About

Biography

Steve Woodbury (b. 1968, Sydney, Australia) is a Tasmanian-based gestural process painter whose practice merges the physicality of athletic training with the meditative rigour of Zen calligraphy. Working primarily with unusual materials like gunpowder, book-ash paints, pigmented charcoals, and experimental inks, on heavy, often unprimed linens and handmade papers, he is best known for his large-scale, physically-charged works that operates at the intersection of process, performance, and material investigation. Steve’s distinctive visual language is grounded in the self-imposed principles of Poiesis, Agency, and Duration –– three key elements emerging from his injury-induced chronic pain recovery –– making his painting process one to transform physical limitation into a catalyst for creative expansion.

In series such as Dying from Birth (NERAM, Australian Embassy, and Edogawa City Gallery, Tokyo, Japan) and In the Shadows of Power (NSW Parliament, Sydney), he investigates the embodied nature of mark-making. In What Fires Together, Wires Together, an inversion machine originally used in his rehabilitation is recontextualised as both constraint and creative apparatus to interrogate the human struggle for agency through visceral, time-bound mark-making. Over more than three decades, Steve has been deepening his dialogue with the global ‘Ink Art’ movement from his position “at the bottom of the world” where he can conflate the digital and analogue worlds and perceive the Eastern and Western concerns from a unique angle.

Steve gained a PhD (exploring the pain-altered mind-body connection), a Master of Fine Arts (Research) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours). Over a career spanning more than thirty years, he has presented over thirty solo exhibitions, including Art of War (Armistice Centenary Anniversary) at Villers-Bretonneux Town Hall, France, and participated in major group exhibitions such as China Translated (MONA Terminal, Hobart and Chinese Cultural Centre, Sydney), the Mosman Art Prize, the Salon des Refuses (S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney), and the Shanghai and Stockholm Art Fairs. His work is represented in significant public and private collections across Australia, Asia, Europe, New Zealand, and the United States.

Curriculum Vitae

Studies

2017 – 2020	PhD (with Scholarship), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS
2014 – 2016	MFA (by Research), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS
2013	BFA (Honours), University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS

Artist in Residence

2023-24

Henry Jones IXL Art Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania.

Individual Exhibitions

2020	Painting Recovery, Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania.
2018	Art of War (Centenary Edition), Villers-Bretonneux Town Hall, France.
	What Fires Together, Wires Together, Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania.
2017	Art of War, Villers-Bretonneux Town Hall, France.
	The Big Bang, Packing Room Gallery, Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart Tasmania.
2016	The Continuing Ellipse, MFA examination exhibition, Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS.
2014	Text-scapes, Galleri Ingela S, Stockholm, Sweden
	Oracle, BMGArt, Adelaide, SA
	The Art of War, Burnie Regional Art Museum
2013	Text-scapes, Gallery Pejean, Launceston, TAS
2012	Osmosis, Despard Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2009	Nordens Ljus, Soderns Skuggor [“Northern Light, Southern Shadows”], Galleri Overkikaren, Stockholm, Sweden
2008	Dying From Birth, John Miller Galleries, Newcastle, NSW
2007	Dying From Birth, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
	The Atrophy of Purity, Manning Regional Gallery, NSW
	The Enigma of Reason, Moree Plains Regional Gallery, NSW
2006	Dying From Birth: The Second Death, John Miller Galleries, Newcastle, NSW
	Dying From Birth, Collateral Art, Haarlemmermeer, The Netherlands
	Dying From Birth, New England Regional Art Museum, NSW
	Dying From Birth, John Miller Galleries, NSW
	Steve 400, Collateral Art, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2004	Dying from Birth DVD, Australian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
	Dying from Birth, Edogawa City Kumin Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
	Omnipotent Shadows Red, Gallery Art Point, Ginza, Japan
	Omnipotent Shadows Red, Gallery H.O.T., Osaka, Japan
2002	Shadows of The Enigma of Reason, Von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle, NSW
2001	Shadows of Creation, Mira Fine Art (formerly Bulle), Melbourne, VIC
	In The Shadows Of Power, NSW State Parliament, Sydney, NSW
2000	Shadows Beyond The Void of Life, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
	Shadows Beyond The Other Place, Von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle, NSW
	Shadows of The Other Place, Bulle Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
1999	Discussions With The Universe, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain, NSW
1998	Color Talk, Agora Gallery, New York, USA
1997	From The Shadows, Untitled Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1996	In The Shadows, Avoca Gallery, NSW

