Dorothy Berry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dorothy Berry
Australian artist Dorothy Berry
Born	1942 (age 82–83) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Known for	Artists with disabilities
Style	Outsider art, Art Brut

Dorothy Berry (born 1942) is a talented Australian artist. She lives and works in Melbourne, Victoria. Dorothy is famous for her unique style of art, often called Outsider art or Art Brut.

She is best known for her detailed pictures of animals and birds. Dorothy creates these artworks using pastels, which are like soft crayons. Since 1985, she has worked from her studio at Arts Project Australia. Her art has been shown in four special solo exhibitions. It has also been part of many group shows in Australia and around the world. Her work is kept in important art collections. These include the National Gallery of Australia and MADMusée in Belgium.

Becoming an Artist: Dorothy Berry's Journey

Dorothy Berry is mostly a self-taught artist. This means she learned to create art on her own. She says her mother helped her discover her artistic skills. Since 1985, Dorothy has had a studio at Arts Project Australia (APA).

APA is a special group that helps artists with intellectual disabilities. They do not teach art classes. Instead, they give artists access to great art materials. When Dorothy first started at APA, she changed her main art material. She began using pastels instead of paint.

Art Shows and Collaborations

Dorothy Berry has shown her amazing artwork in many exhibitions. Another artist from APA, Maxine Ryder, worked with Dorothy on a project. They created an exhibition called Cut It Out in 1995. This show featured their collaborative wood cut-outs.

Soon after, Dorothy had her very first solo exhibition in 1996. This was a big step for her art career. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she also attended life-drawing classes. These classes were at the Phillip Institute of Technology.

Where You Can Find Her Art

Dorothy Berry's art is part of three important museum collections. She is known as one of Australia's most important Outsider Art artists. This is clear because her work is in major Outsider Art shows.

Her art has been bought for big collections. These include the National Gallery of Australia. You can also find her work at MADMusée in Liège, Belgium. Two of her special prints, called lithographs, are in the Centre for Australian Art.

Dorothy Berry's Art Style and Themes

People often describe Dorothy Berry's art as "instinctive" and "spontaneous." This means she creates from her feelings. Her art often features animals, birds, and religious themes. These ideas have been important throughout her career.

Maxine Ryder, who worked with Dorothy, says her art is like a diary. She believes Dorothy's bird pictures might be like self-portraits. Her pastel works are very well-known. They use bright, strong colors. She often layers and reworks her images. Sometimes, she works so much on a piece that it changes completely. Recently, her artworks have become smaller. They also show less movement. This is likely because her physical movement has become more limited.

Besides pastels, Dorothy also uses other materials. She works with lithography, acrylic paint, and ink. Even with different materials, her main themes stay the same.

Solo Exhibitions by Dorothy Berry

Dorothy Berry has had four solo exhibitions. These shows focused only on her artwork.

• Dorothy Berry – Bird on a Wire, Arts Project Australia Gallery, Melbourne, 2009
• A Survey 1987-2002, Arts Project Australia Gallery, Melbourne, 2002
• Recent works, Arts Project Australia Gallery, Melbourne, 1998
• Penguins, Ducks, Owls & Angels, Arts Project Australia Gallery, Melbourne, 1996