ART ACQUISITION - PERMANENT COLLECTION HURSTVILLE MUSEUM & GALLERY - 2025

I’m thrilled to announce the acquisition of two of my works into the permanent collection of Hurstville Museum and Gallery through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

The two acquisitions are mixed media works ‘In the wake of my insomnia’ and ‘Playground in my wake’ which were created in 2022 as part of my awarded artist-in-residence at Carss Park through Georges River Council and Hurstville Museum & Gallery and were exhibited as part of my solo show ‘In the wake of…’

During my residency I focused on the site of Carss Park and reflected upon my childhood home across the bay. The residency provided me with the opportunity to investigate my past, inspiring poetic evocations that explore residual experiences through the subconscious whilst simultaneously exploring elements drawing on my Maltese heritage and local connection to the South/South West of Sydney.

Feel so honoured to be part of this great collection.

Image 1: ‘In the wake of my insomnia’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

Image 2: ‘Playground in my wake’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

#contemporaryart #regionalgallery #culturalgiftsaustralia #permanentcollection #culturalgifts #artcollection #hurstvilleregionalgalleryandmuseum #louisachircop #australianmalteseartist #stgeorgeandsutherlandshire

‘In the wake of my insomnia’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

‘Playground in my wake’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

'Mara' Second Edition Women's Collective Exhibition - Marie Gallery5 in partnership with The Bureau Iniala Valletta Malta

It’s official my first exhibition in Malta! So excited to have been selected as one in a handful of female artists for the second edition of ‘Mara’ curated by Maria Galea director of Marie Gallery5 and Art Advisory in partnership with The Bureau Iniala Valletta, Malta….amazing! The exhibition will feature 12 female Maltese artists and 2 female led creative studios, shedding a spotlight on their creative practices and independent artistic narratives.

Showcasing and celebrating female creatives, the second edition of Mara brings together artists and creative studios using a variety of mediums and processes to mark their individuality and independent narratives. The Bureau Iniala, together with Marie Gallery 5 has partnered up with il-lokal to expand on the idea of creativity, integrating design and art in a space dedicated to promote creative talent to its audience. This showcase will feature over 12 female artists and two creative studios, highlighting and integrating works that best represent their current practice.

Bureau iniala is not a gallery but an advisory and events space that aims to promote and support the artistic community while providing art advisory services to its members in collaboration with Marie Gallery5.

Featuring:

Thea Vella, Katie Sims, Sasha Vella, Ioulia Chante, Leanne Lewis, Gulja Holland, Kamy Aquilina, Louisa Chircop, Debbie Bonello, Sofia Kuzmenko, Aprille Zammmit, Therese Debono, Shanice Farrugia, Wioletta Kulewska, Nicole Sciberras Debono.

The opening will be held on the 14th April at 7.30 pm at Bureau Iniala, Valletta.
.
.
For more information contact info@mariegallery5.com

Bureau Iniala & Marie Gallery5,
In partnership with il-Lokal

WINNER 'HIGHLY COMMENDED' - PADDINGTON ART PRIZE 2021

So proud to have have won ‘Highly Commended’ in this year’s Paddington Art Prize for my work ‘Bush Embrace - Pulpit Rock Bundanon’ selected by artist/curator Julia Martin.

Big Congratulations to all the finalists and other winners, especially winner of the Paddington Art prize Sophie Cape. Thank you to the judges artist and winner of the 2017 Paddington Art Prize Tim Allen, Director and CEO of the National Art School Steve Alderton and Senior Curator at Manly Art Gallery & Museum Katherine Roberts.

Special heartfelt thanks to Marlene Antico Founder and Principal Sponsor of the Paddington Art Prize, Chris Antico, Pia Antico, Defiance Gallery other affiliated sponsors and the lovely Andrew Treloar for their generosity, kindness and support during the exhibition and award presentation. Their continual support for the arts and artists is undoubtedly treasured and valued.

The exhibition of National finalists will continue at Defiance Gallery from Friday 15 October to Sunday 24 October 2021 (11am – 5pm). See winners and finalists here

(Left to right artists) Overall Winner Sophie Cape, Louisa Chircop and Pamela Honeyfield.

Chris Antico Principal Co-Sponsor and Louisa Chircop Winner of ‘Highly Commended’ Paddington Art Prize sponsored by artist/curator Julia Martin.

