Sue Smales is a painter, sculptor, and mixed media artist. Born and raised in Papua New Guinea, later residing in New Zealand, and now based in Melbourne, Australia, Sue’s artistic career has spanned 4 decades, with her art focusing on the landscapes, wildlife, and culture of all 3 countries. These places have had a strong influence on Sue’s art on both a conscious and unconscious level. Sue’s formative years in Papua New Guinea were the foundation of her style of drawing and painting.
“Fact and fiction storytelling combined with optical illusions, clashing and strongly saturated colours, disparate designs and visual distortions all appeal to my sense of humour and belief systems. I believe that drawing and painting can be a portal through which to engage the creative potential of the unconscious mind.
I sit, in theory and practice alongside the Symbolists of the late 19th Century, who advocated the expression of an idea, rather than a realistic interpretation.”
Education
2015
Distinction in Advanced Diploma of Creative Product Development, Sculpture, Chisholm Vic Australia. Post Grad.
2014
Diploma of Counselling in the Therapeutic Arts, Chisholm Vic Australia
2008-10
Curator of Exhibitions for PNG High Commission Wellington NZ
2003-10
Director & Curator Websters Art Gallery Wellington NZ
2000
Diploma Visual Art (Painting) NMIT, New Zealand
Select Exhibitions & Awards
2021 ASV
(Association of Sculptors Victoria) Annual Awards Exhibition, finalist (The Dancer)
2021 Toorak Village
Sculpture Exhibition Vic (Boobook Owl bark sculpture) finalist
2021 Rennies Gallery
Sculpture Exhibition, Acheron, Victoria (3 pieces selected)
2021 Arc Yinnar
Sculpture Exhibition, Victoria finalist (Alien Tree Pod)
2020 Toorak Village
Sculpture Exhibition Vic (Boobook Owl bark sculpture) finalist
2019 ASV
(Association of Sculptors Victoria) Annual Awards Exhibition, finalist (World Turtle, bark sculpture)
2019 Toorak Village
Sculpture Exhibition Vic (Tawny Frogmouth, bark sculpture) finalist
2019 Oak Hill Gallery
'Symbiotic' joint exhibition with Brooke Thomson
2018 Toorak Village
Sculpture Exhibition Vic (Birds of a Feather, bark sculpture) finalist
2017 Toorak Village
Sculpture Exhibition Vic (Kookaburra, bark sculpture) finalist
2015 Walker Street Gallery Victoria
ADCPD Chisholm Graduates Exhibition
2015 Oak Hill Gallery
'Patterns of My Life' Solo Exhibition
2011 Pataka Museum Porirua, Wellington
'Off the Wall' Group Exhibition with 11
other Mural artists
2011 Porirua Railway Station, Wellington
'Birds on a Train' Mural, ?Golden Foot Award 2012, group award for best walking project.
2010 Pipitea Marae Wellington
'Bung Wantaim' group exhibition with PNG Contemporary artists
2010 Gallery Frames Wellington
'Dreamscapes & Drowning Flowers' Exhibition with Tupe Papali'i
2007/8 Websters Gallery Wellington
represented by
2006/7 Affordable Art Show Wellington
selected works for Annual Public Exhibition
2006 Websters Gallery Wellington
Retrospective Solo Exhibition
2005 Naxos Gallery Wellington
Cetaceans Solo Exhibition
2001 Metro Gallery Nelson
'Cyclosymbolic' an Exhibition with Natasha Smith
2001 Arts Council NZ Nelson
'Ancient Chelonii' Solo Exhibition
2000 The Suter Regional Art Gallery Nelson
'X' Graduates Exhibition NMIT