Diane Mantzaris facts for kids

Diane Mantzaris (born in 1962) is an Australian artist. She is famous for being one of the first artists to use computers for making art. She started using digital tools for printmaking in the 1980s. Her art often explores personal and social topics.

Diane's work is shown in many art collections. You can find her art in Australia, Asia, and Europe. She works in many areas, including printmaking, photography, and public art.

Early Life and Learning

Diane Mantzaris was born in Melbourne, Australia. In the late 1970s, she studied fine art at RMIT University. She focused on painting during her studies.

Her Art Career

Diane Mantzaris is known as a true pioneer in art. She was the first Australian artist to use computers for printmaking. This was very new at the time. She showed her art in Australia and other countries.

Using Computers in Art

Diane started using computer technology for her art very early on. Back then, computers were not common for art. It was mostly a male-dominated field. Diane saw the new possibilities for art that everyone could enjoy.

Her art was different from what people expected. She used computers to challenge ideas about art and society. Some artists follow old traditions. But Diane was like an explorer, finding new ways to create.

Her early computer-made prints were often black and white. They were very striking and new to see. People appreciated how fresh and different her art looked.

Facing Challenges and Changing Art

Many traditional printmakers did not like her methods. They debated if using computers was "real" art. But Diane kept going. She helped open the door for other artists. Soon, art schools started teaching computer art.

In 1987, Diane received a special residency in Tokyo, Japan. She then had a big exhibition in Melbourne. It was called 'Modern Legends'. These computer-made prints toured galleries across Australia. They also traveled to Asia, including Thailand.

In 1990, Diane returned to Tokyo for another exhibition. Her work, like Fuji Mart Builder (1987), was shown in many newspapers.

Exploring New Techniques

In the late 1980s, scanners became more common. Diane started adding collage to her prints. In her work Beauty Queen No. 14 (Cherry Blossom) (1991), she layered images. This made the viewer see different things from different angles. It made people think about love and customs.

These layered works were shown at the 1992 Adelaide Biennale. An art expert, Professor Jenny Zimmer, said they showed "private hells" and "ironies of public existence."

Art and Social Issues

From 1992 to 1993, Diane lived in Bangkok, Thailand. During this time, she made large prints. These works dealt with important social issues she saw there. Her art, like Dance the Backstep (1993), showed her views on politics. These prints became powerful statements. They connected social and political topics in Australia and Asia.

Art in Public Spaces

Around 2000, Diane started making art for public spaces. She wanted to create big artworks for freeways in Melbourne. One project was a billboard called 'Working Class Heroes'. Another was 'House in the Sky'. This was a huge 2D sculpture of a house. It was meant to hang over a busy freeway. It looked like a dream home for working-class people.

Diane Mantzaris still works from her studio in Northcote, Melbourne. She continues to create and show her art in Australia and Asia.

Art Collections

Diane Mantzaris's art is held in many important collections, including:

• National Gallery of Victoria
• Queensland Art Gallery
• Art Gallery of South Australia
• Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
• State Library of Victoria
• Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, Launceston
• University of Tasmania
• Shepparton Art Gallery
• Warrnambool Art Gallery
• Ballarat Fine Art Gallery
• Castlemaine Art Museum
• Naracoote Art Gallery, South Australia
• Brisbane City Hall Art Gallery
• University of Central Queensland
• Queensland University of Technology
• University Art Museum, Queensland
• Gold Coast City Art Gallery
• Flinders University Art Museum, South Australia
• Gordon Technical College, Victoria
• Macrobertson Girls High School, Melbourne
• Ruyton Girls School, Victoria
• Norwood Secondary College, Victoria
• Fintona Girls College, Victoria
• St Kilda Council, Victoria
• Print Council of Australia
• BHP Canson Australia Pty Ltd
• Parliament House Collection, Canberra
• Monash University
• The Melbourne Club
• Janet Holmes à Court Collection
• Artbank, Sydney

Her art is also in private collections in Australia, India, Cuba, Japan, USA, Greece, and Thailand.