ARTIST’S STATEMENT
“I believe art should reflect the nature of reality, and the reality of nature”
I wrote these words in 1989 for launch of my book ‘Byron Portfolio‘ and they still ring true for me.
The theme of ‘sense of place’ recurs time and again in my work – I cannot escape the pull of the natural world.
The Australian landscape – is a subject area that has been neglected by decades of artists and curators, relegated to the ‘Sunday Painter’ syndrome. When it is given scant attention it emerges stripped, scoured and dusty – in an overwhelmingly ‘male’ viewpoint of a harsh unforgiving land. When I walk through major galleries of this nation – I strain to recognise the beauty and colour, the warmth and richness and diversity of terrain that I have studied and depicted.
There are no vast collections of Heathland, Rainforests, and Coastal scrub in the very places where so many people go to see their world reflected back to them through an artists filter.
Why is this so?
Why is the desert landscape alone considered the only worthwhile, mystical experience? Generations of (mostly) male artists have trekked and driven and flown across vast distances of the inland- and produced paintings of startling similarity.
The desert is beautiful in colour and form – but as long as we turn our eyes to the inland for our mystical connection with the land, we will overlook and destroy what we are living in at this moment – along the seashore, through the heath, into the rainforests, even in our townscapes. If as artists we prefer the banality of the obviously dramatic – we are failing to preserve what is precious in our ever-expanding suburban environments.
In all my work I have brought my’inner vision’ – that of humbled awe in the face of something far greater than my artistic ego, the glory of the natural landscape and atmosphere.
Sometimes that vision telescopes down to the minutiae of natural forms, the forest floor underfoot, the simple beauty of leaves, flowers and vegetables .
Sometimes I lift up my head and am overwhelmed by the vastness, the endless ocean, the cloud filled panorama of sky.
Many artists have trodden this path before me; I see many of my peers and contemporaries alongside. I am happy to be in the ranks of what I believe to be a viable and just role for an artist in a modern world- depicting the natural miracles that occur outside our doors everyday
Karena Wynn-Moylan .
I was born in Sale Victoria .
My father Ron was a talented photographer and cartoonist, and my mother Eleanor worked as a florist.I left home at 17 to live with Peregrine Smith, son of Joy Hester and Gray Smith.
I absorbed huge amounts of information from mixing with Melbourne art scene which included Sunday lunches at Heide with Sun and John Reid, and visiting the homes of artists such as John Perceval and Mirka Mora.
In 1972 I moved to Sydney and joined Group 20 filmmakers where I was taught film by Phil Noyce, Chris Tillam and Albie Thoms and became one of the founding members of the Sydney Filmmakers Co-operative Cinema.
Together with my partner Peter Moylan and Matt Butler, we ran the ‘Blinky Bill Film Workshop’ for the Australian Film and TV School.
After making several documentaries and independent films we moved to the North Coast of NSW.
I held my first one woman show in 1980 at the Stokers Siding Pottery ( founded by master luster ceramicist Bob Connery).
I specialised in developing a new approach to watercolour for a number of years then included acrylics, oils and pastels and mixed media.
In 1989 , in conjunction with Byron Shire Council, I published ‘Byron Portfolio‘, a book of own paintings of the Byron Shire. This was launched in Paris with an exhibition of the work.
For a number of years I balanced constant exhibiting with community projects such as the Murwillumbah Bi Centennial festival ‘Event in a Tent’, the Byron Shire ‘Kicking Arts’ displays and many other festivals, theatre productions and workshops.
Every Thursday I present the arts show ‘Arts Canvass’ on Bay FM community radio – a lively mix of interviews, artsnews and music.
In 2000 I stepped back from full time exhibiting to concentrate on writing music and acquiring multi media skills . Music and songs were represented by Pump Audio New York and have been used extensively throughout the world in Film and Television.
The years 2003-2006 were spent working on a multi media commission which involved over 100 fantasy paintings and drawings .
I live with my partner Peter who has a Phd. in Events Management in the heart of the village of Bangalow.
I can offer private tuition in all media and I conduct regular workshops at Studio 3 in Bangalow .
My work is represented in private, corporate and local govt. collections in Australia and overseas.
