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, shortlisting in various national art prizes and “Highly Commended” at the Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award, 2024, “Highly Commended” at the Waterbrook Drawing Prize, 2023, and “Emerging Wearable Artist Winner” at the Australian Wearable Art Festival, 2022. His work was selected for “ACB Selects, 2024” for exhibition in Michael Reid Gallery Northern Beaches.
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, capturing the underlying psyche of physical expression through figurative artworks, portraiture and self portraiture, and the imposed meaning of objects through still life.
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 of his art. Citing influences from the Renaissance to the early 20th century, David studies masterworks to learn from them as his teachers. A range of aesthetics and philosophies inform his work including realism, expressionism, still life, 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.
CV
Art Prizes
2025
-Brisbane Portrait Prize, Finalist, Brisbane State Library, Brisbane, Qld
-Du Rietz Art Awards, Finalist, Gympie Regional Gallery, Gympie, Qld
-Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award, Finalist, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane, Qld
-Local Contemporary Art Prize, Finalist, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Qld
2024
-Kennedy Art Prize, Finalist, Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Adelaide, SA
-Agency Still Life Prize, Finalist, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral, NSW
-Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award, Finalist, Highly commended, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane, Qld
2023
-Australian Wearable Art Festival, finalist, Sunshine Coast, Qld
-Mary Valley Art Festival, Finalist, Imbil, Qld
-“Fifty Squared” Art Prize, Finalist, Brunswick Gallery, Brunswick, Vic
-Waterbrook Drawing Prize, Finalist, Highly Commended, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral, NSW
2022
-Australian Wearable Art Festival, finalist and Winner Best Emerging Wearable Artist award, Sunshine Coast, Qld
-Small Works Art Prize, participating artist, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2015
-Manning Art Prize: Naked and Nude, finalist, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW
Exhibitions
2025
-“A Celebration of the Still”, group exhibition, Michael Reid Southern Highlands Gallery, Berrima, NSW, participating artist
-“ACB Selects, 2024” exhibition, Micheal Reid Northern Beaches Gallery, Newport, NSW, selected artist
2024
-“Memento” exhibition, Stevens Street Gallery, Yandina, Qld, participating artist
-“A Wearable Canvas” exhibition, Cardinia Cultural Centre, Melbourne, Vic, participating artist
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
-“A Wearable Canvas” exhibition, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Participating artist
2022
-In Process, Live drawing performance with contemporary dancer/choreographer Fiona Jopp, Maleny Community Centre, Maleny, Qld
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
-‘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
2014
-‘Vive l’Homme’, group exhibition, Lust for Life Gallery, Fortitude Valley, Qld
-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
2025
-Small-group Tutoring, Figure and portrait drawing course, 1 Sunday each month for 6 months, course creator/ tutor
-McGregor Summer School, USQ, Tutor, ‘Anatomical Figure Drawing’ 5 day workshop
2024
-Bienarte Art School, Brisbane Campus, Tutor, ‘Life Drawing For Beginners’ 2 day workshop
-McGregor Winter School, USQ, Tutor, ‘Anatomical Figure Drawing’ 5 day workshop
-Kenilworth Art Prize, Judge, Kenilworth Arts Fest 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
-McGregor Winter School, USQ, Tutor, ‘Anatomical Figure Drawing’ 5 day workshop
-McGregor Winter School, USQ, panel participant, “Art Business- What it takes to be an artist”
-Open Studios Sunshine Coast, participating artist
-“Is wearable art art?”, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Facebook forum panel member
-Costume drawing workshop, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Workshop Facilitator, Caloundra, Qld
-“A Wearable Canvas Exhibition” Opening, Exhibiting Artist Speech for exhibition opening
-“Synchronicity” exhibition artist interview, Interviewer. Interview with exhibiting artists, Richard Muldoon and Laura Vecmane, Zone Gallery, Maleny, Qld
-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
-‘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
