Davida Allen facts for kids

Davida Frances Allen (born 20 October 1951) is a talented Australian artist. She is known for her amazing paintings, but she also makes films and writes stories. Davida has won important awards for her art, like the Archibald Prize. Her work is shown in major art galleries across Australia and New Zealand.

Early Life and Art School

Davida Allen was born in a town called Charleville, Queensland, on October 20, 1951.

She went to Stuartholme School in Brisbane from 1965 to 1969. There, she studied art with a teacher named Betty Churcher.

Later, from 1970 to 1972, Davida continued her art studies. She attended Brisbane Central Technical College. Her teacher there was Roy Churcher, who was Betty Churcher's husband.

Davida Allen's Career

Davida Allen is a well-known artist in Australia. She creates many different types of art. Her work includes paintings, films, and written stories.

One of her films was even shown at the famous Venice Film Festival. This is a very important event for movies around the world.

Her artworks are kept in major public art collections. You can find her pieces in galleries all over Australia. Her art is also displayed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. This shows how important her work is.

Awards for Her Art

Davida Allen has received several awards for her artistic talent. These awards recognize her important contributions to art.

• 1986: She won the Archibald Prize. This is a very famous art award in Australia. She won it for her portrait painting of her father-in-law, John Shera. The painting was called My father-in-law watering his garden.
• 1999: She was nominated for "Best Direction" at the Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards. She also won the "Best Original Screenplay" award for her writing.
• 2010: Davida won the Tattersalls Club Landscape Art Prize. This award celebrates beautiful landscape paintings.

Art Exhibitions

Davida Allen's art has been shown in many exhibitions. These shows allow people to see her amazing work.

Solo Art Shows

Solo exhibitions feature only one artist's work. Davida has had several important solo shows:

• 1984: Her art was shown at the College Gallery in Brisbane College of Advanced Education.
• 1987: A big show of her work was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Brisbane. This museum is in South Brisbane.
• 2018: The Griffith University Art Museum in Brisbane displayed her art.

Group Art Shows

Group exhibitions feature the work of many different artists. Davida's art has been part of these shows:

• 1981: Her work was in "Ray Hughes Gallery at Pinacotheca." This show was at Pinacotheca Art Gallery in Richmond, Victoria.
• 1981: She was one of "Nine Queensland artists" shown at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Townsville.
• 1987: Her art was part of "Contemporary Art in Australia – A Review." This was the first show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in South Brisbane.
• 2008: She participated in "Blue chip X : the collectors' exhibition" at Niagara Galleries in Melbourne.

International Art Shows

Davida Allen's art has also been shown in other countries. This means her work is recognized around the world.

• 1983: Her art was in "D'un autre continent: l'Australie le rêve er le réel." This show traveled to Paris, Vienna, Texas, and Venice.
• 1984: She was part of "An international survey of recent painting and sculpture." This exhibition was at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.
• 1985: Her work was in "Kunst mit Eigen-Sinn" at the Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts in Vienna.
• 1986: A special exhibition of her art toured New Zealand. It was shown at the National Art Gallery of New Zealand and four other museums.
• 1987: Her paintings and sculptures were shown in "Painters and sculptors." This exhibition traveled from the Queensland Art Gallery to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Saitama, Japan.
• 1988: She participated in "ROSC, an International Exhibition" in Dublin, Ireland.