Debra Phillips facts for kids

Debra Phillips (born in 1958) is an Australian artist. She is best known for her photography. However, she also creates sculptures and moving images. Phillips has been showing her art since the 1980s. Her work is part of many art collections. She has also won several awards for her art. Today, Phillips lives in Sydney. She is a senior lecturer at The College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales.

About Debra Phillips

Debra Phillips was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1958. In 1977, Phillips moved to Sydney, Australia. She went to the Sydney College of the Arts, part of the University of Sydney. There, she studied for her Diploma in Art. Since the 1980s, her art has been shown in many exhibitions. These include both solo shows and group shows. She has had a total of 54 exhibitions. Phillips still lives in Sydney today. She teaches art at the University of New South Wales.

Her Art and Books

Debra Phillips was one of the important women artists of the 1980s and early 1990s. Her art explores her own interests. She often questions how things are shown and what they mean. She also looks at ideas about identity.

Some common ideas in her art include things disappearing or becoming old. She also explores modern life. Phillips uses photography to show how we see the world. She makes us think about whether photos truly show reality. Her art often makes time feel like it's all happening right now. Her work is very artistic. It makes viewers wonder if the images are just pretty pictures. Or if they have deeper meanings.

Phillips's art is found in many collections. These include private, national, and international collections. Her work has also been shown in several books. These include Twelve Australian Photo Artists (2009). Another book is Look: Contemporary Australian Photography Since 1980 (2010).

Famous Artworks

Balance of Obsolescence (1987)

This series of photographs was made in 1987. Each photo is quite large, about 100 cm by 100 cm. This series was shown in a solo exhibition in Sydney. It was also part of a group show in Canberra. Later, in 1989, it was shown in Hobart. Today, these photos are part of the Art Gallery of NSW collection. The title suggests the idea of things becoming old or out of date.

The Colonisation of Time X (1990)

This series of photos is called "The Colonisation of Time X." Debra Phillips made these large photos (119 cm by 149 cm) in 1990. They explore how photography connects to science and technology. They also focus on Western culture's influence. The title hints at how European settlement affected Australia. It also touches on how technology has grown worldwide. Each photo in this series has a big "X" crossing the image. This "X" helps connect the ideas of settlement, photography, time, and technology.

Untitled 2 "From the Street" (1997)

This image is part of a series called "From the Street." The series has 18 black and white photos. They are printed on special metallic paper. Phillips made this series early in her career. At that time, she was interested in everyday life. She looked at things like street art and graffiti. When you look at this image alone, it seems like an abstract shape. It reminds us that things like codes and messages can change and disappear quickly.

Exhibitions

Debra Phillips has had 54 group or solo exhibitions. These shows have been both in Australia and other countries. Some of the galleries where her work has been shown include:

• 2008: Contemporary Australia: Optimism, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.
• 2006: The Captain's Ghost: Three contemporary artists on Cook, Adam Art Gallery, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
• 2004: COFA Fundraising Exhibition, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney, NSW.
• 2000: Death and Decoration, Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS.
• 1998: Site, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
• 1996: Photography is Dead! Long Live Photography!, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW.
• 1995: Debra Phillips: Work 1992-1995, Art Gallery New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.
• 1981: with Rick Bolzan, Bondi Pavilion, Sydney, NSW.

Art Collections

Debra Phillips's art is held in many important collections, such as:

• Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
• Tate Gallery, London, England, UK
• Library of the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, United States
• The National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
• Parliament House, Canberra, ACT
• Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris, France
• Artbank

Books by Debra Phillips

• Debra Phillips, Index, Sydney, 1995
• Debra Phillips, Source, Sydney, 1999

Awards She Has Won

• 2007: Received a COFA Travel Grant (for academic staff).
• 2005: Won the National Photographic Purchase Award from Albury Regional Art Gallery.
• 2002: Received an Australia Council New Work Grant.
• 1996: Awarded an Australia Council Visual Arts/Craft Fund Fellowship.
• 1982: Received an Australia Council Visual Arts Board Travel Grant.