Yvette Swan

‹ back to artists

Throughout high school art was my most enjoyable class. I loved the practical side of creating as well as hearing about the different periods in art history. It was very exciting, having the feeling of many others creating all over the world and in different time periods. I loved the artworks of individuals, their experiences and creativity, as well as groups of people who created together. The art and history of the Egyptians always fascinated me.

Modern and contemporary art has always been my most loved time period. I find the expression and colours used light up my soul and fill my heart. The simple shape of a line or a colour can give so much to me.

Once leaving high school I went to art college in Sydney. It was a wonderful time to be able to learn and create in various mediums. For my last 2 years there I concentrated on film and photography instead of painting and drawing, which were the mediums I used in high school. The power and beauty of film and photography can stimulate my heart just as much as any other medium. Colour and design were beautiful aspects within these mediums as well.

Throughout my 20’s I worked in London with a film company; then in Sydney in the photographic industry. Towards my late 20’s I returned to painting. I was missing it every year that passed once leaving art school but did nothing about it until my sister asked me to do some paintings for her work projects. She is an interior designer and needed some artworks for a project of hers. And so that opportunity brought me back to painting and re-stimulated my love of it.

From that point on, I set about to create a career as an artist; calling galleries, showing my portfolio, being in exhibitions; entering art competitions and so on. And this continues to date.

What I love is when I go to an exhibition and pass an artwork that stops me in my tracks and fills my heart. On a vibration level something is being communicated to me and I love that feeling when it uplifts me in some way. It is like my heart physically and emotionally breaths a deep breath, one full of beauty.

Over recent years I have created paintings that travel to all kinds of spectrums. Traveling to New York a couple of times influenced me greatly. I have painted many energetic and colourful abstract works as a result. My inclusion with a group of artists working on a book, “Unfinished Journeys” was also a result of my New York journey.

As with all people I like to explore other ideas, applications and this led me to create a series of abstract landscape paintings. Through this I have been able to appreciate and connect more with the softness and beauty of the natural world.

Each painting and its title evoke a particular scenario to me, like a scene in a film. There is a feeling to me of a story, an image and a soundtrack all working together to create a journey. Many of my paintings over the years have used film references in the titles to create an idea, a scene or to suggest life’s many paths, experiences and feelings.

My 2009 exhibition “The Man Who Fell to Earth” has been the next stage of my exploration. This was a collection of figurative, abstract and abstract landscape works. It was a group of paintings working together to convey ideas of different life realities.

Whatever the style and whatever the ideas the paintings are exploring, I have enjoyed traveling down the path of an artist. There is a beautiful feeling that can be opened when creating, whether it’s through painting, film, photography or any other choice of creation. I feel more myself and more at home when I access this feeling.

I hope you enjoy viewing my paintings. A work of art is complete once a viewer experiences all that it can give them.

Yvette.

Solo Shows

2009: THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH*, Queensland, Australia
2008: THE MENAGERIE*, Frances Keevil Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney, Australia
2008: Art Galleries Schubert, Queensland, Australia
2008: FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR*, Maree Mizon Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney, Australia
2007: LOST HORIZONS*, Metro 5 Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne, Australia
2007: PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES*, Maree Mizon Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney, Australia
2006: MOVING ON UP, Lorraine Pilgrim Art Dealer, Brisbane, Australia
2006: Metro 5 Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne, Australia
2006: FOREVER YOUNG, John Gordon Gallery, Coffs Harbour, Australia
2006: Lorraine Pilgrim Art Dealer, Brisbane, Australia
2005: Gallery Philip Neville, Darwin, Australia
2005: Axia Modern Art, Sydney, Australia
2005: UNFINISHED JOURNEY’S*, Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2004: FLEURIEU PENINSULA BIENNALE, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia
2004: Metro 5 Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne, Australia
2004: A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE*, Metro 5 Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne, Australia
2004: THE ODYSSEY*, Art Galleries Schubert, Main Beach, Queensland, Australia
2003: LIQUID GOLD, Metro 5 Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne
2003: TREASURES, Metro 5 Gallery, Armadale, Melbourne
2003: THE 2003 METRO 5 ART PRIZE EXHIBITION, Armadale, Melbourne
2002: Art Galleries Schubert, Main Beach, Queensland
2002: A DAY IN THE LIFE*, Michael Carr Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney, Australia
2002: WYNNE LANDSCAPE EXHIBITION, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2002: Maree Mizon Gallery, Paddington, Sydney
2002: PUSHING ABSTRACTION, Stella Downer Fine Art, Waterloo, Sydney
2002: Glenmore Galleries, Paddington, Sydney
2002: DESIGN INTUITION MEANING*, Astro Gallery, Paddington, Sydney, Australia
2002: OUT ART, Tin Sheds, Chippendale, Sydney
2002: AQUISITIVE AWARD, Finalist Exhibition, Raw Nerve Gallery, Erskineville, Sydney
1997/ 1996: Photographic Exhibition, Cauldron, Darlinghurst, Sydney
1997/ 1996: Graduating Film Exhibition, Chauvel Cinema, Paddington, Sydney