UPCOMING! 'TALKING WITH PAINTERS' PODCAST EPISODE 109 BY MARIA STOLJAR

My Archibald subject this year is my amazing artist friend Filippa Buttitta. We’ve just been interviewed by Maria Stoljar from ‘Talking with Painters’ podcast series Episode 109 chatting about our Archibald Prize entries. Her first ever double podcast interview coming up next week.

Stay tuned for when it drops!

FINALIST - 2020 PADDINGTON ART PRIZE

What an honour to be selected as a finalist in this year’s Paddington Art Prize with my work ‘In Love and War -Archibald Fountain Hyde Park’ amongst such an amazing line up of Australian artists. The exhibition of national finalists will be exhibited at Defiance Gallery Paddington Sydney and the winners will be announced on Thursday 29th October 2020. Congratulations to all the finalists! and a huge thank you to the highIy esteemed panel of judges Ross Laurie, Rhonda Davis and Jeanette Siebols for selecting my work. I cannot wait to see their selection.

See selected finalists here

………………

The Paddington Art Prize is a $30,000 National acquisitive prize, awarded annually for a painting inspired by the Australian landscape. Established in 2004 by Arts Patron, Marlene Antico OAM, this National prize takes its place among the country’s most lucrative and highly coveted painting prizes.

 The prize encourages the interpretation of the landscape as a significant contemporary genre, its long tradition in Australian painting as a key contributor to our national ethos, and is a positive initiative in private patronage of the arts in Australia.

Marlene Antico OAM, created the Prize in order to assist with the monetary difficulties that often impede artists from showcasing their works. As an art student, gallery owner and volunteer guide at the AGNSW for over 10 years, she has underscored her commitment to supporting contemporary Australian artists, aware, of the financial concerns that prevent many artists from devoting themselves entirely to their art practice.

In 2017, Chris Antico, Marlene’s son joined as Principal Co-sponsor of the prize. The Paddington Art Prize appreciates the ongoing generosity of the following key sponsors and supporters: Marlene Antico OAM, Chris Antico, UNSW Art & Design, The Sydney Art Store, Sofala Cottage, Charvin Oils, Lucio’s Italian Restaurant, Defiance Gallery,  Nock Art Foundation, Tracey Deep Floral Sculptures, Valiant Hire and Woollahra Municipal Council.

…………………

A $30,000 Annual National Acquisitive Prize for a painting inspired by
the Australian Landscape

Sponsored by Marlene Antico OAM.

We also have five non-acquisitive prizes listed below:

HONOURABLE MENTION PRIZE

a $3,000 prize  sponsored by Chris Antico (Co-Principal Sponsor)

HIGHLY COMMENDED PRIZE

$1,000 prize

DEFIANCE GALLERY AWARD

 Two artists selected from the 2020 submissions will be chosen by Directors Campbell Robertson-Swann &  Lauren Harvey, and offered an exhibition with Defiance Gallery at Mary Place, Sydney in 2021.

NOCK ART FOUNDATION PRIZE

 Michael Nock will offer the TWO above mentioned selected artists a 3 week Residency at “Giverny”, Queenstown, New Zealand. With artist studios and airfares included.

UNSW ART & DESIGN PRIZE

will offer a chosen artist the opportunity to create a limited edition print

with Master Printer, Michael Kempson.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

$1,000 gift certificate from Theresa Sarjeant of Fine Art Imaging

‘In Love and War - Archibald Fountain Hyde Park’ 2020, Mixed media and photomontage on Saunders Waterford Paper, 150cm x 100cm

Parks are landscapes. They often feature structures that tell narratives about the built history of our landscape. With the looming 100 year anniversary of the Archibald Prize I painted the famous Archibald Fountain in the iconic Hyde Park. It’s location, a junction point called ‘Birubi Circle’.

UPCOMING! 'TALKING WITH PAINTERS' AUSTRALIAN PODCAST SERIES BY MARIA STOLJAR

I’m thrilled and honoured to be invited to talk on Maria Stoljar’s ‘Talking with Painters’ Australian podcast series very soon. The podcast is full of the personal stories of the painters of Australia – leading, mid-career and emerging – not only as to how they live and work as artists, but how they became an artist in the first place, the highs and lows and what they’re working on now.