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2023- N.R.C.G Ballina – ‘Understories: Things Fallen”
2022 – Gallery 7 Byron Bay – “ Understories: Tidescapes”
2021- Heritage House Bangalow
2017 – Muffin Wallopers Teaparty – Town café Bangalow
2011 Windhorse Gallery Bangalow ‘Pro-duced’
2008 Robyn Bauer Studio Gallery Paddington, Brisbane ‘Soft Weather’
2004 Aqua Luma,- watercolours at Barebones Artspace, Bangalow.
2003 ’Retrospection’ – multi media retrospective show, Byron Bay
2001 ‘Atmospheres’ – Persephone’s Window, Byron Bay
1998 ‘ Making the Connection’- Lismore Regional Gallery
1997’ Erota’- Cornucopia Gallery, Sydney
1993 Sense and Sensuality, Cape Gallery, Byron Bay
1989 Byron Portfolio Exhibition, Cannibal Pierce Galleries, Paris
1989 Byron Portfolio Exhibition, Mullumbimby Arts Gallery
1983 Weswal Gallery, Tamworth
1982 Stokers Siding Gallery
1981 Mackay-Harrison Gallery, Ballina
1981 Beaver Gallery, Canberra
1980 Stokers Siding Gallery
Featured Artist in an Exhibition
2024- “Age of Autumn’ – Art-Alchemy Gallery, Newrybar NSW.
2008 ‘Soft Weather ‘ – Robyn Bauer Studio Gallery, Paddington Brisbane
1992-93 Artworks Gallery, Byron
1991 Weswal Gallery, Tamworth
1989 Griffith Tablecraft Gallery
1988 Stokers Siding Centenary Exhibition
1986 N.R.O.C.C Travelling Collection Exhibition, Lismore
1984 Stokers Siding Gallery
1983 Stokers Siding Gallery
1982 Mackay-Harrison Gallery, Ballina
Group Exhibitions
2011 – 30 Realists, Blue Bicycle Gallery Byron Bay
2010-2011- The Mortimer Prize Touring exhibition
2011- The Caldera Art Prize
2010 – Countryscapes 2010 Touring Exhibition
2009 – Countryscapes 2009 Touring exhibition
2008 Ramsay Health Group Show
2008-9 Group Christmas Show – Robyn Bauer Gallery, Paddington Brisbane
2007-8 Group Christmas Show – Robyn Bauer Gallery, Paddington Brisbane
2002 Byron Photo Gallery
1999 Waldron Galleries, Lismore
1998 Toys, Grafton Regional Gallery
1993 Cape Gallery, Byron
1992 Griffith Park Gallery, Condong
1992 Redhill Galleries, Brisbane
1992 Mullumbimby Arts Gallery
1991 Gallerie Baguette, Brisbane
1991 Bond University Art Gallery
1991 Mullumbimby Arts Gallery
1991 Cape Gallery, Byron
1990 Christmas Exhibition, Griffith Park Gallery, Condong
1990 Waldron Studios, Lismore
1989 Femmes Erotique, Cannibal Pierce Gallerie, Paris
1989 Drawing the Line, Tweed River Regional Gallery
1988 Bravura, Lismore Regional Gallery
1987 Cape Gallery, Byron
1985-87 Living Art Display, Mullumbimby
1985 NEN-ENC Telethon Art Exhibition
1984 Arts Factory Exhibition
1983 Mackay-Harrison Gallery, Ballina
Karena Wynn-Moylan
Multi Media
2011 Lantern Parade Lismore
2006 Byron Bay Writers Festival
2004 Bay Fm Street dance party
2003 Retrospection , Byron Bay
2003 Bay Fm Street Dance Party
2002 National Circus Festival, Mullumbimby
2001 The Big Vege Garden – Santos opening project, Mullumbimby
2001 Atmospheres – Persephone’s Bookshop ,Byron Bay
Exhibitions Curated
2022 – Tidescapes – Gallery 7 Byron Bay
2003 Retrospection – Byron Bay
1996 Making the Connection, Lismore Regional Gallery
1996 1999 Kicking Arts Shop Windows Gallery
1996 Mullumbimby Laneways, Aspidistra, Byron Bay
1992-93 Artworks Gallery, Byron Bay.
1993 Sense and Sensuality, Cape Gallery, Byron Bay
1992 Gibraltar and the Washpool, Griffith Park Gallery, Condong
.
Major Commissions
2017 -Series of ten large oils for major Gold Coast collector of coastal scenes.
Series of 12 watercolours depicting North Coast Fungi – for Francis West, Weswal Gallery, Tamworth
Byron Portfolio – a 56 page colour publication of paintings and drawings of Byron Shire by the artist – for Byron Shire
Council
Series of 10 colour recreations of extinct Australian Mammals for Reader’s Digest/World Wildlife publication
“Australia’s Vanishing Mammals” authored by Tim Flannery.
Specially commissioned series of 4 ‘local environment’ paintings for international resort ‘Laguna Quays’, Whitsunday
Passage, Qld.
The Oracles of Nephira – Multi media Fantasy project comprising over 100 full colour illustrations for Startek
Productions.
Citations and Publications
2005 Australian Artist –, May, June, July
2004 Australian Artist
2003 Australian Artist
2001 Australian Artist
1997 Country Style Magazine
1997 Wellbeing Magazine
1994 Australian Artist
1990 Australia’s Vanishing Mammals
1990 Ecstasy Magazine
1989 Byron Portfolio
1989 Australian Artist
1987 Northern Rivers Art Directory
1986 Visarts
1986 Max Germaine’s Directory of Artists and Art Galleries of Australia
1986 Nature and Health Journal -, Vol7, No.4
1986 Nature and Health Journal -,Vol. 7,No.3
Self Published Collections of Works
Mullumbimby Laneways
Beaches of Byron
Rainforests
Produce-d
Karena Wynn-Moylan
Workshops and Tuition.
2012 – Mentor for Arts Northern Rivers project – multi-media
2011 – Studio 3 Bangalow
2010 – Studio3, Weekly Workshop
2009 – Studio 3, Weekly Workshop
2008 – Studio 3, Weekly workshop
2008 – Studio 3, Weekly workshop
2007 Ballina Art Society FEHVA Watercolour Masterclass 2007
2006 ,2007,2008 Ocean Shores Art Group
2005, 2006 Maclean Art Group
2005 Canberra Art Society
2005 Face of Schmincke’ watercolours demonstrator – Canberra, Goulburn
2003,2004 Tutor in Watercolour at the McGregor Winter School,
University of Queensland Toowoomba Campus
1999 Kickstart – Youth Arts Course
Acquisitions and Public Purchases
1987 – Tweed Shire Council Art Purchase
1986 – N.R.O.C.C. Travelling Exhibition Collection
1984 – Byron Bay Arts Factory Pig Collection
1984,1986 – Federal Government Artbank
Prizes and Awards
2024 -Finalist – Wollumbin Art Awards Tweed River Regional Gallery
Winner World Art Awards Floral realism 2023 – (6th)
Winner World Art Awards Landscape 2023 – (5th)
2023 -Finalist – Lethbridge Landscape Prize
2014 – Selected for the Stanthorpe Art Prize
2010 – Selected for Country energy Landscape Prize
2010 – Selected for the Mortimer Prize
2010 – Selected for the Caldera Art Prize
2009 -Selected for Country Energy ‘Countryscapes Landscape Prize’
2009 -Selected for Caldera Art Prize
2007 Selected for Flying Arts Touring Exhibition Qld
- Second Prize – Open Oils and acrylics- Ocean Shores Art Expo
CEASED entering competitions until 2007-09-04
1998 First, (W/C), Southern Cross Art Show.
1991 Popular Vote, Southern Cross Art Show
1990 First, (W/C), Southern Cross Art Show
1989 Second, (W/C), Currabubula Art Show
Highly Commended, (W/C), Currabubula Art Show
Second, (W/C), Casino Art Awards
1988 Highly Commended, (Drawing) Byron Easter Art Classic.
First, (W/C), Murwillumbah art Prize
Popular Vote, Murwillumbah Art Prize
First, (W/C), Currububula Art Show
1987 Highly Commended, (W/C), Southern Cross Art Show
Highly Commended, Open Section, (oil), Southern Cross Art Show
First, (W/C), Tweed Art Competition
First, (W/C), Tamworth Lifeline Art Affair
1986 Second, Open Section, (W/C) Kyogle Fairymount Art Show
Popular Vote, Southern Cross Art Show
1985 Highly Commended, (W/C), Kyogle Fairymount Art Show
1984 First, (W/C), Southern Cross Art Show
First, (W/C), Kyogle Fairymount Art Show
Second, Open Section (oil) Tweed Art Competition
Second, Traditional, (oil) Tweed Art Competition
1983 Second, Open Section,(oil), Southern Cross Arts Show
Highly Commended (W/C), Tweed Art Competition