Commissions

2009-2007: Private Collections, Australia
2006: Lincorp Automotives Dealership, Parramatta, Sydney
2006: Lincorp Automotives Dealership, Camellia, Sydney
2005: Private Collections, Australia
2004: Private Collections, Hong Kong
2004: Private Collections, Australia
2003: Private Collections, Australia
2003: Miele, Interior Designex 2003, Melbourne
2002: Lincorp Automotives Dealership, Camellia, Sydney
2002: Kado Restaurant, Kirribilli, Sydney
2002: Australian Art Link, Holiday Inn Hotel, foyer & reception, Darling Harbour, Sydney
2002: Ruth Levine Designs, Platinum display apartment, Gold Coast, Queensland
2002: Cargo Bar, 17 paintings, Kings Street Wharf, Sydney
2001: Lend Lease, Regatta Wharf apartments, main foyer, Pyrmont, Sydney
2000: Mirvac Developers, Elizabeth Street, Sydney
2000: Private, Rushcutters Bay; Paddington; Pyrmont
2000: Ruth Levine Designs (RLD), Watermark apartment, Pyrmont, Sydney
2000: Michael Love Interior Designer, Bennelong apartment, Circular Quay, Sydney
2000: RLD, Forum apartment, St Leonards; Five Dock apartment, Sydney
1999: Lend Lease Developers, Terrace 20 apartment, Pyrmont, Sydney
1999: Graphis, art dealers, corporate development, Fleetview apartment, Pyrmont, Sydney
1999: RLD, display apartments, Sydney
1998: Lend Lease, Regatta Wharf apartment, Pyrmont, Sydney
1998: RLD apartments

Collections

Leeuwin Winery Estate Art Series, Western Australia
Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Queensland, Australia
Lowensteins Arts Management, Sydney, Australia
John Symond, Sydney, Australia

Bibliography

Ken McGregor, “Unfinished Journey’s”, book of artists’ travels around the world, including John Olsen & Tim Storrier, 2006, Australia
Lino Magazine, 1st Anniversary, Issue No. 5, 2004, Sydney, Australia
Chris Baynes, “Spiritual Sisters, Louise and Yvette Swan”, Sydney Leading Homes, Feb 28, 2004 Australia
Heidi Mayer, “Homage to Creativity”, The Courier-Mail, February 6, 2004, Queensland, Australia
Brian Mossop, “Swan Stretching Boundaries”, The Gold Coast Bulletin, January 31, 2004, Australia
Jacqueline Houghton, THE ODYSSEY exhibition catalogue, 2004, Queensland, Australia
Terry Ingram, “Artistic Value…” The Australian Financial Review, August 28, 2003, Australia

Honours

2004: Fleurieu Peninsula Biennale, Fleurieu Peninsula Art Prize, finalist, Australia
2003: Metro 5 Gallery Art Prize, finalist, Melbourne, Australia
2002: Wynne Landscape Prize, finalist, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Education

1991: Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, UNSW, COFA, Sydney, Australia
1988: Higher School Certificate, Sydney, Australia