Select Group Shows

2024	Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, PLC Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2022	Bay of Fires Art Prize, St Helens, Tas.
2021	Tidal 20, Devonport Regional Gallery; Bay of Fires Art Prize, St. Helens, TAS.
2019	China Translated, Chinese Cultural Centre, Sydney, NSW; China Translated, MONA Terminal, Brooke St Pier, Hobart TAS; Tidal, Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport, TAS;
	Bay of Fires Art Prize, St Helens, Tas.
2017	Bay of Fires Art Prize, St.Helens, TAS
2015	Lloyd Rees Art Prize, Judge: Prof. Sasha Grishin, Colville Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2014	Formed and Unformed: An Exhibition of Drawing, Curators: David Edgar and Mary Scott, 146 Artspace, Hobart, TAS
	Abstraction, Despard Gallery, Hobart, TAS
	Christmas Show, Colville Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2013	Honours Exhibition, Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS
	Showcase, Gallery Pejean, Launceston, TAS
	Abstract, Galleri Ingela S, Stockholm, Sweden
2012	Stockholm Art Fair, Galleri Overkikaren, Stockholm, Sweden
	Abstraction, Despard Gallery, Hobart, TAS
	Showcase, Gallery Pejean, Launceston, TAS
2011	Christmas Exhibition, Despard Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2010	Solitary Pursuits in Red, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
2009	Newcastle by Name 2, John Miller Galleries, Newcastle, NSW
	Muswellbrook Open Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Gallery, NSW
2007	In the Gap, Annandale Galleries, Annandale, NSW
	Maitland Art Prize, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
2006	Packsaddle Exhibition, New England Regional Museum, NSW
	Australian Art Show, Galerie Zuger, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
	World Print Prize, Lessedra Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria
	Maitland Art Prize, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
2005	Shanghai Art Fair, Shanghai, China
	Maitland Art Prize, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
	Muswellbrook Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Gallery, NSW
	World Print Prize, Lessedra Gallery, National Place of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria
2004	Maitland Art Prize, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
	River Themes, Port Macquarie Hastings Regional Gallery, NSW
2003	New Acquisitions 2001-2003, Newcastle Regional Gallery, NSW
	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
	Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
2002	Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
	Packsaddle Exhibition, New England Regional Art Museum, NSW
	Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Campbelltown Regional Gallery, NSW
	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
	Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
	Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Gallery, NSW
2001	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
	Fishers Ghost Prize, Campbelltown Regional Gallery, NSW
	Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
2000	Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
	Muswellbrook Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Gallery, NSW
	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
1999	Sky Clad, James Harvey, Balmain, NSW
	Wyong Art Prize, Wyong Council, NSW
	Collector’s Choice, Von Bertouch galleries, Newcastle, NSW
1998	New Faces, Solander Gallery, Canberra, ACT
	Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Campbelltown Regional Gallery, NSW
	Collector’s Choice, Von Bertouch galleries, Newcastle, NSW
1997	Collector’s Choice, Von Bertouch galleries, Newcastle, NSW
1996	Mosman Art Prize, Judge: John Coburn, Mosman Regional Gallery, NSW
	Cross Roads, PCL Exhibitionists, Sydney, NSW
1995	Edogawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan

Collections

Ballarat Regional Gallery, VIC
Burnie Regional Art Museum, TAS
Business Central Coast, NSW
Coffs Harbour City Collection, NSW
Colourstock, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service, Gosford, Newcastle & Wyong, NSW
Downey Group, Sydney, NSW
Edogawa Art Association, Tokyo, Japan
Edogawa City, Tokyo, Japan
Edogawa International Friendship Association (EIFA), Tokyo, Japan
Edogawa Welfare Association for the Blind, Tokyo, Japan
Elcom Credit Union, NSW
Future School, Gosford, NSW
Fuji Xerox Australia, Sydney, NSW
Gallipoli Memorial Club, Sydney, NSW
Goldwater Memorial Hospital, New York, USA
Hoofdoorp City, The Netherlands
Hill St Sports Medicine Centre, NSW
Konst Stigen, Stockholm, Sweden
Krone Australia, NSW
Landstingets Konstforening, Stockholm, Sweden
Lulea University, Sweden
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects, NSW
Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
Manning Regional Art Gallery, NSW
Matsudaira Family Collection, NSW
Moree Plains Regional Gallery, NSW
Newcastle Regional Gallery, NSW
NSW Parliament, Sydney, NSW
Octopus Fulfilment, Sydney, NSW
Original Concepts, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hastings Regional Art Gallery, Port Macquarie, NSW
Premiers Department (Department of State and Regional Development) Gosford, NSW
Soul Pattinson Telecommunications, NSW
Staff Force, NSW
Sun Microsystems, NSW
Tama City, Japan
Taylor Financial Group, VIC
Utrecht City Hall, The Netherlands
University of Newcastle (Central Coast Campus), NSW
Vin & Spirits Konstforening, Stockholm, Sweden
Villers Bretonneux Town Hall, France
Wright Advertising, NSW
Wyong City Council, NSW
Private collections: Australia, China, Finland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, The Netherlands, UK, USA

Publications

Woodbury, S 2018, What fires together, wires together, exhibition catalogue, Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart TAS and Villers-Bretonneux Town Hall, France.
Woodbury, S 2018, Whispers from the Western Front, book of poems, Peregrine Publishing, Nth Hobart, TAS
Woodbury, S 2017, Art of war, exhibition catalogue, Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart, TAS and Villers-Bretonneux Town Hall, France
Woodbury, S 2015, Whispered, book of poems, Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, SA
Woodbury, S 2014, The art of war, exhibition catalogue, 25 October – 7 December 2014, Burnie Regional Gallery, Burnie, TAS
Woodbury, S 2014, Oracle, exhibition catalogue, 22 August – 13 September 2014, BMGArt, Adelaide, SA
Woodbury, S 2014, Text-scapes, exhibition catalogue, Galleri Ingela S, Stockholm, Sweden
Woodbury, S 2012, Osmosis, exhibition catalogue, 8 – 27 November 2012, Despard Gallery, Hobart, TAS
Woodbury, S 2012, Bloodshot, book of poems, Picaro Press, Warners Bay, NSW
Woodbury, S 2010, Red poem readings, poem reading CD, Newcastle, NSW
Woodbury, S 2009, Red in the middle, book of poems, Picaro Press, Warners Bay, NSW
Woodbury, S 2009, Nordens ljus, soderns skuggor, exhibition catalogue, September – October 2009, Galleri Overkikaren, Stockholm, Sweden
Woodbury, S 2009, Northern lights, book of poems, translated into Swedish, Picaro Press, Warners Bay, NSW
Woodbury, S 2008, Dying from birth, book of poems, Picaro Press, Warners Bay, NSW
Woodbury, S 2007, Dying from birth, exhibition catalogue, 9 February – 25 March 2007, Maitland, Manning, Moree Regional Galleries, NSW
Woodbury, S 2005, Dying from birth, exhibition catalogue, Shanghai Art Fair, Shanghai, China
Woodbury, S 2004, Photographs of god, Fuji Xerox Australia, North Ryde, NSW
Woodbury, S 2001, Shadows of power, exhibition catalogue, June 2001, NSW Parliament, Sydney, NSW
Woodbury, S 2000, Shadows beyond the void of life, exhibition catalogue, 14 July – 13 August 2000, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
Woodbury, S 1999, Discussions with the universe, exhibition catalogue, 10 – 27 November 1999, James Harvey Gallery, Balmain, NSW
Woodbury, S 1996, In the shadows, exhibition catalogue, 18 May – 3 June 1996, Avoca Gallery, NSW
Woodbury, S 1995, The Theory of Everything, catalogue, Steve Woodbury, Gosford, NSW

Prizes

Wyong art prize contemporary section, Wyong Council, NSW
Gosford art prize open section 2000, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
Salon des refuses finalist 2002, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
Fishers ghost finalist 1998, 2001, 2002, Campbelltown Regional Gallery, NSW
Mosman art prize finalist 1998, Mosman Regional Gallery, NSW
Lessedra Gallery, world print prize finalist 2005, 2006, Bulgaria Place of Culture, Bulgaria
Muswellbrook art prize finalist 2000, 2002, 2005, 2009, Muswellbrook Regional Gallery, NSW
Maitland art prize finalist 2004, 2005, 2006, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
Gosford art prize finalist 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
Wyong art prize finalist 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, Wyong, NSW
Lloyd Rees art prize finalist 2015, Colville Gallery, Hobart, TAS
Many commended and highly commended awards in various shows

