About/exhibitions/statement
Amelia grew up on a high country station in Canterbury, New Zealand where her great love for animals was born. After spending many years away from home, filling up on life experience and learning worldly lessons abroad, it is back in the hills and surrounded by four legged inspiration that she currently resides.
Amelia gained her art tuition during her high school years in Christchurch. She received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Otago, achieving majors in both Art History & Theory and Theatre Studies and completed her studies at the University of Amsterdam. Some career highlights include being employed as expedition artist for the ‘Tracing Tea’ documentary filmed in India; A commission from the dairy conglomerate Fonterra to do a series of paintings and prints depicting the dairy industry, with those works now hanging in prominent company locations around the world; And in 2015 her work ‘Distinguishable’ was bought by Lincoln University, New Zealand to form part of their art collection. She has held and continues to hold solo and group exhibitions around the country and has her artwork hanging in numerous local and international collections. Amelia also writes and performs professionally as an actress under the name Amelia Dunbar. |
PAST EXHIBITIONS/AWARDS
2017 - 'Bulls Gold' exhibition - The Artist's Room, Dunedin 2017 - Craigs Aspiring Art Prize - Winner 2016 - King's College Art Fair - Invited artist 2016 - Art House Tour, Auckland - Invited artist 2016 - Sensational Selwyn Awards - Arts and Culture - Winner 2016 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - selected artist 2015 - 'Distinguishable' purchased by Lincoln University for the permanent art collection 2015 - Group exhibition – Animals- Selwyn Gallery 2015 - Culverden Fete group exhibition selected artist 2015 - Craigs Aspiring Art Awards - selected artist 2014 - Solo exhibition – Imaginary Menagerie – XCHC Christchurch 2012-13 - Travelling exhibition with The Bitches’ Box and Mel Parsons 2011 - Guest artist at The Culverden Christmas Country Fete 20th year 2011 - Solo exhibition – Heads and Tails - Longbeach, Mid Canterbury 2010 - Solo exhibition – Beefed Up - Smyth Galleries, Auckland 2009 - Joint exhibition with Deb Britten - Smyth Galleries, Auckland 2003 - ‘Mother Daughter Exhibition’ - Akaroa 2003 - Rangi Ruru Charity Auction 2002 - Selwyn Exhibition – awarded Malvern Community Arts council ‘Young Achievers Award’ 2001 - Group exhibition ‘Anna Guild and Friends’ – Selwyn Gallery, Darfield ARTIST STATEMENT ...With special thanks to my beloved furries. I have always enjoyed creating. From the early days of modelling clay novelty earrings (thank you for humouring me mum), to 'pimped' gold leaf animal skulls, to my ultimate love, painting. There is nothing more satisfying than enduring the mess and confusion and uncertainty, to wind up at that thrilling "it works!" moment. I want to connect with the subject matter, and to portray something that isn't the obvious. I want to challenge perceptions through colour and form and give my subjects a limitless life outside of the hills. I want to liven up spaces, but ultimately leave an impression on the viewer that is more than just a 'picture'. 
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