Pertinacity Series 2021 (Twists and Turns, Three Zero Three, Wabi Sabi)
If there is an animating principle at work on our planet, it is embodied in the capacity of all living things to briefly overcome gravity to stand upright.
That dogged perseverance to prevail is writ large in the term pertinacity, a tenacious perseverance that living invariably draws upon.
Pertinacity is used here as a title for this defiantly vertical, forest of eccentric upright forms, inspired by observations drawn walking amongst myriad living things.
Gravitas 1998
Gravitas was a series of ten carvings from salvaged hardwoods. They pursued a stream of consciousness arising from the monolithic clustered heads suggested in the weathered escarpments of the Carnarvon Gorge of Queenslands Central Highlands in 1998.
L’amour 1998
L’amour reflects the energising passion of that more youthful time.
Education
1994
Master of Fine Arts, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
1984
Post Graduate Diploma of Fine Arts, Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney, New South Wales
1982
Bachelor Visual Arts, Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney, New South Wales
1980-84
National Art School, Sydney
1980-84
Tom Bass Sculpture School, Sydney
Professional Appointments
2002
Lecturer, Griffith University, Brisbane
1997
Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
1992–94
Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
1989
Lecturer, Sydney College of the Arts, New South Wales
1987–89
Tutor, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales
1985
Tutor, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales
1981–84
Lecturer, Sydney College of the Arts, New South Wales
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
Pertinacity Andrew Baker Art Dealer, virtual exhibition
2019
Still Moving: 21ST Century, Andrew Baker Art Dealer, Brisbane
2018
Agency—Rare Offerings from the Museum of Spent Time, Jan Manton Art, Brisbane
2013
Fellow Humans, Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane
2011
Spent Time, Michael Reid, Sydney
2010
Something Like This, Jan Manton Art, Brisbane
2009
Oddfellows, Michael Reid, Sydney
2008
Frank, Jan Manton Art, Brisbane
2007
But that might change, Michael Reid, Sydney
2006
Wild blue yonder, Jan Manton Art, Brisbane
2005
A Silent Walk: The Sculpture of Stephen Hart, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane
2004
Light Reading, Gallery 482, Brisbane
2003
Leave your gloves at the door, Gallery 482, Brisbane
2001
Whatmore New Sculptures, Gallery 482, Brisbane
1997
Still Moving, Eva Breuer Art Dealer, Sydney
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022
Evidence of Scale II: Drawing & Sculpture, FireWorks Gallery Brisbane
2019
Sculptors Exposed, Caboolture Regional Gallery, Queensland
2015
Con/struct, Caboolture Regional Gallery, Queensland
2014
Platform, Jan Manton Art Offsite at Metro Arts, Brisbane
2013
The imperceptible something, Caboolture Regional Gallery, Queensland
2008
Works on paper, Michael Reid, Sydney
2006
Doubletake, Museum of Brisbane, Queensland
Animals in Allegory, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane
2004
Temperature—A Survey of Queensland Sculptors, Museum of Brisbane, Queensland
2002
Woollahra Sculpture Prize, Sydney
The colour and the shape, Thornquest Gallery, Southport, Queensland
2001
Conrad Jupiters Art Prize, Gold Coast, Queensland
Real World Art, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane
Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show, Ballina, New South Wales
Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2000
Gravitas, Gallery 482, Brisbane
1998
Celebrating Conversation 1988–1998, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, New South Wales
This Thing, Gallery 482, Brisbane
Conrad Jupiters Art Prize, Gold Coast, Queensland
1996
Queensland Designer Makers, Metro Arts, Brisbane
1995
Living with the master, Palace Gallery, Brisbane
1994
Everything must go, Loading Bay, Museum of Modern Art, Brisbane
1993
Happenstance, Royal Institute of Architects, Brisbane
1992
Sculpture, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, New South Wales
1991
The Bathurst 4, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, New South Wales
1990
Sculpture, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst
1989
Under the Greenhouse, Tin Sheds Gallery, University of Sydney, New South Wales
1985
Sculpture, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, New South Wales
1984
Graduate Diploma of Visual Arts Exhibition of 1983, Sydney College of the Arts, New South Wales
Sculpture, The Performance Space, Sydney
Awards and Prizes
2014
Churchill Fellowship—to study in situ medieval and contemporary figurative sculpture
2008
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2002
Australia Council New Work Grant
2002
Finalist, Woollahra Sculpture Prize, Sydney
2001
Winner, Conrad Jupiters Art Prize, Queensland
2001
Jury Prize for Artistic Excellence, Thursday Plantation East Coast Sculpture Show, Ballina, New South Wales
2001
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
1998
Finalist, Conrad Jupiters Art Prize, Queensland
Public Commissions
2017
Rapture, Market & Alice Streets, Brisbane City Council, Queensland
2003
Leaning Toward Heaven, Ruthven Street, Toowoomba City Council, Queensland
2000
Darra Surban Centre Improvement Project, Brisbane City Council, Queensland
2000
Bald Hills Suburban Centre Improvement Project, Brisbane City Council, Queensland
1999
Relief sculpture, Sebel Hotel, Brisbane
1997
Relief sculpture, Mariner Reach, Newstead, Brisbane
1997
Features furniture, Beaches Apartment, Gold Coast, Queensland
1988
Conversation, Bathurst Regional Council, New South Wales
Selected Bibliography
Brown, Phil. ‘Homegrown’, Brisbane News, 14 June 2000
Chomicz, Alex. Spent Time: The Work of Stephen Hart (DVD), 2011
Donnelly, Fiona. ‘Style revolution’, The Courier Mail, 16 December 1995
Durham, Alison. ‘Man made’, Australian Country Looks, August 1996, 86 – 87
Griffiths, Bruce. ‘Lasting gifts for future’, Western Advocate, 21 November 1988
Hedger, Michael. Public Sculpture in Australia, Craftsman House, Sydney, 1995
Helmrich, Michele. ‘Gone Troppo’, Australian Art Review , July 2004
Kolenberg, Hendrik. ‘Stephen Hart and Everyman’ in Were, Ian (ed.). Spent Time: Stephen Hart Sculpture, Arthouse,Brisbane, 2011
Maccheroni Collins, Kate. ‘Hart is a dab hand when it comes to artwork’, The Courier Mail, 4 July 1998
Maloon, Terence. ‘Pure prodigy—no preservatives added’, Sydney Morning Herald, 3 December 1983
Martin-Chew, Louise. ‘Something Like This: Stephen Hart ‘s Artistic Journey’ in Were, Ian (ed.). Spent Time: Stephen Hart Sculpture, Arthouse,Brisbane, 2011
Morrell, Tim. ‘Preview’, Art Collector, April 2008
Collections
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, New South Wales
Bathurst Regional Council, New South Wales
Brisbane City Council, Queensland
Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Bundall, Queensland
Quintrex Australia, Queensland
QUT Art Museum, Brisbane
Sydney Children’s Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales
