1961 Born Stuttgart, Germany to Spanish parents
1981 Completed Fine Arts Course, School of Arts, Sydney
1982 Completed Graduate Course – Fine Arts
1983 Completed Post-Graduate Course- Fine Arts
Whenever I face a blank piece of large, good quality paper I know right away that I need to touch it and feel the quality – open the palettes, squeeze the paint tube and watch the vibrant, muted oils, acrylic or just pastel chalk in my hand, and know that this beautiful piece of white paper will soon come alive in the form of a drawing or painting.
I’ve been painting since I left school, where immediately after, I attended art school and thought what a wonderful place this is. I knew right away that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life – paint and create.
I experience both beautiful and sad things through everyday life and these experiences generate a strong need to paint. Using colour through this wonderful medium, I express what I see and feel, and in turn I learn and discover new ways in which to express what I feel and the ideas that enter my mind.
When I start a painting, I focus on an idea or experience I once encountered, and let my feelings take control. At times the reaction I get is that the painting starts to take on a completely new direction to the initial one I had in mind. It takes on its own character as it were, however I am its creator and to this extent I have complete control over the end result. Because I detect this ‘character’, I’m able to detect the new direction that the painting is taking and stay in complete control of its final outcome. I feel this is important to an artist. I can honestly say that when I paint a painting based on a sad feeling, I can always look at it and find it very beautiful and rewarding.
I’m content in the realisation that everyone that sees one of my works, do so through different interpretations, thus giving it a new ‘feeling’ to the original that I intended. I love the sense of knowing that my work takes on different interpretations and appearances when hung in unknown homes and offices. It becomes more a child born to me.
The sources that inspire me are usually found all around us – nature being the main one. During my development, I have been able to focus on nature and the incredible sensation I get from being able to transfer the feelings I encounter and the inspiration that which drives me to transfer these feelings onto virgin paper. Because at times these inspirations come to me when I’m unable to paint, I have developed a sense whereby I ‘store’ these ideas and at times I find that when I do this I have the ability to expand on the initial idea and I feel that this sometimes take on the form of the ‘new direction’ within my painting that I sometimes encounter.
Being an artist is my life, and in no way could I imagine being, or doing, anything else.
Conchita Carambano’s style is highly recognisable and yet profoundly enigmatic. There is an elegance and a maturity in Conchita’s abstract paintings infused by an instinctive gift with colour, line and form. The Australian landscape, our earth, have been a constant source of inspiration. It has fuelled her exploration andcreativity.
Her vehicle for expression has been boundary-less, and the potency of her work has fuelled an extraordinary career that continues to gather momentum. Awards, acquisitions, civic and corporate commissions, solo exhibitions and the attention of private collectors in Australia, Asia and the Middle East punctuate Conchita’s burgeoning 30 year career.
Exhibitions
2023 – ‘Manifestation’, Manyung Gallery Sorrento
2023 – Sorrento Beachy Art Soiree, Manyung Gallery Sorrento
2022 - ‘Going Fishing’, Manyung Gallery Sorrento
2022 – ‘New Beginnings’, solo exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Sorrento
2021 – ‘Beautiful Escapades’ solo exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Sorrento
2021 – ‘The Hope’ exhibition, Art2Muse, Woollahra, New South Wales
2020 – ‘Unique Elegance’ solo exhibition, Manyung Gallery
2020 – ‘Abstracts and Impressions’ group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Flinders
2020 – exhibition, Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay
2019 – ‘Transcendent Journeys’ exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Malvern
2018 – Group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Collins Street Pop-up
2018 – ‘Instinctive Wanderings’, Manyung Gallery, Malvern
2018 – On the Map event, Manyung Gallery, Mornington
