Debra Dawes facts for kids

Debra Dawes (born in 1955) is an Australian artist. She is famous for her abstract paintings. These paintings often use grid-like shapes and geometric patterns. She has been an artist since the early 1980s. Many people see her as a top artist in Australian abstract art. Her work has been shown in many exhibitions. You can find her paintings in important art collections across Australia.

About Debra Dawes

Debra Dawes was born on May 9, 1955. This was in Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia. Today, she lives and works in different places. These include Coledale, Murrurundi, and Sydney, New South Wales. In 1982, Dawes met Jelle van den Berg. He is now her husband. They traveled to The Netherlands for six months. After returning to Australia, they opened an art gallery. It was called Union Street Gallery. This gallery stayed open into the 1990s.

Her Education

Debra Dawes studied art for many years.

• In 1979, she finished an Art Certificate. She got this from TAFE in Newcastle, Australia.
• From 1980 to 1982, she earned an Art Diploma. This was from the College of Advanced Education in Newcastle.
• In 1985, she completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Painting. She studied at Sydney College of the Arts.
• Later, in 1994, Dawes started her doctorate degree. This was in creative arts. She finished this degree in 2000. She studied at the University of Wollongong.

Her Art Career

Debra Dawes creates abstract paintings. Her art often uses simple shapes and colors. She uses patterns and geometric forms. She also uses grids, planes, and lines. Her work explores many different ideas. She looks at personal experiences. She also thinks about how we gain knowledge. Her art can make you think about important ideas in society.

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Debra Dawes has had many art shows. She has held over 25 solo exhibitions. Her first one was in 1983. Her most recent was in 2017. She has shown her art all over Australia. This includes Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, and Perth. She also had a show in Groningen, The Netherlands.

She has also been part of many group exhibitions. She has been in over 60 of these. Her first group show was in 1984. These shows have been in Australia and other countries. She has exhibited in Italy and Hong Kong.

Awards and Recognition

Debra Dawes has received many awards. She has also gotten grants in Australia.

• She received a grant from the Australia Council four times. These were in 1990, 1994, 1997, and 2004.
• In 2010, she won the Redlands Westpac Art Prize.

Where Her Art Is Kept

Debra Dawes' artworks are in many collections. You can find them across Australia.

• Her work is collected by the National Gallery of Australia.
• It is also in the National Gallery of Victoria.
• Other places include the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
• The Art Gallery of Western Australia also has her art.
• The Queensland Art Gallery collects her work too.

Some universities also own her paintings. These include Murdoch University, the University of Queensland, and the University of Wollongong. Her art is also in many other private collections. These include Artbank and the Powerhouse Museum.

Famous Artworks

• Starlite, 1993. This painting uses oil on board. It measures 240 x 390 cm.
• Unfinished Business, 1998. This painting uses acrylic on polyester. It measures 202.5 x 367 cm.