Dr Sarah s robson
Sarah Robson has been a practising artist for over 30 years, exhibiting nationally and internationally, with a practice encompassing painting, sculpture and installation. She has been awarded several major public commissions and is represented in public and private collections in Australia, Europe, North and South America. In 2013 she completed a Master of Cross-Disciplinary Art & Design and in 2015 a Master of Philosophy, researching creativity and its processes. In 2021 she completed a Doctor of Philosophy investigating the relational systems intrinsic to non-objective (open) artworks. Her research demonstrated how artworks are not inanimate props but vital participants in the creation of meaning and contribute to our understanding of the contingent, complexity of the world.
Her most recent body of work employs industrial felt, fabric and cotton twine to construct a vocabulary of forms that do not have a fixed mode of display. These artworks position, philosophically and practically, the rational and the organic side by side and nominate aesthetic experience as a complex of mind/body engagement.
CV
Born 1963.
Lives and works in Sydney.
EDUCATION
| 2021 | Doctor of Philosophy, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC. |
| 2015 | Master of Philosophy, UNSW Art & Design, Sydney, NSW. |
| 2013 | Master of Cross-Disciplinary Art + Design, College of Fine Art, Sydney, NSW. |
| 1984 | Diploma of Visual Arts, Canberra School of Art, A.C.T. |
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
2021 | Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize - Painting. Sydney, NSW. |
2021 | RMIT University Prize Excellence in Research HDR, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC. |
2017 | Post Graduate Research Scholarship, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC. |
2011 | Calais Deviations College Street Hyde Park, Sydney, NSW UAP |
2007 | Latitude East, World Square, Sydney, NSW. Multiplex Developments Pty Ltd |
2004 | The Playfair Pool Feature Wall. Kambala School, Sydney, NSW. |
2003 | Artists Creative Development Grant, Visual Arts Craft Board of the Australia Council |
1981 | Bruce TAFE Art Award, Canberra, ACT. |
1981 | National Art Award, Finalist, ACT. |
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS
2011 | Calais Deviations. College Street, Sydney, NSW. |
2007 | Latitude East. World Square, Sydney, NSW. |
2004 | The Playfair Pool Feature Wall. Kambala School, Sydney, NSW. |
2003 | Eclipse, Crown Promenade Hotel, Melbourne, VIC. |
2000 | Lightscape, Hilton Airport Hotel, Melbourne, VIC. |
1999 | Altair. Sydney, NSW. |
W-Hotel, Wooloomooloo Finger Wharf, Sydney, NSW. | |
Riverside Park, Sydney, NSW. | |
1998 | Box Café, for BKH, Melbourne, VIC. |
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS
2021 | Holding Space – Courting Potential, SITE EIGHT, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC. |
2021 | The Unfolding of Reason, Factory 49, Sydney, NSW. |
2020 | An Open Proposition, Five Walls Gallery, Melbourne, VIC. |
2019 | Felt Propositions, STACKS Gallery Sydney, NSW. |
2017 | Between Certainty and Chance, Crawford Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
2014 | Spatial Interventions 1994 - 2014, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney, NSW. |
2010 | Infinite in All Directions, Gitte Weise Galerie at The Depot Gallery Sydney, NSW. |
2008 | New Work, Gitte Weise Galerie Berlin, Germany. |
2004 | Identical/non-Identical, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney. |
Zwillinge, Gitte Weise Galerie Berlin, Germany. | |
2002 | Eclipse, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
2000 | Spring, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
1999 | Sarah Robson, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
1998 | Inside out, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
1997 | Lightscapes, ROOM 35, Sydney, NSW. |
1995 | Studio Show, Albion Street, Sydney, NSW. |
1994 | Sarah Robson, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW. |
1992 | New Work, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW. |
1990 | Isolate, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW. |
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 | ABSTRACT REALITIES: The MAG&M Project Julian Goddard Sarah Robson David Thomas |
2018 | SNO 151, Thinking Through Doing – performative collaboration with Julian Goddard, Sarah Robson and David Thomas, SNO, Sydney, NSW. |
2017 | Every Brilliant Eye, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC. |
2016 | Ku-ring-gai pH - Art + Science collaborative project, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney, NSW. |
2012 | Globalisation - Connections -Time. Kunsthalle Faust, Hannover, Germany. |
2008 | Simplex - Komplex, Universitat der Kunste, Berlin, Germany. |
2008 | Gained + Lost Day 29 February 2008, International Traveling Project + Exhibition, Europe & Nth Africa |
2006 | Absolut Secret Drawcard 06, National School of Art, Sydney, NSW. |
2006 | Rendezvous mit Gitte Vol 6, Part 1, Gitte Weise Gallerie Berlin, Germany |
2005 | Absolut Secret Drawcard 05, National School of Art, Sydney, NSW. |
Rendezvous mit Gitte Vol 5, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
ROOM 35 turns 8, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