2018 – ‘Reflections of Summer’, group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Malvern
2018 – ‘Sea, Sky and Space’ group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Sorrento
2017 – Solo exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza
2016 – ‘Abstract Concepts’ group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Malvern
2016 - exhibition, Thom Gallery, Byron Bay
2015 – ‘Kaleidoscope of Colour’ group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza
2015 – Group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza
2015 – ‘Fruition’ exhibition, Linton and Kay Galleries, Subiaco, Western Australia
2014 – ‘Coastal With a Twist’ group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza
2014 – ‘Putting the Heart Back Into Home’ group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Malvern
2014 – ‘A Celebration of All Things Bright and Wonderful’, Manyung Gallery, Sorrento
2014 – ‘New Beginnings’ exhibition, Linton & Kay Galleries, Perth, Western Australia
2013 – ‘Small Works Big Ideas’ group exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Glenferrie
2013 – ‘New Horizon Abstractions’, Manyung Gallery
2013 - Contemporary Collective Exhibition @ Art Nuvo Buderim
2013 - Exhibition, Wentworth Galleries, Sydney
2013 – ‘Enlightened Sound’ exhibition, Linton & Kay Galleries, Perth, Western Australia
2013 – ‘The Beginning’ exhibition, Linton & Kay Galleries, Perth, Western Australia
2012 – Solo Show, Manyung Gallery
2012 – Group Christmas exhibition, Manyung Gallery
Group Exhibitions
Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth
Bonython Meadmore, Darlinghurst
The Rocks Gallery Argyle Centre, The Rocks
Eaglehawke, Glebe
Istral , Woollahra
Old Baker’s Gallery, Sydney
SOHO Gallery, Sydney
Quadrivium, Sydney
Art Images, Adelaide
Mahoneys Gallery, Melbourne
Gallery 482, QLD
Holdsworth gallery, Darlinghurst
Gallery 368, Crows Nest
Salmon Gallery, McMahons Point
Manyung Gallery, Melbourne
Solo Exhibitions
Gallery One, Petersham
Holdsworth Gallery, Darlinghurst
Bonython Meadmore, Darlinghurst
The Rocks Gallery, Argyle Centre, The Rocks
Native Gallery, Woollahra
Eaglehawke, Glebe
Istral, Woollahra
Art Gallery Ethel Street, Seaforth
Hester Gallery, Newtown
Gallery 368, Crows Nest
Boccoctnos, Avalon
Salmon Gallery, McMahons Point
Art-Frame, Double Bay
Mahoneys, Melbourne
Art Images, Adelaide
SOHO Galleries, Sydney
Acquisitive Works and Collections
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Duxton Hotel Melbourne
Macquarie Town Windsor
Camden Awards 1991
Camden Awards 1992
David Jones Sydney
Veritas Corporation
David Jones South Australia
BMC Software
Duxton Hotel Sydney
Sheraton Noosa Day Spa
Hyatt Hotel Canberra
Western Hotel Taipei Taiwan
Sheraton Hotel Darling Harbour
105 Pitt Street Sydney
Blessington Judd Solicitors Sydney
Sheraton Hotel Puong China
Bangkok Hotel
Marriott Sydney
David Jones Sydney
Amadeus group
Lang Walker Corporation
Shangrila Sydney
Magenta Shores
Quay West
Commissions
Shangri-La Sydney
National Library Canberra
Hayman Island Resort
Walker Corporation
ANA Hotel Sydney
Royal North Shore Hospital
Regent Hotel Sydney
Meridian Hotel Sydney
Wentworth Hotel
Bond Street Apartments
Flinders Apartments
Mosman Medical Centre
Stamford on Kent Hotel
Bennelong Apartments and Penthouse
St John of God Private Hospital Perth
Celsius at the Radisson Hotel Sydney
Kingston Apartments Canberra
Hunt & Hunt Lawyers
St.Vincent’s Hospital
Marriott Sydney
Maccau Resort China
Regent Apartments
Amadeus Group Sydney
Shangri-La China
Four Seasons Sydney
Magenta Shores
Awards
1987 Highly Commended, Camden Art Prize
1988 Open Section Winner, Camden Art Prize
1990 Acquisitive Award, Hawkesbury City Council
1991 Open Section Winner, Camden Art Prize
1991 Winner Camden Art Prize
1992 Highly Commended, Hawkesbury City Council
1993 Highly Commended, DMAS Award
1994 Highly Commended, Hunters Hill
1995 Highly Commended, Hunters Hill
1998 Highly Commended, Camden Art Prize
2001 Highly Commended, Camden Art Prize
2002 Highly Commended Works on Paper
2003 Open Winter Camden Art Prize
2004 Highly Commended, Camden Art Prize
2005 Highly Commended, Waverley Art Prize
2005 Highly Commended, Camden Art Prize
2005 North Sydney Art Prize Winner
2006 Finalist Blake Art Prize
2013 Finalist Paddington Art Prize
Publications
Australian Interior Vol.17 no.13
The Sydney Weekly Jan 27-Feb 2 1998
Instyle Magazine February 1998
Look Magazine NSW Art Gallery 1999
Art in Australia Magazine 1999
New South Wales Gallery 1999
Selected Contemporary Artists of Australia by Michael Berry Published 2003