In 2020 the podcast was listed in British auction house Christie’s ‘Best art-world podcasts’ and frequently appears at the top of the Apple Podcasts Australian Visual Arts charts. It has also been recommended by Art Almanac and featured in Zart Art magazine.

I’ve long been a fan of this very popular podcast series, so it’s a bit surreal to be asked for an interview.

Follow ‘Talking with Painters’ on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Hope you enjoy listening!

Listen to the podcast here.

COLLABORATION - CLOS MILAN 2018 FIRST RELEASE IN TEN YEARS - SAINT RÉMY DE PROVENCE FRANCE

It’s bottled, labelled and ready to be enjoyed! I’m very pleased with the outcome and so honoured to be featured on Domaine Milan’s 2018 C.L.O.S MILAN as their first international artist from Australia. I’m also very blessed that the original artwork done for the label will form part of their private Art Collection at the winery for all to enjoy.

It was extremely humbling to have Henri Milan fall in love with the work that I created for the label (In true French passionate fashion!) he commented that I very successfully captured… “the true embodiment of their philosophy behind their natural process with the work”…the philosophy they pride being a love in… “an organic farming approach, the harmony created by a biodynamic practice in the mind and the simple influences of the moon on the rhythms of the seas, of women and of men…” to produce their exclusive sulphur free wines that travel far and wide.

My collaboration with this gorgeous family owned boutique winery in the heart of the Alpilles has been one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences that I cherished whilst spending time in France on Art Residency. The experience and the connection to the very special community in Saint Rémy has brought me much happiness and new found friends that will be around for many years to come.

I look forward to returning to France one day soon to celebrate our union (of course drinking the fine wine!), continuing friendships and making many more.

Thank you to all who made this possible!

Mes sincéres remerciements! X

C.L.O.S 2018 Artwork featured ‘Vénus cousant la brise’ (Venus sewing the breeze) by Louisa Chircop

DR JULIE KEYS - ACCLAIMED AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR REVIEWS 'COME SHOWER WITH ME'

Feeling extremely humbled and privileged to have struck up a wonderful friendship with the amazing Australian author Julie Keys, whose debut novel The Artist's Portrait which was shortlisted for The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers in 2017 and published by Hachett Australia is going gangbusters. Julie became fascinated by my art and my journey as an artist and attended my exhibition Come Shower With Me currently on at The SHAC Robertson NSW. She was kind enough to put pen to paper and write a review. Read about it here.

Louisa Chircop – Come shower with me

I met Louisa on Instagram. She followed me. I followed her back. She posted photos of artwork. Hers. Striking images with elements of the surreal that centred on scenes of her showering.  I pressed the screen to get a closer look. But those phones, they’re just not big enough. 

I’d developed a fascination for visual arts. This happened while I was doing background research for a novel I was writing.  I became absorbed – went to exhibitions, listened to talks, sat in on workshops, poured myself into textures and scents and images, taking in the debates and controversy on what made art and artists great, all the while wondering if  I was really getting it.  That whole visceral reaction people talked about eluded me. I felt distant, aloof until I came across something of Rothko’s from the 1930’s; streamlined bodies standing on a subway their heads curved forward like hooks.  My chest thumped. I sucked in a breath. The next time was over a painting by Vida Lahey.

Half a dozen years later I was trying to get a better look at Louisa’s work on a dodgy phone beneath poor lighting. Something had caught my attention. I was curious. The paintings, it turned out, were part of an exhibition. Come shower with me.  I DM’ed Louisa.

I have not lost that awkward, slightly uncomfortable feel of going to an exhibition and of being around art. Not that I want things too sweet. I crave art that widens my eyes, gives me that cold shiver, makes me want to look. The gallery was light and warm. I relaxed. It was an easy space to be in and Louisa’s work encouraged me to stand closer, stand further away, scrunch my eyes, hold out my hand, see everything.

Showering is mostly a solo activity for me, a sanctuary, a place of contemplation. But there I was being invited to join Louisa in that private moment when thoughts disassembled, dripped from your hair and fingers and swirled around your skin, ingesting body parts with tarry thick ideas before they disappeared down the plughole if you didn’t get hold of them. I walked the shape of a U in the gallery absorbing pieces of  Louisa’s gaze, bold fragments, exchanging energy in my own conversation with each canvas, craning my neck for one last look before I moved onto the next one.

