Biography
Bronwyn Russell-Collins 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.
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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
2012 'EARTH', Northern Rivers Community Gallery, Ballina, NSW
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
