Mikala Dwyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mikala Dwyer
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Mikala Dwyer, 2005
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| Born | 1959 Sydney
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | University of Sydney; Middlesex University; University of New South Wales; Professor Stan Douglas, Berlin University of the Arts |
| Known for | Sculpture and installation art |
| Movement | Contemporary art |
Mikala Dwyer is an Australian artist born in Sydney in 1959. She is known for her amazing contemporary sculptures and installation art. She was even considered to represent Australia at a big art show called the Venice Biennale in 2019.
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Mikala Dwyer's Education Journey
Mikala Dwyer studied art at several famous universities. In 1983, she started at the University of Sydney. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Art degree there in 1986. She also spent time studying in the United Kingdom at Middlesex University from 1985 to 1986.
Later, in 2000, Mikala earned her Masters of Fine Art. This was from the University of New South Wales, College of Fine Art. She also learned from Professor Stan Douglas at the Berlin University of the Arts between 2005 and 2007.
Mikala Dwyer's Art Career
Mikala Dwyer has been creating and showing her art since the early 1980s. She is famous for her installations and sculptural artworks. Her art often explores ideas about magic, rituals, and the unseen world.
Her work is often described as "playful." She likes to invite people to interact with her art. This helps them think and come up with their own ideas about what her art means. Mikala often uses everyday items in her art. These include plastics, metal, wood, fabric, paint, plants, and other found objects.
Key Exhibitions and Projects
In 1992, Mikala Dwyer was one of the first young Australian artists chosen for the first Primavera exhibition. This show was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. It featured exciting new artists.
In 2000, Mikala had a big solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. This show included her newest works. It also had special pieces made to fit the gallery space perfectly.
In 2010, Mikala created an installation called Square Cloud Compound. This was for the Biennale of Sydney on Cockatoo Island. Her artwork playfully explored the island's interesting history.
In 2016, Mikala received an important grant from the National Association for the Visual Arts. This helped her continue creating her art.
In 2017, she had another major solo exhibition. It was at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and was called A Shape of Thought. This exhibition looked at how matter around us might have its own consciousness. It included works like Square Cloud Compound (2010) and The letterbox Marys (2015–17).
In 2018, Mikala Dwyer and fellow artist Justene Williams were considered to represent Australia at the 2019 Venice Biennale. Even though their idea wasn't chosen, it later became part of the "Mondspiel" exhibition. This was part of the Bauhaus Now show.
In 2019, Mikala Dwyer and Justene Williams worked together again. They created installations for the Bauhaus Now exhibition in Melbourne. This show celebrated 100 years of the Bauhaus art school. Their work focused on how the Bauhaus style influenced Australia.
Teaching and Collections
Mikala Dwyer has also shared her knowledge by teaching art. She has lectured at the Sydney College of Art and the University of Sydney. She was also an associate professor at RMIT University in Melbourne.
Her artworks are held in many important collections. These include the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney. Her art can also be found at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
Mikala Dwyer has had many solo exhibitions throughout her career. Here are a few notable ones:
- In the Manger, Chapel of Love, Sydney, 1982
- Becalmed, City Artists Gallery, London, 1986
- Wall to Wall: Ceiling to Floor, 200 Gertrude Street, Melbourne, 1990
- Sad Songs, Artspace, Sydney, 1995
- Mikala Dwyer Solo Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney 2000
- Art Lifts, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2002
- Square Cloud Compound, Biennale of Sydney, Sydney, 2010
- The Silvering, Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne, 2011
- Goldene Bend're, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, 2013
- A Shape of Thought, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2017
Selected Group Exhibitions
Mikala Dwyer has also been part of many group exhibitions with other artists. Here are some examples:
- Primavera, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 1992
- Australian Perspecta, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1993
- Object and Ideas – revisiting minimalism, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 1997
- Brainland – The Believers: Mikala Dwyer, Maria Cruz, Anne Ooms, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1999
- Face Up: Contemporary Art from Australia, Nationalgalerie im Hamburger Bahnhoff, Berlin, 2003
- The Beauty of Distance: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age the 17th Biennale of Sydney, 2010
- Monanism, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, 2011
- You Imagine What You Desire, 19th Biennale of Sydney, Cockatoo Island, Sydney, 2014
- Primavera at 25: MCA Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2016
- Bauhaus Now, Buxton Contemporary, Melbourne, 2019
