Mikala Dwyer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mikala Dwyer
Mikala Dwyer, 2005
Born	1959 Sydney
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 creating modern sculptures and art installations. She was even considered to represent Australia at a big art show called the Venice Biennale in 2019, alongside another artist, Justene Williams.

Mikala Dwyer's Education Journey

Mikala Dwyer studied art at several 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. From 1985 to 1986, she attended Middlesex University. Later, in 2000, she completed her Masters of Fine Art. This degree was from the University of New South Wales, College of Fine Art. Mikala also learned from Professor Stan Douglas. She trained with him at the Berlin University of the Arts from 2005 to 2007.

Mikala Dwyer's Art Career

Mikala Dwyer has been making art since the early 1980s. She is famous for her installation and sculptural artworks. Her art often explores ideas about magic, rituals, and the "other."

Her work is often described as both "playful and fanatical." She likes to invite people to interact with her art. This way, viewers can come up with their own ideas about what it means. Mikala is also known for using everyday items in her art. These can include plastics, metal, wood, fabric, paint, plants, and other found objects.

Early Exhibitions and Recognition

In 1992, Mikala Dwyer was one of the first young Australian artists chosen for the Primavera exhibition. This show was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Other artists like James Angus were also featured.

In 2000, Mikala had a major solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. This show included her recent works. It also featured site-specific pieces. These artworks were designed to fit perfectly with the gallery space.

Key Art Installations and Awards

In 2010, Mikala created a large art installation. It was called Square Cloud Compound. This piece was shown on Cockatoo Island for the Biennale of Sydney. Her work playfully explored the island's interesting history.

In 2016, Mikala received an important award. It was the National Association for the Visual Arts Visual and Fellowship grant. This grant helped her continue her artistic projects.

Recent Exhibitions and Collaborations

In 2017, Mikala Dwyer had another big solo exhibition. It was held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The show was titled A Shape of Thought. It explored her ideas about how objects around us might have a kind of consciousness. The exhibition included works like Square Cloud Compound (2010) and The silvering (2017).

In 2018, Mikala and Justene Williams were considered to represent Australia. They were shortlisted for the 2019 Venice Biennale. Even though their idea wasn't chosen, it later became part of another exhibition. This new version was called "Mondspiel" and was part of the Bauhaus Now show.

In 2019, the Bauhaus Now exhibition celebrated 100 years of the Bauhaus art school. Mikala Dwyer and Justene Williams worked together on installations for this show. Their art focused on how the Bauhaus style influenced Australia.

Teaching and Collections

Mikala Dwyer has also shared her knowledge with others. 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. Her art can also be found at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney. Other collections include 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 shows throughout her career. Here are some 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
• Henle's Loop, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, 1993
• Sad Songs, Artspace, Sydney, 1995
• Mikala Dwyer Solo Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney 2000
• Art Lifts, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2002
• I Maybe We, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, 2005
• Square Cloud Compound, Biennale of Sydney, Sydney, 2010
• 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's work has also been featured in many group shows:

• Primavera, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 1992
• Australian Perspecta, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1993
• OrientATION, 4th International Istanbul Biennale, Istanbul, 1995
• 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
• Fieldwork: Australian Art 1968–2002, Ian Potter Museum of Art, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 2002
• 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
• Primavera 2014 (curator) Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, 2014
• You Imagine What You Desire, curated by Juliana Engburg, 19th Biennale of Sydney, Cockatoo Island, Sydney, 2014
• Square Cloud Compound, Encounters, curated by Alexie Glass-Kantor, Art Basel Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2015
• Every Brilliant Eye: Australian Art of the 1990s, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 2017
• Bauhaus Now, curated by Ann Stephen, Buxton Contemporary, Melbourne, 2019