Biography | Artwork

 

Having travelled to Japan 5 times, including a 4 month stint living and painting in Osaka, much of Simone’s previous work has had a strong and recurring Japanese theme. In this body of work that influence is still very hard for her, or anyone who views it to ignore, however, there is an additional, underlying personal ‘cultural’ influence that is a lot closer to her own heart… and heritage.  After losing her dear grandfather in 2009, Simone became increasingly curious about her own cultural heritage. (Her grandfather was Russian.) Circumstances encouraged her to re acquire a book of Russian fairytales and fables that her grandfather had given her as a child, a book she remembered so fondly. The similarities to Japanese fables that she was quite familiar with was rather uncanny, thus in a sense blending a fascination of two cultures to produce the works seen in Femme, Folk and Fables.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT  ‘Fingernails and Fairytales’ relates to childhood memories and adult anxieties, excitement and experience. Both are relative to and in many ways continue to influence my work. ‘Fairytales’ represents my childhood memories/experience, things like fables, family and the creative influences found within those things. My grandfather was Russian and introduced me to Russian fairytales, my father was, and still is, as a huge fan of comics such as the Phantom and a big Disney fan, exposed me to a wealth of animation, illustration and fantastic tales from The Brothers Grimm to the amazingly detailed work of artists like Norman Rockwell and Norman Lindsay. The ‘Fingernails’ relates more to later influences and experiences – juggling a full time job and painting and the ongoing conflict and anxiety with trying to manage my time and express my creative ideas. I am also an extremely anxious traveller – at least on planes – and as my travels have influenced my art heavily, namely my time in Japan, and in turn so has my anxiety as it is all part of the experience and the artistic process.

 

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1990-92 Melbourne School of Art

 

 

 

2011 'Fairytales and Fingernails' - 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace

2008 'Food and Desire' - Brunswick Street Gallery
2008 'Food and Desire' - Jackman Gallery
2007 'Lullaby and Exile' - Jackman Gallery
2006 'Visiting Time is Over' - Jackman Gallery
2005 'Recurring Dream, Repeated Theme' -Global Gallery
2005 'Repeated Theme, Recurring Dream' - Jackman Gallery
2004 'Behind The Mask' - Jackman Gallery
2003 'Geiko Maiko' - Jackman Gallery
1997 V.A.S Gallery, East Melbourne

 

 

2012 'The Art of Spain'-19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast 

2011 'Homage to Frida' - 19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast
2010 'Schaffas 2' - hand painted/customized wooden toys, (Screamdance) Adelaide
2010 'Femme, Folk and Fable', 3 Woman Show - Linton & Kay Contemporary, Perth 

2010 'Dark Pop 2.0%u2032 - Last Rites Gallery, New York
2009 Prospect Portrait Prize - Selected Finalist. Winner: People's Choice Award
2009 Corangamarah Art Prize - Selected Finalist
2008 Kilgour Art Prize - Selected Finalist - Newcastle Region Art Gallery
2008 'In the Language of Angels - Ad Hoc Art, Brooklyn, New York
2008 Art Sydney (Brunswick Street Gallery)
2008 Corangamarah Art Prize - Selected Finalist
2008 Red Bubble Group Exhibition - Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2008 'Small Works' - Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2007 'Squared' - Greenhill Galleries, Perth
2007 Nellie Castan Gallery - Artists for Kids Culture
2006 Jackman Gallery- Artists for Kids Culture Exhibition
2005 Jackman Gallery- Artists for Kids Culture Exhibition
2004 Jackman Gallery- Artists for Kids Culture Exhibition
2004 Cromwell's Art Prize, Finalist - Touring Exhibition
      Jackman Gallery, St. Kilda
      Art House Gallery, Sydney
      Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C, U.S.A
2004 Affordable Art Show, Melbourne (Look Art)
2004 Works on Paper, Jackman Gallery, St. Kilda
2003 Jackman Gallery- Artists for Kids Culture Exhibition
2003 Affordable Art Show, Sydney (Jackman Gallery)
2003 'Blue' - Jackman Gallery, St. Kilda
2002 'Black and White' - Jackman Gallery, St. Kilda
 

 

Corporate: Nippondenso, Japan
Private Collections: Australia, USA, UK, Europe and Canada 
 

 

Travel 
 

2007 Lived in Osaka, Japan for 4 months

2005 Japan

2003-04 United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Canada, U.S.A
2003 Japan
1999 U.S.A and Canada
1995 Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya