Profile
John Scott is a contemporary Australian artist engaged in interpreting the landscape using both 2-D images and 3-D soft sculptures to create both abstract, representational and in some cases symbolic forms of art. His practice has spanned close to 40 years.
Artist's statement
Bridging Art, Nature, science and philosophy.
Learning to listen and feel nature as opposed to just seeing the surface led me to deeper undercurrents and a greater understanding of how interdependent we are within our natural environment needed for human health.
Often in a fast paced world surrounded by man-made built environments it quickly disconnects us from the natural world.
The deeper I went into the microcosm of nature, macro-cosmic elements manifested into my oeuvre.
I was guided to one specific area, fungus - about 30 years ago of which has been my focus for some time.
Mushrooms are the fruiting body of a much vaster underground mycorrhizal network system connecting trees through tiny threads called mycelium.
These root systems have been scientifically proven to communicate, transport and distribute nutrients to whole forests keeping them healthy.
The ant kingdom often stores and farms fungus feeding whole colonies underground.
Forests have “hub trees” sometimes called 'mother trees' that are powerful distributors of nutrients to plants that are struggling.
By listening to the health of nature it reminds us of how interdependent we are with nature including our own health as a species.
John Scott © 2024
Artist Biography
Born Sydney 1961, Australia
PRIZES
2023 - Winner Best Oil/Acrylic Bayside Art Show Brighton Melbourne.
2023 - Small works finalist Lethbridge Gallery QLD
2023 - Small works art prize Brunswick Street Gallery
2013 – Semi-finalist Doug Moran Portrait Prize
2015 – Semi-finalist Doug Moran Portrait Prize
1994 - Warringah Art Prize (Judges: Colin Lanceley and Ann Thomson)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Curate, Art and design, Sorrento, VIC
2016 - Wind 2: Chifley tower, Soho Gallery Sydney.
2015 - 'Wind' : Without Pier Gallery, VIC
2012 - 'Prometheus and other Mythological Moires 2012' : Glen Eira City Council Art Gallery, Jenny Pihan Fine Art, VIC
2009 - 'Telesma' : Global Gallery, Paddington, NSW
2009 - 'Vesica Piscis' : Soho Galleries, Sydney, NSW
2007 - 'Interconnected' : Zohara Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2007 - 'Dreams of Another Time' : Gallery O, Perth, WA
2006 - 'Landscape' : Lynne Wilton Gallery, Armadale, VIC
2005 – ‘The Great Mother’ : Global Gallery, Paddington, NSW
1985 – ‘Landscapes’ : Scone Gallery, Scone, NSW
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 - The Viola Bromley Art Prize, Muswellbrook regional gallery N.S.W.
2024 - Camberwell Art Show. Swinburne University, Hawthorn, Victoria
2024 - Mornington Art show. Mornington, Vic.
2023 – Bayside Art show. Brighton Town Hall. Brighton, Vic.
2014 - Gallery Klei -Sydney
2012 - 'Sydney Art Expo 2012' Hordern Pavilion
2012 - KWASS Group Exhibition "Mangae - A state of full bloom" NSW Parliament House
2011 - 'Year of Friendship Australian Artists Seoul Exhibition' Korea Foundation Cultural Centre, Seoul, KOREA
2011 - Group Exhibitions, Bom Gallery, Seoul, KOREA
2009 - 'Melbourne Art 2009', Carlton, VIC
2008 - 'Art Singapore 2008', Singapore
2008 - 'Brisbane Art 2008', QLD
2008 - 'Melbourne Art 2008', Carlton, VIC
2007 - 'Christmas Group Show 2007', Hat Hill Gallery, Blackheath, NSW
2007 - 'Cameos', Seeger Gallery, Leura, NSW
2005 - 'Summer Solstice Salon', Palm House, Botanic Gardens, Sydney
2005 – ‘Balmain Art Show’
2005 - ‘Sydney Art 05’
2005 - ‘Summer Solstice Submissions’ TAP gallery
2005 - ‘Sticks and Stones’ Global Gallery Paddington
2005 - ‘The Winter Solstice Salon 2005’, Palm House, Botanic Gardens, Sydney
2005 - ‘Love Lives ’05’ Global Gallery, Paddington
2004 - ‘Elements of Earth’, Artsconnect Upstairs gallery, Manly
2004 - ‘Natural Stimulants’, The Base Space Contemporary Gallery, Brookvale
2003 - ‘Splash’ Northern Expressions, The Base Space Contemporary Gallery, Brookvale
1994 - Selected for Warringah Art Prize
1990 - ‘Urban Scapes’ Gallery Api, Toulouse, France
1988 - ‘Reef Paintings’ Upstairs Gallery, Cairns
1988 - St Josephs College, Hunters Hill
1988 - Duke of Wellington Gallery, Mosman
1987 - Kings College, Sydney
1987 - Kambala School Art Exhibition, Rosebay
1986 - Rotary Club Art Exhibition
1985 - Scone Gallery, Hunter Valley
COLLECTIONS
1986 to 2007 - Numerous private commissions, (too many to list) USA, UK, Japan, Europe, Australia, Canada and Fiji
2005 - Corporate Collection, QBE Insurance Group
1994 - Corporate Collection, Vatulele Island Resort, Fiji.
1991/93 - Commissioned to paint Major series of works for a Private Collection, USA
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
1991- Artist in residence: Toulouse, France
1994 - Artist in residence: Vatulele, Fiji
OTHER
1986 to 2003 - in retreat traveling & working on major series
1994 - Member of the Peninsula Art Society, Sydney
1994 - Warringah Art Prize (selected) (Judges: Colin Lanceley and Ann Thomson)
1992 - Sydney Morning Herald, Freelance Illustrator
1991 to 1992 - Lived in France. Studied Oil painting.
1987 to 1991 - Freelance Illustration Advertising/Editorial/TV.
Small selection client list: Playboy magazine, Penthouse magazine, Arthur Young (accountants), Medical journal magazine -
Nestle, Sony, Aerospatiale (technical satellite imagery) - France, TRW - international transport.
1986 – Graphic Design, Randwick College, Sydney
