Pamela Irving facts for kids

Mr. Logomania, The man who loves words, 2013, a mosaic artwork by Pamela Irving.

Pamela Irving (born 1960) is a talented Australian visual artist. She creates amazing sculptures using materials like bronze, ceramics, and mosaics. She also makes prints and etchings on copper.

Besides her art, Pamela has taught art and ceramics at several universities. These include Monash University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She also used to write about art for the Geelong Advertiser newspaper.

Pamela's Education Journey

Pamela Irving was born in Victoria, Australia. She studied art at the Melbourne State College from 1979 to 1982. There, she earned a degree in Art and Craft Education.

Later, she completed a Master of Arts degree at the Melbourne College of Advanced Education. For her master's project, Pamela studied why certain Australian artists used myths and stories in their work. She looked at artists like Arthur Boyd, John Perceval, and Mirka Mora.

Pamela's Unique Art Style

Pamela Irving's art is a mix of her own experiences, old myths, and a lot of imagination. Her early ceramic works were often funny and didn't follow traditional pottery rules.

She was influenced by famous artists like Arthur Boyd and Sidney Nolan. More recently, Pamela has been inspired by "outsider art." This is art made by people who teach themselves, often called "naive artists." She also likes "memoryware," which is art made from everyday objects. This interest grew after she visited Nek Chand's amazing Rock Garden in Chandigarh, India.

Famous Artworks by Pamela

The second bronze statue of Larry La Trobe, created by Pamela Irving, in Melbourne.

One of Pamela Irving's most famous works is the bronze sculpture of Larry La Trobe. This statue was made in 1992 for Swanston Street in Melbourne. Sadly, it was stolen in 1995. Many people wanted it back! Even though it was never found, the statue was remade and put back in 1996. You can find Larry at the corner of Swanston Street and Collins Street in Melbourne.

Another big project was a huge mosaic mural. This artwork covers the Luna Palace building inside Melbourne's Luna Park. It was made for the park's 100th birthday and took four years to finish!

Pamela's Art Community Roles

Pamela Irving is very involved in the mosaic art community in Australia. In the 1980s, she was a councilor for the Craft Council of Victoria. She also served as the vice-president of the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand from 2007 to 2017.

Art Exhibitions

Pamela Irving has shown her art in many exhibitions. Between 1981 and 2018, she had 27 solo shows, where only her art was displayed. She also took part in 16 joint exhibitions and over 100 group exhibitions with other artists.

Where You Can Find Her Art

Pamela Irving's artworks are held in many important collections.

Museums and Galleries

• Museum Victoria
• University of Melbourne
• Deakin University
• Australian Catholic University
• Artbank
• Melbourne City Council
• Shepparton Art Gallery
• Bendigo Art Gallery
• Geelong Art Gallery

Other Collections

Her art is also in many company and private collections, including:

• ANZ Bank
• L’Oreal Australia
• Monash Medical Centre, Clayton
• Private collections in Australia, the US, and Hong Kong.

Her art can also be found in several school collections, such as:

• Abbotsleigh School for Girls, Sydney
• Camberwell Grammar School, Melbourne
• Mentone Girls Grammar School, Melbourne
• Scotch College, Melbourne
• Wesley College, Melbourne

Awards and Grants for Her Art

Pamela Irving has received many awards and grants for her artistic talent:

• 1981 Nominated Kamel Kiln Award
• 1985 Ceramic Prize, City of Box Hill
• 1985 Ceramic Prize, City of Footscray
• 1991 Pat Corrigan Artist Grant
• 1994 Winner, Australia Day Ceramic Award Shepparton Arts Centre
• 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Award for mosaics at Patterson Station
• 2017 Arts Council Grant, Tasmania

See also

• Art of Australia
• List of Australian artists
• Larry La Trobe