BIOGRAPHY
My sculptures seek to portray the character and beauty of the people in my world.
I have been influenced by two sculptors in particular, Constantin Brancusi and Henry Moore, and their work has inspired me to employ strong lines and subtle gestures to make my sculptures come alive.
I have worked in various mediums, including marble , but my appreciation of the beauty & timelessness of bronze, has resulted in my now working solely in this medium.
CV
Personal details: born Victoria, educated at University of Melbourne & University of Qld.
Worked as a physiotherapist in own private practice for 25 years in Brisbane, Qld. Australia.
Art education : studied sculpture at Brisbane Institute of Art with Frank Lambert 1991-1993 and continued at his private classes 1993-2014.
Studied marble sculpting with Graham Radcliffe 1998-2000 Brisbane.
Studied marble sculpting with Italian sculptor Giovanni Balderi 2000
President Sculptors Qld 2015,2016
Vice President Sculptors Qld 2017,2018,2019,2020
Exhibitions Record:
Group exhibitions 1992 to 2022 in Brisbane and Melbourne, London 2003.
Solo exhibition Brisbane 2002, 2006, Sydney 2016, Sorrento Vic 2020 , Brisbane 2022
2018 Exhibition Wild Forms, Urban Paradise Gallery Brisbane.
2019 Sculptors Exposed Pine Rivers Art Gallery
2019 Qseven Sorrento, Vic
2020 Manyung Gallery Sorrento Women in Action solo exhibition
2020 Northshore Sculpture By The River, Brisbane
2021 A Brush With Sculpture Exhibition Mercedes Building, Brisbane
Collections: private collections in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, France, USA, UK, Belgium, HK, Shanghai.
Public Sculptures
Twenty four sculptures in the CBD of Maryborough, Qld, Australia.
Sculptures ˜Dingo Family and Platypus in forecourt of Hervey Bay Cultural Centre, Qld
Awards:
2018 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula, Vic
2018 Winner of the Family Choice Award Montalto Sculpture Prize Vic
2018 Winner Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition
2018 Winner of the ˜Volunteers Choice Award Stanthorpe Art Prize
2018 Finalist Artentwine Sculpture Biennial Tas
2018 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Indoor Sculpture
2018 Royal Qld Exhibition 1st prize Outdoor Sculpture
2018 Winner Wynnum Manly Yacht Club Sculpture Exhibition
2018 Winner Peoples Choice Sculptors Qld Annual Exhibition
2019 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic
2019 Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition 2nd prize
2019 Winner George Verine Memorial Prize, Sculptors Qld Annual Exhibition
2019 Winner 3D Award Somerset Bendigo Bank Art Award
2019 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Outdoor Sculpture
2019 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Representational Sculpture
2020 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic Feb
2021 Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition 2nd prize
2021 Winner of 3D category Bundaberg Art Prize
2021 Finalist in Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic
Represented by:
Stony Creek Gallery, Daylesford , Vic, Australia
Salt Gallery, Queenscliff, Vic, Australia
Manyung Gallery Group, Sorrento, Vic, Australia
Montville Art Gallery, Qld, Australia
Soho Galleries, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Nissarana Galleries, Noosa Heads Qld, Australia
Moulton Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Artlovers Gallery, Southport, Qld, Australia
Henry Jones Design Gallery, Hobart, Tas, Australia
Van Gogh Gallery, Madrid, Spain
Galeria Azur, Berlin, Germany
Website: www.melacooke.com
STATEMENT
My inspiration and love of people and animals is best expressed in my bronze sculptures.I enjoy the process of working in clay, with its sensual form of expression, which allows for different qualities of surface and line, negative space, motion and emotion.The sculpture finally cast in bronze has a unique strength and beauty, and allows the figures to disclose a certain tension and suggestion of movement while maintaining subtle expression.
