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SANDRA BLACK

Born.  1950 Bairnsdale, Victoria

STATEMENT

Sandra Black spent her early years in Victoria before moving to Kendenup and attending Albany Senior High School.  From there she moved to Perth to complete an Associateship in Art Teaching from the WA Institute of Technology (now Curtin University) in 1970.

Sandra has been working with porcelain clay since about 1976.  She is constantly fascinated by its translucency, hardness, ability to carry colour and fine surface for carving and piercing. She finds it sensuous to the touch, both during the making process and as a completed work, describing it as having “a purity and presence unlike other clays."

Porcelain vessels for Bacchanalia III are made using slip casting techniques, with inspiration for shaping and patterning coming from a vine strung over the pergola in her own backyard.

Sandra has been working as a full time artists and part time arts educator since 1976. She is currently tutoring in the Associate Degree for Contemporary Aboriginal Art at Curtin University and is also a grant selection panel member for ArtsWA. Past professional affiliations include assessment panel roles with the WA Department for the Arts and Craft Australia, board and vice presidency positions with Craftwest, a research role in the School of Art at Curtin University, and a founding member and presidency role with the Ceramic Arts Association of WA.  

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Black has held 30 solo exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and USA since 1976.  These include:

    • 2004 Masterworks, Auckland, New Zealand
    • 2003 Perth Galleries, Perth, WA
    • 2001 Beaver Galleries, Canberra, ACT
    • 2000 Object Galleries, Customs House, Sydney, NSW
    • 1999 Fusions Gallery, Brisbane QLD
    • 1998 Perth Galleries, Subiaco, WA
    • Distelfink Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne, VIC
    • 1994 Ceramic Art Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, NSW
    • Distelfink Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne, VIC
    • 1992 Gallerie L, Hamburg, Germany
    • 1991 Distelfink Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
    • Boise State University, Idaho, USA
    • Gallery 8, LaJolla, San Diego, USA
    • 1989 Focus Exhibition, Art Gallery of WA
    • 1988 Masterworks, Auckland, NZ
    • 1988 Fremantle Arts Centre, WA Festival exhibition

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

Black has participated in over 160 invitational and juried exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, Germany, United Kingdom , USA and Netherlands.

SELECTED AWARDS AND COMMISSIONS

    • 2002 Co-recipient (with Anne Farren) of Australia Council New Work grant, ArtsWA Arts & Culture Export Program, International Foundation for the Arts & Culture and Art on the Move touring exhibition funding
    • 2000 19th National Craft Acquisition Award - Museum & Art Gallery of Northern Territory
    • 1996-7 Professional Development Grants - Australia Council and ArtsWA
    • 1988 Winner - Fletcher Challenge Award, NZ
    • Professional Development Fellowship - Australia Council

COLLECTIONS

Represented in over 46 major public national and international collections, including the Art Gallery of WA, the National Gallery of Victoria, the High Court of Australia (Canberra), the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Sydney), the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (Tasmania), the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Auckland Institute and Museum, Gifu Prefecture Ceramic Museum (Japan), Toki Ceramic Research Institute (Japan) and the Australian Embassy (Tokyo, Japan).