bio.
Alex Thorby is a Sydney based artist. She completed a Certificate of Fine Art at Meadowbank Tafe, a Bachelor of Art Education and Postgraduate Diploma ( painting ) at City Art Institute (COFA), Sydney.
In 1982 she studied under tonalist painter Graeme Inson, Max Meldrum's protege.
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She lectured in drawing and painting at Western Sydney TAFE Institute and the Wesley Institute , Ministry of the Arts, Sydney from 1996 to 2012.
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Her work was purchased by Margaret Olley for the AGNSW Margaret Olley Trust collection. and was shown in the 1996 Margaret Olley Retrospective, AGNSW.
Her work been selected as a finalist in the Archibald Portrait Prize, Portia Geach Portrait Prize (16 times), Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Paddington Art Prize, Salon des Refuse, Highly Commended in the Mosman Art Prize and Winner of the Waverley Art Prize, oil painting, twice.
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Alex Thorby is represented in the permanent collections of the AGNSW, Margaret Olley Trust, State Library NSW, New England Regional Gallery, Armidale University,NSW and Waverly Council.
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ALEX THORBY
Sydney, NSW, Australia
email alexthorbyartist@gmail.com
EDUCATION & WORK
2015 -2016 Co - Director North Art Space, North Sydney
1996 -2007 Lecturer (P/T), Western Sydney TAFE, Fine Arts
1996 -2012 Lecturer (P/T), Wesley Institute, Ministry of the Arts, Sydney
1989 Post Graduate (painting), City Art Institute, (now COFA) UNSW, Sydney
1984 -1988 Bachelor of Art Education, City Art institute,(now COFA ) UNSW, Sydney
1984 -1995 Illustrator (P/T), News Limited, Sydney
1982 Studied under Graeme Inson, Sydney
1980 -1981 Art Certificate, Meadowbank TAFE, NSW
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
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2024 " Echoes of Sea and Sky ' Views from the memorial chairs, Manly to Palm beach
Michael Reid Gallery, Northern Beaches, Newport
2023 "Balancing on the horizon", Manning Regional Gallery, Taree, NSW
2017 Portrait Stories, InTransit Art Space, North Sydney
2016 Terrapod, Sculpture Box, North Sydney
Perception of Place, North Art Space, North Sydney
1997 Paintings, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain
1993 Cameo, Ten Taylor Street Gallery, Sydney
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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2024 Northern Beahes Art, Prize, Manly Art Gallery
2023 Fisher's Ghost Art Award, Cambelltown Art Centre
2023 Northern Beaches Art Prize, Manly Art Gallery​
Naked and Nude Art Prize, Manning Regional Gallery
2022 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2021 Mosman Art Walk, Mosman
2021 Project 2060 : HOMEWARD BOUND, The Coal Loader, Waverton
2020 Archibald Prize, AGNSW
2019 Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Paddington
2019 The North Sydney Art Prize, Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability
2018 The Other Art Fair, Technology Park, Redfern
2018 The RED PROJECT, Underground Wonderland, Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability
2017 North Sydney Art Prize, Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, Waverton
2016 FINALE, North Art Space, North Sydney
Celebration, North Art Space, North Sydney
Portia Geach Memorial Award, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Gallery, Sydney
SYDNEY ARI SHOW, articulate Gallery, Sydney
2015 North Sydney Art Prize, Coal loader Centre for Sustainability
Plein Air Painting Prize, Parliament House (semi- finalist)
Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Sydney (semi- finalist)
New Territories, North Art Space, Sydney
2014 Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Sydney (semi- finalist)
Paddington Art Prize, Sydney
2009 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize
2008 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2007 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Salon de Refuse, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2006 Waverly Art Prize
Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2005 Waverly Art Prize,
Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Mosman Art Prize, Sydney,
Waverly Art Prize
2003 Waverly Art Prize
Mosman Art Prize
Postcards, Alumni COF
2002 Teachers Exhibition, Trapezium Gallery, Western Sydney TAFE
Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH ERvin Gallery, Sydney
2001 Top Drawer, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain
2000 Portia Geach, Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Waverly Art Prize,
Teachers Exhibition, Trapezium Gallery, Western Sydney TAFE
1999 ANIMALISTIC, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain
Sky Clad, Nudes, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain
1998 Smalls, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain
Ensieme, Trapezium Gallery, Western Sydney TAFE
1997 View over line, Level Gallery, Newtown
Waverly Art Prize
From the Mountains to the Sea, Sweet Foray Gallery, Katoomba
1996 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Waverly Art Prize
Margaret Olley Retrospective Exhibition, AGNSW, Sydney
Great big mixed End of Year Show, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain
Representations, The Gallery, Western Sydney TAFE, Sydney
On the Line, The Gallery, Western Sydney TAFE, Sydney
1995 Alice Bale Art Award
Portia Geach, Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Waverly Art Prize, (Acquisitive)
Embodying in 2:3 Ratio, Newtown Gallery, Sydney
1994 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
1993 Selected Bathurst Art Purchase
Mosman Art Prize
Nominated Black &White Illustrator of the Year, B&W Artists, Sydney
Group Show, Ten Taylor Street Gallery, Sydney
1992 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery
Nominated Black & White Illustrator of the Year, B&W Artists, Sydney
1991 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery
1989 Portia Geach Portrait Prize, SH Ervin Gallery
1989 Post Graduate, Graduating Exhibition, City Art Institute, Sydney NSW
The Stanley’s, NSW State Library
1983 DESTINATIONS, Graduating Student Exhibition, Works Gallery, Sydney
AWARDS & RESIDENCIES
2017 – 2018 Primrose Park Artist Residency, North Sydney
2015 – 2016 Pop - Up Art Space, Residency, North Sydney
2004 Highly Commended, Waverly Art Prize, Sydney
2003 Winner, Oil Prize, Waverly Art Prize, Sydney, Acquisitive
1996 Highly Commended, Waverly Art Prize, Open & Oil Section
1995 Winner, Oil Prize, Waverly Art Prize, Sydney, Acquisitive
1993 Commended Mosman Art Prize, Sydney
1982 Winner, Modern Section, Orange Blossom Festival, NSW,
Winner, Portraiture, Castle Hill Show, NSW
Winner, Drawing, Castle Hill Show, NSW
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COLLECTIONS
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Manning Regional Gallery, Taree, NSW
Art Gallery NSW – Margaret Olley Trust
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NSW State Library
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New England Regional Gallery, Armidale, NSW
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New England University, Wright College, Armidale, NSW
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Waverley Council
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Inverell Art Gallery, Inverell, NSW
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Private Collections, Australia, America, Scotland, Spain
COMMISSIONS
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2019 Portrait of Bron Stepowski
2006 Portrait of Rosa, (Commissioned by Paul Ainsworth)
2006 Portrait of Lauren, Lizzie and Brigid Guard
2004 Portrait of Chelsea and Joss Martin
1995 Portrait of David Wright, Armidale University (Commissioned by Margaret Olley )
1995 Portrait of Joe Howard, Aristocrat Industries
1994 Portrait of Fred Renton, Private
1994 Portrait of Ian Cox, Private
1993 Portrait of Len Ainsworth, Aristocrat Industries
PUBLICATIONS
1996 The Weekend Review, October 12-13
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