2004 | Sieben Kunstler der Galerie, Gitte Weise Gallerie Berlin, Germany |
A different group, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
Rendezvous mit Gitte Vol 4, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
Contemporary Collections Benefactors, Art Gallery of NSW | |
Melbourne Art Fair, Gitte Weise Gallery, Royal Exhibitions Hall, Melbourne, VIC. | |
2003 | Re-Collection, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
Rendezvous mit Gitte Vol 3, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
2002/05 | Fathoming: Contemporary Australian Sculpture, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise, QLD touring Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria |
10th Anniversary Exhibition, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
Contemporary Collections Benefactors, Art Gallery of NSW | |
2001 | National Sculpture Prize + Exhibition, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT. |
Rendezvous mit Gitte, Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
2000 | Sculpture 2000, Access Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
Melbourne Art Fair, Gitte Weise Gallery Stand 7, Royal Exhibitions Hall, Melbourne, VIC. | |
1999 | Contemporary Collections Benefactors, Art Gallery of NSW. |
1999 | MCA Art Auction, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW. |
Something for above the couch! Gitte Weise Gallery, Sydney, NSW. | |
Outside Inside, Sir Hermann Black Gallery, University of Sydney Union, Sydney, NSW. | |
1998 | The Bryan Niland Collection, Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest, Sydney, NSW. |
6th Australian Contemporary Art Fair, Royal Exhibitions Building, Melbourne | |
1994 | Gallery Artists, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW. |
4th Australian Contemporary Art Fair, Royal Exhibitions Building, Melbourne, VIC. | |
1992 | Painting and Sculpture, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW. |
1991 | Microcosm, Gary Anderson Gallery, Sydney, NSW. |
Agapé, King Street Gallery on Burton, Sydney, NSW. | |
1984 | Graduate Exhibition, Canberra School of Art, ACT. |
Gallery 41, Braidwood. NSW | |
Bruce T.A.F.E Art Award, Canberra.ACT. | |
1981 | National Art Award, traveling exhibition, all capital cities |
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA, Melbourne; ARTBANK, Sydney; QANTAS, Bangkok, Thailand; QANTAS Wellington, NZ; W-Hotel, Finger Wharf, Sydney; Crown Casino, Melbourne; M.O.C.A., Brisbane; Hilton, Melbourne
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS & COMMISSIONS
1998– 2018 | Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Europe, North and South America. |
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2015 | Jackie Dunn, Spatial Interventions, Exhib. Cat. ISBN 978-0-646-92995-8 |
2011 | Paul McGillick, ‘A World in Equilibrium’ Indesign, Issue 44 |
2010 | Gina Fairley, “Sarah Robson” World Sculpture News Volume 16, Number 1, Winter 2010 |
2010 | Joseph Brennan, “Precise Spatial Ambiguities” Australian Art Review Issue 23 |
2004 | Sally Couacaud, “Hidden Treasures” Art and Australia Vol 42 No.2 |
2003 | Profile, The Manly Daily, August 5 |
2002 | Paul McGillick, Indesign, Issue No. 11. |
Louise Martin-Chew, The Weekend Australian, June 8. | |
Sandra McLean, The Courier Mail, June 12. | |
Alison Kubler, ‘Fathoming’ Exhibition Brochure | |
2001 | National Sculpture Prize + Exhibition, Catalogue, Australian National Gallery, Canberra |
2000 | Art and Australia Vol 37 No.4, Pg.591 |
Bronwyn Watson, SMH Spectrum, January 8. | |
1999 | George Epaminondas, SMH Ragbag, September 21. |
Bruce James, SMH City File,September 18 . | |
Sebastian Smee, SMH, The Galleries, September 7. | |
Bruce James, SMH Spectrum, September 4. | |
1998 | Bruce James, SMH, July 14. |
Sebastian Smee, SMH, Metro, July 10. | |
John McDonald, SMH, July 18. | |
1997 | Bruce James, SMH, November 7. |
1994 | Lifestyle Design Series, Australia, May/June. |
Elwyn Lynn, The Australian, January. | |
1993 | Catherine Osborne, SMH, Good Weekend, January 9. |
1991 | Art and Australia, Winter. |
1990 | Jo Saurin, SMH Galleries, November 30. |
Vogue Living, Australia, Oct 1990 |
AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS
2015 | Sarah S Robson, Between Certainty and Chance, Master of Philosophy Dissertation, UNSW Art & Design. |
2014 | Sarah S Robson, Spatial Interventions: The Magnitude of Absence, |
PUBLIC TALKS
2019 | ‘Contingency and the Singular Artwork,’ STACKS, Sydney. |
2017 | PHD Research, RMIT Practice Research Symposium, RMIT, Melbourne. |
2016 | Panel Discussion, Ku-ring-gai pH, Art + Science collaborative project, MAG&M, Sydney. |
2015 | MPHIL. Research, Post Graduate Research Conference, UNSW Art & Design, Sydney. |
2014 | Why Creativity? Creativity Forum, MAG&M, Sydney. |
2014 | Why Creativity? Forum, Cultural Centre, German International School, Sydney. |
2012 | Globalisation - Connections - Time. Kunsthalle Faust, Hannover, Germany. |
2005 | Fathoming: Contemporary Australian Sculpture, MAG&M, Sydney. |
2002 | FATHOMING SYMPOSIUM, Fathoming: Contemporary Australian Sculpture, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise, QLD. |
SELECTion PANEL PUBLIC ART & ART Prize
| 2020 | NORTHERN BEACHES ART PRIZE, Judge. MAG&M, Sydney, NSW. |
| 2015 | Yagoona Community Centre, Public Art Commission Panel, Sydney, NSW |