ANGELA VALAMANESH

b. 1953, Port Pirie, Australia.

Lives and works in Adelaide, Australia.

Angela Valamanesh’s work is both familiar and mysterious: recognizable, but not immediately understood. Her drawings, ceramic objects, and watercolours are the result of an incredible depth of research, referencing complex scientific, historic, and philosophical ideas.

Valamanesh’s imagery stems from micro- and macro-biology, historic anatomical and botanical illustrations, natural history collections, and rare books. Valamanesh’s oeuvre is populated with the animal, vegetable, and mineral with glimpses of microbes, bacteria, pathogens, and spores.[1]

Angela Valamanesh was born in Port Pirie, South Australian in 1953 and currently lives and works in Adelaide. Valamanesh holds a Diploma in Design in Ceramics from the South Australian School of Art (1977), a Master of Visual Arts from the University of South Australia (1993), and a PhD from the University of South Australia (2012).

Valamanesh has participated in many solo and group exhibitions including: Heartlands, Contemporary Art from South Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide (2013); and the South Australian Living Artists Festival, Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, Adelaide (2015). Valamanesh’s work is held in several significant collections in Australia including the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra and the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

“The practice of building groups or arrangements has existed in my work for a number of years now and their linear qualities still remind me of the way letters form words or sentences on a page. Also in this more recent work the reference to the way specimens in collections are often presented to us is perhaps relevant.” (excerpt from artist statement, 2007)

[1] Kenneally, Cath. Angela Valamanesh: About being here. Wakefield Press, 2009.

ARTIST INFORMATION

BIOGRAPHY

1953	Born in Port Pirie, South Australia
1977	Diploma in Design (Ceramics), SA School of Art, University of South Australia
1992-3	MA Visual Arts, SA School of Art, University of South Australia
1997	MFA Program, Glasgow School of Art, UK
2005	Artist in Residence, Sydney Grammar School, Sydney
2006	Artist in Residence, Canberra School of Art, Australian National University, Canberra
	Presently living and working in Adelaide, South Australia

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015	GAGPROJECTS, Adelaide
2014	Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne
2013	Breenspace, Sydney
2012	Greenaway Art Gallery, Adelaide
2011	Earthly Garden, Grantpirrie Gallery, Sydney Art Vault, Mildura
2010	A little bit of everything, Greenaway Art Gallery, SA A little bit of everything, Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide
2009	Gallerie Johan S., Helsinki All Creatures: works from Natural history collection, Greenaway Art Gallery, Adelaide
2008	Natural Histories, Helen Stephens Gallery, Sydney Turner Galleries, Perth
2007	Greenaway Art Gallery, Adelaide
2006	Been here and gone, Gallery 2, Jam Factory, Adelaide
2004	Sherman Galleries, Sydney
2003	Bett Gallery, Hobart
2002	Greenaway Art Gallery, Adelaide
2001	About being here, Sherman Galleries, Hargrave, Sydney
1999	National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan (Asialink)
1997	Newberry Gallery, Glasgow School of Art, UK
1996	Calculations, Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia, Adelaide In remembrance of things...., Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide
1995	Birds Have Fled, University of South Australia, Art Museum, Adelaide A bowl is a bowl is a bowl...., Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2014	Florabotanica, Adelaide Central School of Art Gallery The Microscope Project, Flinders Art Museum, Adelaide
2013	Heartlands, Contemporary Art from South Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia
2012	On Collaborations, Breenspace, Sydney
2011	Imagining interiors, Jam Factory, Adelaide A Verdant Heart, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery
2010	Heartlines, University of South Australia, South Australian School of Art Gallery Abstract Nature, Samstag Museum, University of South Australia Khemia, RiAus, Science Exchange, Adelaide New New, Contemporary Art Centre, Barr Smith Library, Adelaide University
2009	Bravura, 21st century Australian Craft, Art Gallery of SA Tin Sheds Gallery, Sydney this life, Contemporary Art Centre of SA Harvest, Museum of Economic Botany, Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Adelaide
2008	Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award, Shepparton Art Gallery, NSW City of Hobart Art Prize 2008, Tasmania Narratives, Sabbia Gallery, Sydney Gold Coast Ceramic Award, Queensland Strange Attractors, Liverpool Street Gallery, Adelaide Redlands Art Prize, Sydney
2007	There Forever, Port Adelaide, South Australia Cup Show, Helen Stephens Gallery, Sydney South Australian Ceramics Award, Adelaide Central Gallery, Adelaide
2006	Bowl, Khai Liew Design, Adelaide Surface: given the text, SA School of Art Gallery, University of South Australia, Adelaide
2005	South Australian Ceramics Award, Adelaide Central Gallery, Adelaide
2003	Future Function, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney Ceramics: Australian & New Zealand, Campbelltown City Art Gallery, NSW Still Life, Anna Bibby Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2002	Ritual of Tea, Contemporary ceramics& metal, Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide Less is more/Less is bore, Brisbane City Gallery, Queensland
2001	International Ceramics 2, Sybaris Gallery, Michigan, USA Orbit, University of South Australia Art Museum, Adelaide
2000	Chemistry: Art in South Australia, 1990-2000, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
1998	Contemporary International Ceramics, The Sybaris Gallery, Michigan, USA Landing, works from the collection, Contemporary Art Centre of SA, Adelaide
1980	Art of Craft, travelling exhibition, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
1978	Pugmill Award exhibition, Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide

AWARDS & COMISSIONS

2015	SALA SAHMRI Artist in residence
2014	Visual Arts Board, Australia Council, Residency Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC
2013	Alcorso Foundation Vitrify Ceramic Award 2013 Winner
2011	Arts SA Fellowship
2010	Member of the Order (AM)
2009	SALA Monograph, About being here, Writer Cath Kenneally
2008	La Trobe University Merit Award, Sidney Myer Ceramics Award Australian Higher Degree by Research Scholarship University of South Australia, PhD
2007	South Australian Ceramic Award
2004	Visual Arts Board, Australia Council, New Work
2002	Arts SA project grant
2001	Visual Arts Craft Fund, Australia Council, New Work
2000	Arts SA project grant
1999	City of Hobart Art Prize, Ceramics
1995	Visual Arts/Crafts Board of Australia Council project grant Anne and Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship
1994	S.A. Department for Arts and Cultural Development, Project grant
1993	Australian Post Graduate Award Scholarship
1991	South Australian Department for Arts, Project Grant
1989	Japan/South Australia Cultural Exchange Scheme, travel grant
1988	Visual Arts/Crafts Board of Australia Council Project Grant
1985	Caloundra Art Prize (Ceramics)
1982	Crafts Board, Australia Council, development grant
1980	S.A. Department for Arts, project grant Alice Springs Craft Prize
1978	Pugmill Award exhibition, Jam Factory Gallery, Adelaide

COLLECTIONS

National Gallery of Australia
Alice Springs Crafts Center
Art Gallery of South Australia
Manly Art Gallery & Museum
Campbelltown City Art Gallery
Newcastle Regional Art Gallery
University of South Australia
University of Adelaide
Westpac
McQuarrie Bank Sydney
Aomori Contemporary Art Center, Japan
LaTrobe University / Shepparton Art Gallery
Artbank
numerous private collections in Australia, Japan & USA

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