ARTIST’S STATEMENT
“I commenced my career as a Graphic Designer in Sydney in the seventies, and moved into many aspects of visual arts – from performance/event art, painting, sculpture, jewellery design and management of galleries. For the past twenty years I have lived and worked as a professional artist in the Hunter Valley, participating in over ninety exhibitions, nationally and Europe.
Portraiture is a keen interest, with celebrities and dignitaries included in my portfolio. I am fascinated with portraying the human figure especially the face. This has led me to exploring and expressing the dynamic and delicate nuances of the human form and psyche. I enjoy working with challenging and provocative themes such as an exhibition of drawings and paintings at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, exploring the world of human caprice.
In 2015 I was invited to exhibit figurative paintings at Songjiang Museum, Shanghai, China, with 5 Australian artists, curated by Piers Dudley–Bateman. I have participated in many exhibitions of collaborative works at STUDIO LA PRIMITIVE with Eric Werkhoven”
WEBSITE – http://studiolaprimitive.com
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
‘Erotic HazeE’ – Contemporary Gallery, Newcastle
‘Fantastication’ – portrait exhibition John Paynter Gallery Newcastle
‘Cosmic Athletes’ – figurative paintings – Lindsay Street Gallery Newcastle
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012 – PORTIA GEACH TRAVELLING EXHIBITION – Tweed River Art Gallery
2011 – BLAKE ART PRIZE – DIRECTORS CUT (online)
2011- PORTIA GEACH Memorial Prize – S. H. Ervin Gallery – Sydney.
2010 – BLAKE ART PRIZE – DIRECTORS CUT EXHIBITION (online)
2009- MAITLAND ART PRIZE , Miniature painting – Highly Recommended
2008- COUNTRY ENERGY LANDSCAPE PRIZE, The Gunnery Gallery, Sydney
2008 – FROM NOW TO MAO , Armory Gallery, Olympic Park, Sydney
2008 -CELEBRITY PORTRAITS EXHIBITION – National Trust Portrait, Brough House, Maitland NSW
2007- COUNTRY ENERGY LANDSCAPE PRIZE, Dubbo Regional Art Gallery
2007- CELEBRITY PORTRAITS – National Trust Portrait Project, Maitland
2006- PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD , S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2004- PUB CULTURE, Maitland Regional Art Gallery NSW
2004 PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD , S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2003 THE WANDERING, Maitland, City Art Gallery, NSW
2003 – WASTE AS ART, Newcastle Regional Museum
2001 – SCULPTURE OF THE MONTH – MAY, Maitland City Art Gallery grounds
1998- PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Robyn Werkhoven at the PAA Book Launch 2012 – behind her are Louise Doyle, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, and artists Elizabeth Bardon, Kathrin Longhurst, and Janis Lander – photo by Craig Peihopa