About
Biography
David Bongiorno is an award winning figurative artist working in Maleny, Queensland.
Exhibiting since 2004 his practice has included solo and group exhibitions, private commissions, short listing in various local and national art prizes and “Emerging Wearable Artist Winner” at the Australian Wearable Art Festival, 2022 and “Highly Commended” at the Waterbrook Drawing Prize, 2023.
Fascinated by the portrayal of the figure in art as a young child, he has been compelled to pursue it ever since. Recurring themes in his work explore the inherent beauty in form and movement, the decorative potential of the nude and investigating the underlying psyche of physical expression and archetypes.
Although his practice incorporates drawing, painting and wearable artworks, drawing still remains David’s primary form of artistic expression. Working intuitively, his art ranges from realism to expressionism, utilising any media needed to achieve his artistic goals.
Consistently exploring new media and techniques, his autodidactic studies of anatomy, composition and art history have informed his keen interest in the human figure as the major focus in his art. His influences are the artists of the nineteenth and early twentieth century’s whose masterworks he studies in order to learn from them as his teachers. A range of aesthetics and philosophies inform his work including realism, expressionism, 20th century nude photography, fashion, dance and design.
David also uses his experience in management to help drive his vision for a flourishing art culture in his community through curating group exhibitions, creative event collaborations, teaching and mentoring.
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Exhibitions and Art Prizes
2024 “A Wearable Canvas” exhibition, Cardinia Cultural Centre, Melbourne, Vic, participating artist
2023 Presentation of new wearable artwork “Valkyrie”, Australian Wearable Art Festival, Qld
2023 In Process- Form and Function, Live drawing performance with contemporary dancer/ choreographer Fiona Jopp and singer/ composer Tobias Merz, Maleny equestrian arena, Maleny, Qld
2023 Mary Valley Art Festival, Finalist, Imbil, Qld
2023 “Fifty Squared” art prize, Finalist, Brunswick Gallery, Brunswick, Vic
2023 Waterbrook Drawing Prize, Finalist, Highly Commended, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral, NSW
2023 “A Wearable Canvas” exhibition, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Participating artist
2022 In Process, Live drawing performance inspired by deconstruction- analysing the human body and the self with contemporary dancer Fiona Jopp, Maleny Community Centre, Maleny, Qld
2022 Australian Wearable Art Festival, finalist and Winner Best Emerging Wearable Artist award, Sunshine Coast, Qld
2022 Small Works Art Prize, participating artist, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2020 ‘Maleny Cream at the Butter Factory’, group exhibition, curator and participating artist, Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre
2019 “The Magic of Mary Cairncross”, Book launch and exhibition, contributing artist
2019 ‘Art of the Body’, group exhibition, Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre
2018 ‘Paper 2’, group exhibition, curator and contributing artist, Witta, Qld
2016 ‘New Works by David Bongiorno’, solo exhibition, MAD Gallery, Maleny, Qld
2015 Manning Art Prize: Naked and Nude, finalist, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW
2014 ‘Vive l’Homme’, group exhibition, Lust for Life Gallery, Fortitude Valley, Qld
2014 Group Exhibition, Gatakers Artspace Regional Gallery, Maryborough, Qld
2013 ‘Torsos II’, solo exhibition, The Upfront Club, Maleny, Qld
2004 ‘Torsos’, solo exhibition, Steps Gallery, Carlton, Vic
Curating, Teaching and Other
2024 McGregor Winter School, USQ, Tutor, ‘Anatomical Figure Drawing’ 5 day workshop
2024 McGregor Summer School, USQ, Tutor, ‘Anatomical Figure Drawing’ 7 day workshop
2023 Life Drawing Workshop series (Hands, Feet, Heads, Arms, Legs), The Joy Collective, Maleny, Workshop creator/ tutor
2023 McGregor Winter School, USQ, Tutor, ‘Anatomical Figure Drawing’ 5 day workshop
2023 McGregor Winter School, USQ, panel participant, “Art Business- What it takes to be an artist”
2023 Open Studios Sunshine Coast, participating artist
2023 “Is wearable art art?”, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Facebook forum panel member
2023 Costume drawing workshop, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Workshop Facilitator, Calloundra, Qld
2023 “A Wearable Canvas Exhibition” Opening, Exhibiting Artist Speech for exhibition opening
2023 “Synchronicity” exhibition artist interview, Interviewer. Interview with exhibiting artists, Richard Muldoon and Laura Vecmane, Zone Gallery, Maleny, Qld
2023 Bella Figura-Part 1 and Bella Figura-Part 2. 2 day life drawing workshop and 2 day follow on life drawing and composition theory workshop, workshop creator and tutor
2022 “Field Notes” Group Exhibition artist interview, Interviewer. Interview with participating artists Nicky Carey, Kim Herringe, Annie McIntosh, Richard Muldoon, Gary Myers, Belinda Stanton, Laura Vecmane, Zone Gallery, Maleny, Qld
2022 ‘Bella Figura!’, 2 day life drawing workshop, creator/ tutor
2021 Open Studios Sunshine Coast, participating artist
2020 ‘Maleny Cream at the Butter Factory’, group exhibition, curator, Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre, Cooroy, Qld
2018 ‘Paper 2’, group exhibition, curator, Old Witta School, Witta, Qld
