Biography

Bronwyn Russell is a Brisbane born clay and collage artist whose love in life is creating something unique and soul nourishing. Currently living in Evans Head in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, Bronwyn works out of her studio surrounded by the beautiful Bundjalung National Park. The typical Australian landscape overflows with flora and fauna, a never ending supply of inspiration and soulful connections to the land.

In 2000 her artistic journey was rediscovered whilst living on the Sunshine Coast where she attended a one day a week course in expressive painting at Caloundra TAFE. This led her to practical art studies from Nambour to Cairns, then back down to Brisbanewhere she spent 2 years studying Architectural and Sculptural Ceramics at Gateway TAFE. A calling to New Zealand arose at the beginning of 2004 and off she went to a tiny ski town called Ohakune.

Whilst there Bronwyn discovered something totally different from her passion with clay, and that was a passion for teabags. An irresistible urge to create arose so she started the hunting and gathering process. Hunting which inspired her and gathering which fulfilled her expression of this idea. Bronwyn’s inspiration was texture, the means to fulfil this expression was coffee grinds and teabags from the kitchen sink. The discovery of such a unique medium ignited a search for further unusual materials which she could use to express lines and textural elements in her work. Teabags, old Wallpaper, Japanese paper, serviettes are to name a few, along with various other materials she found rummaging through recycled outlets.

Whether it be the dying, drying, ripping up of teabags or the hunting and gathering of these unusual and inspirational materials they all embrace in her work a feeling of connection and completeness.

Bronwyn's art naturally embodies a tribal feel and spiritual essence with each piece. Each piece expressing a different story at a different place and time in her life.

2 dimensional or 3 dimensional, clay or teabags, Bronwyns intent is to create a visual experience which allows the viewer to connect to their own inner space by igniting in them the creative flame which nourishes our soul.

BORN Brisbane, QLD, Australia 1971

Now living in Evans Head, Northern NSW, Australia

EDUCATION

2005 Certificate in Small Business Management, NZ

2003-2002 Architectural Sculptural Ceramics, Brisbane, AUS

2000-2001 Visual Art Studies, Nambour/Cairns TAFE, AUS

EMPLOYMENT

2008-2009 Co-Owner of HEAVEN AND EARTH Fine Art Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW, AUS

EXHIBITING

As part of Quotidian and Quixotic, 74 Main Street, Alstonville 2477, NSW www.dacou.com.au

ART ASPECTS, Lismore, NSW

WINDHORSE GALLERY, Bangalow, NSW

JULES HUNT STUDIOS, Byron Bay, NSW

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

2011 Selected, Prometheus Art Awards, Gold Coast, QLD

2011 Selected, Bret Lethbridge Small Scale Art Awards, Brisbane, QLD

2010 Excellence Award, Palm Art Awards International

2010 Selected, Artfelt Awards, Northern Rivers Regional Gallery, Ballina, NSW, AUS

2009 Selected, Byron Bay Premium Brewery Art Awards

2008,2009 Co-Owner of HEAVEN AND EARTH Fine Art Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW, AUS

2007,2005 Co-Curator "The Art Path", Ohakune, NZ

2008,07,05 Co-Curator "Wairmarino Art Awards, Raetihi, NZ

2005 Premier Award, Waimarino Art Awards, Raetihi, NZ

2004 Open Award, Waimarino Art Awards, Raetihi, NZ

2004 Selected, Wanganui Review, Sergeant Gallery, Wanganui, NZ

2004 Selected, Graduate Exhibition, Fusions, Brisbane, AUS

2003 Emerging Artist Award, Trinity Lutheran College, QLD, AUS

2003 Selected, Graduate Exhibition, Fusions, Brisbane, AUS

2002 Encouragement Award, Gateway TAFE, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

COMMISSIONS

2007 Bret Gibson, Turoa Yurt Village, Ohakune, NZ www.turoayurts.com

ACQUISITIONS

2003 Brisbane State High, Brisbane, QLD, AUS - a collection of oxided textured tall poles.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2010 'Collection' Sweet Peas Lismore

2007 'Bits and Pieces', Egmont St, Ohakune, NZ

2005 'Christmas', Peppatree, Ohakune, NZ

2005 'Lighter Aspects of the Journey', Gifts for the Soul Gallery, Auckland, NZ

2004 'Springtime', Soul Food, Taihape, NZ

2004 'You can take the girl out of Australia, but you can't take Australia out of the girl',

Dreadnaught Mill, Ohakune, NZ

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010 'Celebration', Red Tent Yoga, Byron Bay, NSW, AUS

2010 'Artfelt', Northern Rivers Regional Gallery, NSW, AUS

2010 'Habitat", Pine Rivers Regional Gallery, NSW, AUS

2010 'Connected', Armisteads Gallery, Lismore, NSW, AUS

2010 'Recycle, Reuse', Northern Rivers Regional Gallery, NSW, AUS

2010 'Rivers of LIfe', Northern Rivers Regional Gallery, NSW, AUS

2009 'Postcard Show', Waywood Gallery, Bryon Bay, NSW

2009 Brewery Art Show, Byron Bay, NSW

2009 'Fehva', The Buttery, Bangalow, NSW, AUS

2007 'Brony and Tup', Ohakune, NZ

2006 'Off the Shelf', Palodor Fumiou Salon, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

2004 'The Thanos Influence', Fusions, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

2004 'Pedestrians No More', Arts Factory, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

2004 'Fresh Clay, Fresh Glass', Fusions Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

2004 'A Place to Belong', Arts Factory Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

2003 'Two:One', Arts Factory Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

2003,2002 'Students', Gateway TAFE, Brisbane, QLD, AUS

2001 'J and Beyond', Gallery J101, Cairns, QLD, AUS

2001 'The Postcard Show', Cairns Regional Gallery, Cairns, QLD, AUS

2001 'The Upholstery Series 2', The Blue Room, Cairns, QLD, AUS

2001 'Aqua', First Exposure Gallery, Sunshine Coast, QLD, AUS

2001 'Secret Womens Business', First Exposure Gallery, Sunshine Coast, QLD, AUS

2000 'Different Strokes', First Exposure Gallery, Sunshine Coast, QLD, AUS

UNIQUE BOLD POWERFUL SACRED SOULFUL HONEST