Born in 1970 into an artistic family, Noah Grosz completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts at La Trobe University, majoring in Painting, Printmaking, and Sculpture. He won the Castlemaine State Festival Arts Prize, secured an Australia Council Art Start Grant, exhibited at Diane Tanzer Gallery and other notable Melbourne galleries, had a major sculptural work acquired by the Bendigo Art Gallery, and today he continues to create painted and sculpted works for exhibitions and private commissions.
Exploring both 2D and 3D practices, Noah feels continuously challenged and inspired, encouraging his evolution as an artist. When not painting or sculpting, Noah has worked at the Garage Art bronze casting foundry, sculpting, mould-making and casting, as a technician at Bendigo Art Gallery, and as an art handler and technician at the National Gallery of Victoria. Currently, Noah is a full-time artist, working in his studio on the Bellarine Peninsula, on beautiful Wadawurung Country.
Noah’s current practice extends to classical bronze sculptures exploring the unique fauna of Australia, to intensely coloured, otherworldly painted landscapes, expounding the beauty and wonder of our ancient continent. For Noah art is a way of honouring nature and drawing attention to what might be lost without our mindful care and reverence.
Sculpture
Noah’s bronze sculptures reflect his deep love of the natural environment, especially Australia’s unique wildlife. In these works, he employs classical sculpting techniques and a naturalistic style to capture the beauty, strength and character of our distinctive indigenous animals: “I think of each animal I create as an individual, with its own story and character. As a child I was always enchanted by museum dioramas of animals in their natural habitat, and these memories continue to be a source of inspiration.”
Noah’s motivation to create these bronze works comes primarily from his love and concern for the natural world, but he has also drawn inspiration from other, historical sources. As a young sculptor, he developed a fondness for the whimsical cold painted bronze subjects of Franz Bergman’s foundry. His works were created in Vienna in the 19th century, the home city of Noah’s grandfather, artist Frank Grosz. While working as an art handler at the NGV, Noah discovered the intricate work of Joachim Matthias Wendt, a Danish silversmith who worked as a master jeweller in 19th century Adelaide. In his role at the gallery, Noah built archival boxes to house several of these delicate Australian animal sculptures and became intrigued by their fine sculpting and jewel-like quality. These artists and Noah’s own observations of the natural world help him to immortalise our furry and feathered friends in an everlasting form, becoming treasured heirlooms for their owners.
Noah’s bronze works are small number editions and he also accepts unique commissions.
Painting
This series of works reflect the awe and reverence Noah feels for the diverse terrains of our timeless continent. Inspired by regular camping trips and bushwalks, Noah seeks to evoke a specific place, time of day and atmosphere in each chosen scene. Just as many birds attract mates with brightly coloured feathers, Noah uses an exaggerated colour palette to entice the viewer, drawing attention to features of the landscape and encouraging us to focus on the magic of the natural world. Noah’s work also harks back to the bright colours favoured by European Impressionist painters, and the sublime romantic landscapes of artists like Caspar David Friedrich. Unlike Friedrich, Noah does not include human figures in his works which may distract from their otherworldly quality. Rather he invites the viewer to enter the landscape and share his sense of wonder at the dynamic energy of Nature that surrounds us every day.
To enquire about Noah's available paintings, please contact sharyn@manyunggallery.com.au
Exhibitions
2018
Duo exhibition, 222 Roslyn Art Space, Melbourne, Lux Demonstrat Umbra
2013
Group exhibition, Dudley House, Bendigo, Place
2011
Innovators Program, Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, St Kilda, Cathedrals at the crossroads
2010
Group exhibition, Lot 19 Gallery, Castlemaine, Spring Salon
City of Devonport Art Prize, finalist, Tidal
John Leslie Art Prize, finalist, The Vision Splendid Beauty in the Natural World
Solo exhibition, Dianne Tanzer Gallery + Projects, Fitzroy, Sublime Concave
2009
Group exhibition, Gallery B, Bendigo, Red Ribbon World Aids Awareness Exhibition
Group exhibition, Castlemaine Art Gallery, Castlemanie, The Enlightenment Never Happened
Group exhibition, Dudley House, Bendigo, Contemporary Portraits in Sculpture
Solo exhibition, Latrobe Visual Art Space, Bendigo, Cavernous Minded
Group exhibition, Castlemaine State Festival Visual Arts Biennial
2008
Group exhibition, Blindside Art Gallery, Melbourne, The Big Smoke
2007
Solo exhibition, Alluvial Art Gallery, Bendigo, Constructive criticisms
Bendigo Art Gallery Work on Paper Prize, finalist, honorable mention
Collaborative installation duo exhibition with Michael Bayley, Allan’s Walk Artist Run Space, Bendigo, Subterranea
2006
Graduate exhibition, Latrobe University Bendigo
Group exhibition at 69 Smith St. Gallery, Fitzroy
Group exhibition, Toorak, Toorak Festival of sculpture
2005
Group exhibition, Castlemaine Art Gallery. Ten Years of Bronze by the Garage Art Foundry
Awards:
2010
Australia Council Art Start Grant
2009
Red Ribbon World Aids Awareness Exhibition
Winner, Castlemaine State Festival Biennial Dominique Segan Visual Arts Prize
2007
Honorable Mention, Bendigo Art Gallery Work on Paper prize
2006
Deans Honours List, Excellence in Academic Achievement, Latrobe University Bendigo
The Student Board Award for Visual Art and Design. Latrobe University Bendigo
The Painting Staff Award for Painting. Latrobe University, Bendigo
2005
Deans Honours List, Excellence in Academic Achievement, Latrobe University Bendigo
Latrobe University Bendigo Student Association Sculpture/Ceramics Award
The Lia Teresa Memorial Prize, most outstanding second year student in the Bachelor of Visual Arts
2004
State Trustee’s Award from The National Gallery of Victoria. Outstanding Academic Achievement in first year of Bachelor of Visual Arts.
Latrobe University Bendigo Student Association Painting Award
Education:
2007 Bachelor of Visual Art, completed at Latrobe University Bendigo
Artist Assistant:
2008 Artist Painting Assistant, Dominic Ryan Peace Project, Federation Square Melbourne, Tusa
2007 Assisted Kerri Poliness on Blue Drawing mural for Bendigo Art Gallery
Collections:
Bendigo Art Gallery, Blockie, 2009