"Portrait Artists Australia: 30 Paintings"
2005-04-22 until 2005-05-27
Gallery 1601 in the Australian Embassy
Washington, DC, USA United States of America

Thirty paintings by members of Portrait Artists Australia will be hung in a special exhibition in Washington D.C, coinciding with the Annual Conference of the Portrait Society of America, 12th – 15th May 2005. The Director of Cultural Relations in Washington, Ron Ramsey, will host a reception on May 15th. The Director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, Mark Pachter will open the exhibition. The reception will showcase fine Australian food and wines. Guests will include Gordon Wetmore, President of the Portrait Society of America, and over 300 delegates.

The Macquarie International Portrait Artists Australia Exhibition 2005 is significant because:

It is the first time any independent artists’ group organised an international exhibition of members’ work. Usually such shows are organised by curators working for big galleries such as the National Art Gallery, or for International Events such as The Venice Biennale. This ensures that the international curatorial network plays very powerful role in the art scene. It also means that artists need to go through the network of curators and art dealers to have their work seen by the general public. It is not unreasonable that artists should desire to play a more direct role in organising national and international exhibitions. Artists communicating directly with artists from other cultures foster an international network of artists. The agendas of artists are often very different from the agendas of curators and dealers, and the public is entitled to sample from both menus.

Such a show gives the public an opportunity to see art works that, being private commissions, are usually hung in private homes. Commercial art galleries do not mount exhibitions of works that are not for sale, and the portrait prize shows that attract so much attention from the press, are controlled by the judges’ personal preferences. Many portrait artists are never given the opportunity to show their works to the public.

Portrait Artists Australia is the brainchild of artist Nafisa Naomi, who possesses the rare combination of artistic talent and business vision. Portrait Artists Australia is an incorporated, non-profit, national association of professional artists, dedicated to representing and promoting the art of portraiture in Australia and overseas. PAA members are strongly represented in selections for the annual portrait competitions: The Archibald; The Portia Geach; The Doug Moran; The Shirley Hannan; as well as other genre shows, figurative and abstract. Several members are listed on the Historical Memorials Committee Register, eligible for commissions of parliamentary portraits. Several are represented in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

The comprehensive website: www.portraitartistsaustralia.com.au offers samples of Members’ work.

Since its Launch, in October 2002, by patron Andrew Sayers, (Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra), PAA has held five shows in the three floors of the ArtHouse Hotel, 275 Pitt St, Sydney. As well, PAA maintains a permanent rotating exhibition in the top floor Attic Bar Gallery in the ArtHouse Hotel. The other patrons of Portrait Artists Australia are Edmund Capon, (Director of the Art Gallery of NSW) and Paul Delprat (Principal and Director of the Julian Ashton Art School).

Portraits by Yoli Salmona, Janis Lander and Sally Robinson will be exhibited.

Yoli Salmona exhibits her portrait of world boxing champion Kostya Tszyu

Salmona is a Premiere Portfolio Artist at absolutearts.com. View more of her work at: http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/s/salmona/

IMAGE
Yoli Salmona
Kostya Tsyu Icon
2001
Oil Painting
42 x 65 cm

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of District of Columbia

Other Important Exhibitions in Washington