Cath Wild Sculpture
I spent my early childhood growing up wild on a farm in the lush green hills of Maleny, QLD. My backyard was the beautiful Obi Obi Creek and its many waterfalls, swimming holes and rockpools. The freedom and practical independence of this childhood has shaped me as an adult and runs deep through my artistic practice.
After finishing my Psychology degree in the early 1990’s I spent many years traveling internationally before I completed my Bachelor of Fine Art through the Queensland College of Art in 2000. I returned home to Australia permanently in 2005 and have spent the years since practicing as a full time professional artist. It is my dream to one day establish a contemporary sculpture park here in the hills.
I am passionate about the interactivity and tactility of the sculptural installation. My pieces comment on the contemporary human condition in a personal and sometimes confronting way. I use techniques of repetition and scale to reinforce my concepts, and always create with an inherent respect to the technical process of making.
I believe in the accessibility of art for all who encounter it, regardless of education or experience. I want my works to reach people. To make a difference. Every detail tells a story and casts light on a larger, more complex slice of this beautiful world we inhabit.
ARTIST PROFILE
Catherine Johnston
BORN:
1971 in Toowoomba, Queensland
EDUCATION:
- 1988 Dux, Maleny High School, QLD
- 1991 B.A. Psychology, UQ, QLD
- 2000 B. Fine Art, Sculpture/Intermedia, Awards for Academic Excellence in 1998, 1999 and 2000, QCA, QLD
EXPERIENCE:
- 2018 – Present Owner/Manager Elysian Falls, Flaxton QLD
- 2017 – Current Creative Director Secrets on the Lake Art Gallery, Montville QLD
- 2010 – Current Cath Johnston Sculpture
- 2005 – 2009 Montville Graphics, freelance Graphic Design and Sculpture, Montville, QLD
- 2000 – 2005 Alternarts Ltd, Freelance Graphic Design, UK. Clients – Vercase, Guess, BT, RNID.
- 1998 – 2000 Art Therapist, children’s weekend camps, CPLQ
- 1996 – 1998 Hard Pressed Pulp Company, handmade paper pulp collages
- 1991 – 1996 Extended travels – Australia, Asia, Africa, America, Europe and UK.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS AND RESIDENCIES:
- 2020 Aircrete Dome Build and large scale sculpture installation, Flaxton, QLD
- 2019 Artist in Residence – Secrets on the Lake Art Gallery, Montville, QLD
- 2018 Artist in Residence – Secrets on the Lake Art Gallery, Montville, QLD
- 2016 ‘Family Tree’ – Moyston Primary School
- 2015 ‘Pigs Can Fly’ – LEAP programme, Ballarat Art Gallery, VIC
- 2013 ”Recent Works’ – Artman Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
- 2013 ‘Art under the floorboards’ – Ballarat Uniting Care resdiency programme
- 2012 ‘Under my skin’ – Ararat Regional Art Gallery, VIC
- 2012 ‘Missconceptions’ – Ballarat Art Gallery, VIC
- 2011 Rainbow Love – Courthouse Gallery, Geelong, VIC
- 2011 Rainbow Love – Stawell GCH, VIC
- 2011 ‘undercover’ – Trocadero ARI Footscray, VIC
- 2011 ‘static’ – Trocadero Billboard, Footscray, VIC
- 2011 Rainbow Love, Manuscript Room at Ballarat Art Gallery, VIC
- 2011 Backspace Arts Venue Residency, Ballarat, VIC
- 2011 ‘Rainbow Love’, Grampians Community Health, Stawell, VIC
- 2010 ‘Rainbow Love’, Ararat Regional Art Gallery, Ararat, VIC
- 2009 ‘Pulp’, Secrets Gallery, Montville, QLD
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
- 2018 Sculpture on the Edge, Maleny QLD
- 2018 Queer Country, La Trobe Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
- 2018 Secrets Art Gallery, Montville, QLD
- 2017 Queer Country, La Trobe Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
- 2016 Resilience, Moyston Art Group Show, Moyston, VIC
- 2016 Queer Country, Dudley House, Bendigo, VIC
- 2016 Queer Country, Smith St Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC
- 2015 Bendigo Queer Art, La Trobe Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
- 2014 Bendigo Queer Art, La Trobe Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
- 2013 Midsumma Group Show, Melbourne, VIC
- 2013 ‘Enigma’ Photography Show – Artman Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
- 2013 Bendigo Queer Art, La Trobe Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
- 2012 Midsumma ‘Energy from Stillness’, Red Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
- 2013 Collingwood Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
- 2012 Midsumma ‘Reveal’, 1000£ Bend, Melbourne, VIC
- 2012 Bendigo Queer Art, La Trobe Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
- 2012 Same Same but Different, WTC Atrium Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
- 2011 Big and Bold Sculpture Exhibition, Substation, Footscray, VIC
- 2011 SUBspace project, Malop St, Geelong, VIC
- 2011 Bendigo Queer Art, La Trobe Gallery, Bendigo, VIC
- 2011 Convent Gallery, Daylesford, VIC
- 2011 ‘Textile’ Horsham Regional Art Gallery, VIC
- 2011 ‘Identity’, 45Downstairs, Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC
- 2004 ‘Women’s International’ Finalist, Westend Centre, Aldershot, Hampshire, UK
- 2002 ‘Neighbourhood Grafix’, Northampton, UK
- 1999 ‘Women in Art’, Montville Hall, Montville, QLD
GRANTS AND AWARDS:
- 2022 AirBNB OMG Fund Prize Winner
- 2015 Regional Arts Victoria Residency, Ballarat VIC
- 2012 Toyota Indoor Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition finalist, Port Melbourne, VIC
- 2012 Regional Arts Victoria Project Grant for the ‘Bagsnatcher’ installation
- 2011 Toyota Indoor Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition finalist, Port Melbourne, VIC
- 2011 Linden Postcard Exhibition, Finalist, St Kilda, VIC
- 2010 Regional Arts Quick Response Grant for ‘Rainbow Love/Tie the Knot’
- 2010 ‘Noosa 3D Travelling Scholarship’ Finalist, Noosa Regional Gallery, Tewantin, QLD
- 2010 ‘National Artworkers Award’ Finalist, Paddington, Brisbane, QLD
- 2010 ‘Churchie Emerging Artist Award’ Finalist, QCA Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
- 2002 Best Sculpture, Neighbourhood Grafix, Northampton, UK
- 1999 & 1998 Academic Excellence Awards, Griffith University, QLD
- 1999 Peoples Choice & Best Sculpture Award, Women in Art, Montville, QLD
- 1999 ‘Artistcare Student Drawing Prize’ Finalist, QCA, Brisbane, QLD
COMMISSIONS:
- 2017 ‘On the Piste’, Grampians Petanque Club, Moyston, VIC
- 2016 ‘Country Rose’ and ‘Junior’, Secrets on the Lake, Montville, QLD
- 2015 ‘To Have and To Hold’, Secrets on the LAke, Montville, QLD
- 2011 Artlink LEAP project, Ballarat Art Gallery, VIC
- 2008 Mural, Palmwoods Aquatic Centre, QLD
- 2006 ‘Woman in Water’, Secrets on the Lake, Montville, QLD
- 2003 ‘Wrong Way, Go Back’, Neighbourhood, Northampton, UK
- 2000 ‘A Piece of the Puzzle’, CPLQ, QLD
COLLECTIONS AND REPRESENTATION:
Works held in Private Collections in the USA, Netherlands, UK, Bermuda and within public and private collections in Australia.
