One of the highlights of Irene Crusca’s career was being awarded an Italian Government Scholarship to pursue study in fine art at L’Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milan.
Irene has held residencies at the Gasworks Community Arts Village and at Chisholm College, La Trobe University, Bundoora. Her work is represented in the Chisholm College art collection, La Trobe University and the Victoria University Art Collection.
Irene Crusca’s painting is influenced by her Italian background, including an upbringing nurtured by Italian opera. This is evident through the dramatic, restless movement and the use of chiaroscuro which recurs constantly in her work. The portraits not only focus on the physical exterior of her subject for the restless and lively motion of the brushstrokes permeates both the figure and the enveloping space. Her recurring personal interest in the tensions of space and subjectivity merge and the portrait is born and develops in unpredictable ways.
Due to her interest in the relationship between the space, the place and the figure she prefers to paint full-size portraits which enable a greater descriptive and symbolic space around the subject. She welcomes costume and any idiosyncratic objects or adornments which permit greater insight into the sitter’s character and emotions.
Irene has taught both theory and creative practice at a tertiary level at Photography Studies College, Southbank, and at the University of Melbourne. She has also taught within the larger community through the Gasworks Community Arts Village, Mulgrave Neighbourhood House, Clayton Arts Council, and Box Hill Tafe since 1989.
2010 Honorary Judge for the Fiona Myer and Myer Foundation Travelling Scholarships 2010, awarded to Graduate Students, Visual Art, School of Creative Industries, Victoria University
Training
2001-2003 University of Melbourne, School of Creative Arts, Carlton, Masters of Creative Arts by Research
2000 University of Melbourne, Victorian College of the Arts, Southbank. Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art
1982-1984 Victoria College – Prahran Campus, Prahran, Bachelor of Art (Fine Art) degree, Major in Painting.
Exhibitions
Irene exhibited solo at Chisholm College Art Gallery, La Trobe University Oct 1987 and
has participated in a number of group shows since commencing painting:
Group Exhibitions
2009 Victoria University Staff Show, Sunshine Campus, Victoria University
Dec 2008 Victoria University Staff Exhibition, Victoria University, Footscray Campus
Oct 2008 The Art of Healing, Portrait Artists Australia, Arthouse Hotel, Sydney
23-30 Oct 2000 VCA Montsalvat
12-26 Aug 1997 Dairing Gallery, Richmond.
7-20 Dec 1992. The Malthouse Gallery, South Melbourne.
3-11 Sep 1988 Spoleto Fringe Festival. Gasworks Gallery, Albert Park.
12-13 June 1988 Gasworks’ Artists Exhibition, Gasworks Gallery, Albert Park.
12 Sep 1987 Part of Spoleto Fringe Festival. Fairfield Gallery, Fairfield.