My experience of collaboration with construction related disciplines goes back originally to the film business, where I worked in Hollywood doing special effects and robotics. Over the last 20 years I have work exclusively as a sculptor, and have created numerous public art works in the United States, Ireland, Belgium and Australia. All public commissions have been completed on time and within budget. These have ranged from monumental stand alone steel works created entirely from objects found on site to kinetic, animatronics installations.
I have collaborated with many different people and in many different situations; to achieve the safe and appropriate installation of public art in city gardens or restaurants (for example, with structural engineers and planning officials from the Los Angeles City Council), to arranging logistics for a film shoot in the Sahara Desert (with the head of a Berber tribe in Morocco), or to create a fire breathing centrepiece for an international arts festival (with electrical engineers in Ireland). In my current practice I work closely with a wide group of people with different skills. Depending on the job these may include welders, architects, combustion technicians, risk managers, structural engineers, electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, crane drivers, interpreters and accountants. Collaboration is the key to a good job. The creation of a sculpture does not stop at the original design – success lies in the bringing together of the right team to get the job done.
Each public commission has required specific responses to the site, its history and its current use. My approach in each case has been similar; my idea for the work at each location has developed and been honed from observation of the area, discussion with the surrounding community and a strong, and often visceral, visual response to the brief. My work creates a local identity – resulting in immediately recognizable, iconic image, accessible to the casual observer and inviting deeper consideration on a more complex conceptual level over time.
Awards/ Exhibitions
2022 Re-imagine City of Port Phillip
2019 Sculpture by the sea
2019 Montalto Sculpture Prize
2018 Sculpture by the sea
2017 Swell sculpture prize invited artist
2017 Montalto Sculpture Prize
2016 Sculpture by the Sea Bondi
2016 Yering station sculpture prize
2014 McClelland Sculpture Survey and Award
2014 Montalto Sculpture Prize
2013 Mt Buller sculpture prize
2012 The Blake prize (directors cut
2012 Montalto Sculpture Prize
2011 Lot 19 Summer Salon Highly Commended
2011 Sculpture by the sea, Bondi
2011 Lorne sculpture prize
2011 Shelved group show Dear Patti Smith Gallery
2010 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi
2010 McClelland Sculpture Survey and Award
2010 Invited Artist The Flat Lake Festival, Ireland
2010 Williamstown Contemporary Art prize
2010 Cow Parade Margret River invited artist
2009 Soft, solo exhibition Brenda May Gallery
2009 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi
2009 Invited artist Lorne Sculpture Prize
Surf Coast Shire Acquisition Award
2009 Willoughby Sculpture prize
Highly Commended
2009 Invited Artist Castlemaine Festival
2009 Montalto Sculpture Prize
2009 Animal Farm, Brenda May Gallery
2008 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi
2008 Melbourne Art Fair, Brenda May Gallery
2008 Artist in Residence, The Flat Lake Festival, Ireland
2008 Memento Mori, Brenda May Gallery
2008 Contempora 2008, Docklands
2008 Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award
2008 Sculpture 2008 - In the Elements, Brenda May Gallery
2007 Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition
Highly Commended
People’s Choice Award
Winemaker’s Award
Staff Award
2007 Artist in Residence, The Flat Lake Festival, Ireland
2005 Mount Alexander Shire Council Sculpture Award
1998 Los Angeles City Council “Sculpture in the Park” Award
Public Commissions
2022 Armstrong Creek town Centre Library City of Geelong (shortlisted)
2022 Fairy City of Port Phillip
2021 Sprout Gasworks arts Park Melbourne
2021 Menagerie Monarto zoo South Australia
2019 Melrose park commission (shortlisted)
2018 Yarra Ranges Coldstream sculpture project ( shortlisted)
2018 Bawbaw shire sculpture project ( shortlisted)
2018 Move Hunt Club City of Casey
2016 Bayswater crossing shortlisted City of Knox (shortlisted)
2016 eXert Carlisle Park Reserve City of Casey
2015 Gould street up grade Bondi Waverley council ( shortlisted)
2015 Festival of the winds Bondi Waverley council
2015 Hampton Street upgrade (shortlisted)
2015 Victorian Timber Worker’s Memorial Heyfield (shortlisted)
2014 People with David Burrows City of Maribyrnong
2014 The Flock Hookey Park City of Yarra Ranges
2013 Bend Darlington Point Murrumbidgee Shire Council.
2012 City of Melbourne Major commission Connect “shortlisted”
2012 Saw a tribute to Timber The Long Paddock Deniliquin Council (installed)
2011 Gas Works Park (shortlisted)
2010 Grow, Hobson Bay City Council (installed)
2010 Water, Darabin City Council (shortlisted)
2010 Prospect, Lismore City council (installed)
2010 Landed, Quadwest developments Perth CBD (installed)
2009 DNA, Arts ACT Canberra (installed)
2009 Footscray Station Re-development Footscray Community Arts
2009 Fountain Street development short listed, Department for Social Development Belfast Northern Ireland (short listed)
2009 Oxy-Genocide POD Moonee Valley City Council (installed)
2009 Entry, Trillium Public Art Halifax Canada (shortlisted)
2009 Cargo, (with Mike Nicholls) Bay Trail Public Art Commission Hobson Bay City Council (installed)
2009 Shod, Commission The Long Paddock Deniliquin Council (installed)
2008 Swarf Moonee Valley City Council (installed)
2005 Leaves Sinclair Apartments Melbourne (installed)
2004 Cinch, Los Angeles (installed)
2001 Linq, Los Angeles (installed)
1997 Deconstruction of news Brussels Belgium (installed)
Public/ Private Collections
BHP
Smorgon
Brockoff
ArtsACT
Hilton Park Monaghan Ireland