About the Artist

Contact Information

Rachele Lana Wiggins
Mobile: 0404 108 207
Email: info@rachelewiggins.com.au

Artist Statement

Rachele Wiggins is a Sydney based artist, who completed a bachelor of Fine arts at the National Arts School in Sydney. Inspired by the expressionists and surrealists in art school, Rachele became fascinated with distorting the human form to evoke an emotional response from viewers that like Edvard Munch stated, "arrests and engages. An art created of one's innermost heart."

After a six-month studio residency at the end of 2009, Rachele showcased a joint exhibition, 'Unearthed,' which examined the ideas behind desire, sexuality and animalistic attraction in a figurative landscape of nudes. Dreams, memories and imagination became devices in which Rachele could explore, understand and make sense of life and its effects on the self.

"I want to capture that indefinable quality that creates not only a frozen moment, but also a sense of the feeling behind the memory of that moment. How it exists both physically and mentally." (R.W.)

Currently undergoing a Masters of Art in Painting at COFA, Rachele plans to continue to explore the origins of human emotion and behavior, focusing on the broad spectrum of human existence as perceived and dealt with by the mind. Reflecting on the intimate, vulnerable and at times dark side of humanity, in the midst of a continually evolving society.

Biography

Education

Current
Masters of Art - COFA
2007
TAFE North Sydney Certificate course in Airbrushing
2006
AFTRS short course - Drama of screenwriting Billy Marshell Stoneking
2005
AFTRS short course - Investigating performance with the Mike Leigh method (supervised by Robert Marchand)
2002-2004
Bachelor of Fine Arts National Art School

Exhibitions

2011
Brain Art Exhibition - Joint exhibition at Global Gallery (March)
2010
Pin Up Parlour - Joint exhibition in Kings Cross (The Club)
2009
North Sydney council Studio residency & exhibition
2008
Solo exhibition for the opening at Burruwang Hotel, Burruwang
2006
Brett Whiteley traveling art scholarship – Finalist show
2006
North Sydney art prize
2004
Best of Drawing week NAS exhibition
2004
Mosman Youth Art Prize
2003
Caribou Studio exhibition of 2nd year hand made books and prints
2003
John Olsen drawing prize
2002
Mosman Youth Art Prize
2002
Loyed Ress art prize
2002
North Sydney art prize
2001
North Sydney art prize
2001
FOCUS ARTS 20th Birthday & Student Exhibition
2001
Mosman Youth Art Prize

Prizes/Awards

2006
Finalist for the Brett Whiteley traveling art scholarship
2004
Best of Drawing Week - 3rd year paper prize, 'White Bay Powerstation'
2004
Mosman Youth Art Prize - 2nd prize senior printmaking, 'Pinocchio's Men'
2003
John Olsen Drawing Prize - Highly commended, 'Untitled'
2002
Mosman Youth Art Prize - Highly commended Senior printmaking, 'Quiet Dignity'
2002
Mosman Youth Art Prize - 1st prize senior photography, 'Ambivalence'
2002
North Sydney Art Prize - Royal Art Society of NSW drawing prize, 'The forgotten'
2001
Mosman Youth Art Prize - 2nd in Senior drawing , 'Black and white nude'

Memberships

Filmography

2006
Short Film, 'Designer Petrol' - Production Manager and Story boarder
2000
Film, 'Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the clones', worked as an assistant for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Assistant Director. (job received through James McTeigue - Director, producer)
1999
Film, 'The Monkey's Mask', worked as an Art Department Attachment
1997
Film, 'The Well', worked as a cast extra (playing the young Hester)

Curatorship

2004
'Look at my doodle', Stairwell Gallery, Forbes Street, Darlinghurst
 

Other Work

2009
North Sydney studio residency and exhibition
2009
Crusty Demons - Beyond the Apocalypse tour - Assistant banner spray artist and painter (April - May)
2009
Diesel - Shop design layout & fit out for Diesel clothing store (April)
2007
Crusty Demons - Unleash Hell tour - Assistant banner spray artist and painter