April edition, page 2
2008 Girdham, Ronnie. ‘Fresh in the Frame’ The Sunday Mail, Feb 3, pg 14
2008 Saint Martin, Marina. ‘Deb’s dab with ‘sacred, banal’ Weekend Bulletin, May 17 pg 16
2007 Machan, Kim. Art Notes QLD, Art Monthly Australia, Issue 204, pg 47
2007 Ambrey, Katelyn. ‘Forgotten Objects Fill Exhibition’ Queensland Times Oct 20, pg 25
2007 Girdham, Ronnie. ‘Strong Signals’ The Sunday Mail, Dec 16, pg 15
2007 Berry, Petrina. ‘European Sojourn inspires work’ South West News Feb 1, pg 43
2006 ‘Bellbird Park Artist wins accolade’ The Satellite, April 20, pg 27
2005 ‘Bellbird Park Artist wins accolade’ The Satellite, April 20, pg 27
2002 Murdoch, Scott. ‘Exhibition opens to big crowds’ Queensland Times April 12 pg 3
2002 Quinn, Ellen. ‘Artist ready to defend her title’ Queensland Times March 25