Bibliography

Martain, T 2018, ‘Hardwire of trauma’, Tas Weekend/The Mercury, 10-11 November 2018
Martain, T 2017, ‘Creating art by destruction’, The Mercury, October 1, 2017
Martain, T 2017, ‘Go with a bang’, Tas Weekend/ The Mercury, 30 September-1 October 2017
Robertson, D 2017, ‘Explosive art: Tasmanian Steve Woodbury’s gunpowder creates the ‘ultimate Zen moment’, ABC News, Australian Broadcast Commission, Hobart, 30 August, 2017
ABC Online (Tas) 2017, Australian Broadcasting Commission, Hobart, September
Edwards, M 2014, ‘The art of war’, essay, The Art of War exhibition catalogue, Burnie Regional Gallery, Burnie, TAS
Haddon, N 2014, ‘Typing, painting, meaning’, essay, Oracle exhibition catalogue, BMGArt, Adelaide, SA
Engman, A 2014, ‘Steve Woodbury’, essay, Text-scapes exhibition catalogue, Galleri Ingela, Stockholm, Sweden
30 Report (Tas) 2012, television program, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Hobart, 2 November
Hayward, H 2012, ‘Steve Woodbury: real life: abstract art’, Tasmanian Style, July, 4
McDonald, J 2010, Solitary pursuits in red, exhibition catalogue, Maitland Regional Gallery, NSW
Woodbury, S 2009, ANZAC poems, reading and interview, radio program, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Newcastle, 25 April
Snedden, B 2007, ‘Look beyond Asian influence’, Maitland Mercury, 19 March
Edwards, L 2007, ‘Focus on birth, death and bits in between’, Manning River Times, 21 February, p.12
Grishin, S 2007, ‘Steve Woodbury: dying from birth’, introductory essay, Dying from birth exhibition catalogue, Maitland, Manning, Moree Regional Galleries, NSW
Goodman, J 2006, ‘Steve Woodbury – Search for the sublime’, Lino Magazine, pp. 92-95, 16
Stowell , J 2006, ‘Driven to abstraction’, The Newcastle Herald, 29 July, p. 30
Witte Weekblad (Netherlands) 2006, ‘Australische kunst voor gemeente’, 16 July
Witte Weekblad (Netherlands) 2006, ‘Woodbury neemt schilderij niet mee terug naar Australie’, 07 June
Williams, L 2006, ‘Art worth pondering’, The Armidale Express, 17 May
Fry, G 2006, ‘Dying from birth’, The Armidale Independent, 17 May
Slade, L 2006, ‘Gifted escape artists’, Newcastle Herald, 04 February
Kunstbeeld (Netherlands) 2005, ‘Australie bedankt Nederland met schilderij Woodbury’, 29 December
Goodman, J 2005, ‘Painting and prophecy, Dying from birth, Introduction to exhibition catalogue, Shanghai Art Fair, China
Lessedra Gallery and Contemporary Art Projects, 4th Art Print Annual, Bulgaria
Gregory, B 2004, Introduction essay, Photographs of God
Community Announcements 2004, TV broadcast, Edogawa TV, Japan, 6 October – 14 October
Gallery Magazine (Japan) 2004, October
FM Radio (Japan) 2004, October
Asahi Newspaper (Japan) 2004, 8 October, p. 31
Yomiuri Newspaper (Japan) 2004, 6 October, p. 32
Sankei Newspaper (Japan) 2004, 6 October, p. 27
Osaka Daily Newspaper (Japan) 2004, 16 October, p.1 & p. 18
Hornsby Advocate 2001, ‘Borne of pain’, 19 July
McGoldrick, K 2001, ‘Artists work a search for truth’, Express Advocate, 29 June
Today Extra 2001, interview, television program, NBN Channel 3, 22 June
New Art International 2001, New York
McCormack, W 2000, ‘Grand works on show’, Express Advocate, 21 July
NBN News 2000, television broadcast, NBN Channel 3, 14 July
Australian Artist Magazine 2000, ‘New Regional Gallery’, July, p 5
New Art International 2000, New York
Stowell, J 2000, ‘Big is beautiful’, The Newcastle Herald, 20 May
Australian Artist 2000, ‘Abstract expressionism’, feature article, March, pp. 20-27, 189
Sun Weekly 1999, ‘Woodbury joins collection’, 14 October
Graham, C 1999, ‘Overseas exhibits’, Express Advocate, 30 April, p. 34
Jackson, G 1998, ‘Steve’s passion finds form’, North Shore Times, 25 March
Grishin, S 1998, ‘Emerging artists take a bow at Solander’, Canberra Times, 16 February
Musa, H 1998, ‘From Yarralumla to the Big Apple’, Canberra Times, 7 February
McGoldrick, K 1997, ‘Artist is back in the groove’, Express Advocate, 13 August
McGoldrick, K 1996, ‘Painting a brush with pain’, Express Advocate, 15 May

The Art

Although his work is ongoing through a range of parameters, they are often grouped into series. By re-presenting a niche idea into the language of paint he effectively creates a contemporary take on ancient traditions, often merging the digital and the analogue worlds, re-presented into the world of material making. Disparate research is conflated from Zen-warrior martial arts; neurological mind-mapping and psychological brain-training methods, which combine with a great interest in conscious and unconscious processing. These become key elements re-presented as a painting methodology that reinvigorate the weighted, historical concerns of calligraphy.

Like coloured Rorschach tests, these works open the experience of viewing and interpreting for the viewer’s own associations. The aim is to involve your unconscious emotive responses without thinking about it consciously. Look, feel and enjoy.