Then, I found the artist, the flesh and blood one. This was the first time Louisa and I had met in real life. There were no profound questions from me. My head was full of  thoughts and impressions and sensations that I needed to process. The questions would come later – after I’d had time to stew on it. What I did instead was position Louisa in front of the largest canvas, took photos then got someone to take photos of the two of us together, tourist style – post shower. And for some reason that seemed exactly the right thing to do. 

Louisa Chircop – Come shower with me

The SHAC, Robertson

February 22nd to March 16th

SHORTLISTED FOR THE MUD LITERARY PRIZE 2020. A story about art, murder, and making your place in history.

'An intriguing read with compelling descriptions of early 20th-century Sydney in all its squalor, debauchery and fascinating historical detail.' Who Weekly

Read More about Julie Keys here.

'COME SHOWER WITH ME' - SOLO EXHIBITION OPENING 22nd FEB 2020 @shac_robertson

Pen in the Date!…Please join me at the opening of my solo exhibition 'Come Shower with Me' at the SHAC (Southern Highlands Artisans Collective) in Robertson in the wonderful community of the Southern Highlands - which we all know has recently been through a terrible period of the recent bushfires. It's a great opportunity to visit the area, and support the local businesses doing it tough (from buying a coffee to booking a place to stay for the weekend) like at the Robertson Hotel who are proud sponsors of The SHAC. Alternatively join me at Robertson Pub for a drink and an early dinner after the show.

Exhibition to be officially opened by award-winning Sydney Artist Halinka Orszulok Saturday 22nd February 2020 at 2pm at The SHAC (NEXT TO THE BIG POTATO) Exhibition continues and closes Monday March 6th 2020 at 4pm

PLEASE NOTE: the Official opening with drinks and opening address by award winning artist Halinka Orszulok will be Sat 22nd Feb 2020, However the exhibition will be open to the public from Friday 21st Feb 2020 if you happen to be already in the area.

The event is free but please RSVP here to give us an idea with numbers.

Drinks and nibbles provided.

If you can't make the opening you are welcome to drop in Gallery hours are Friday-Monday 10am-4pm

All works for sale. Works will also be available for purchase in an online catalogue coming soon.

enquiries@theshac.com.au

Enquiries: Patsy Peacock (President)
patsy@theshac.com.au
0614 0299 8644

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

‘Come shower with me’ invites viewers into the intimate world of Sydney based artist Louisa Chircop. As the title of her exhibition suggests, Chircop not only utilises the idea of the history of women’s activity in the bathroom but also uses the concept of showering to parallel her creative process in an ode to free association and surrealism, similarly the way ideas come to mind in the shower.

Through Chircop’s experience and interest in art history and psychological phenomenons, she explores the human condition creating images that are illicit in nature, rendered with complex meaning and hints of the shadow self. Chance encounters are played out repositioning women in art history whilst simultaneously positioning herself in relation to history, creating a metaphorical allegory about our present time.

Chircop is comfortable as chameleon, every image is a reconstruct of thought drawn from a stream of subconscious detritus into the reservoir of her conscious awakening. She creates with the inquisitive mind of an octopus foraging through its shady garden on the ocean floor. Every work, a token re-cleansing of the body, mind and spirit is an attempt to navigate existential pathways through the world resurrecting the female image from the grave of western art.

CURATED EXHIBITION - 'EVERYDAY MADONNA' CASULA POWERHOUSE ARTS CENTRE

Very happy to be included in this exhibition at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre with works featured from over the last five years sourced from private collections. Exhibition launch event on Saturday 18 May (2-4pm) All Welcome.

"Drawing from iconic and classical images of the Madonna and Child (created mostly by men), artists in Everyday Madonna respond to the ideas of motherhood from their own perspective”.

18 May 2019 - 30 Jun 2019 | 9.00am - 4.00pm

Everyday Madonna features works by these artists: Eddie Abd, Linda Brescia, Louisa Chircop, Karla Dickens, Mona Ibrahim, Nicole Monks, Susan O’Doherty, Pamela Rodoreda, Marikit Santiago, Rokeya Sultana.