KARLEE RAWKINS Botanical Works 2012 - 2014
Karlee Rawkins has painted an extensive number of botanical themed works. The following works shown are a selection from 2012 - 2014. “My practice is driven by an interest in totemic and symbolic imagery, each painting is based on a mythological or historically significant tree or plant that is considered powerful or protective. I have used the botany and symbolism of each tree as a starting point, weaving my own associations and stories through each painting. Some of the trees I have re-interpreted include
Buddha’s tree of enlightenment, the apple
My references are often poetic and inspired
tree of Eden, an Aztec tree of life, Egyptian
from life with my work documenting both an
sycamores and a Mesopotamian sacred date
emotive and creative process. The latest works
palm. I aim to create totem like motifs that
explore my experience as a mother and my
highlight a relationship to nature, archetypes
relationship with my son. For me these works
and spirituality.
are about growth, patience, reverence and endurance. I hope to instil a sense of optimism
The composition of my works are dominated
and personal metaphor in my paintings. Many
by pattern. I am inspired by foliage, tapestries
of the works are a tribute to my son and the
and over-whelming repetition in outsider art
joys and challenges of parenting.�
and religious imagery. Pattern is used to create ambiguity in my compositions with each layer revealing brush strokes and scribbling, recording movement, change and complexity.
Pink Lady, 2014
acrylic and charcoal on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm
Cherrybrook, 2013
acrylic and pastel on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm
Tiger Nest, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm
The Sycamores, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 152cm
Sacred Fig, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 167 x 213cm
Surrender, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 167 x 213cm
Hickory, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm
Johnny’s Oranges, 2013 acrylic on cotton canvas 167 x 213cm
Citrus, 2012
acrylic and charcoal on cotton canvas 167 x 213cm
Little Partridge, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 122 x 91cm
Tangle Wood, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 122 x 91cm
Little Willow, 2014
acrylic and charcoal on cotton canvas 91 x 122cm
Oak, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 121 x 137cm
Devotion, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm
Under The Witches Tree, 2013
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm
Peachy Keen, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 152cm
Two Times Dragonfruit, 2013
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm
left
Mummy Lily, 2014
acrylic on cotton canvas 137 x 121cm right
The Fairy Berry Bush, 2014
acrylic and charcoal on cotton canvas 152 x 137cm
left
Foofas Flowers, 2012
acrylic on cotton canvas 152 x 137cm right
Five Beetroot, 2012
acrylic and charcoal on cotton canvas 152 x 137cm
Holy Basil, 2013
acrylic on cotton canvas 167 x 213cm
2009 Zoo Tomorrow, Iain Dawson Gallery, Sydney 2006 Funny Bunnies, Byron Fine Art Gallery, Byron Bay 2005 Minor Migration, Byron Fine Art Gallery, Byron Bay 2003 Lollies, Byron Fine Art Gallery, Byron Bay 2002 Amulet, Gallery Paul, St Kilda 2002 Pony Girls Rodeo, The Tub Art Gallery, Byron Bay 2000 Flying, Wood St Gallery, Darwin
Karlee Rawkins attained a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (visual arts major) in 1999 at Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. In 2003 she won the fifth Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship which afforded her five months at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris and travel to New York, London, Portugal and Spain. Rawkins was a Fishers Ghost Art Award finalist 2012, Prometheus Art Award finalist 2007, 2005 and a recipient of the Pat Corrigan Artists’ Grant 2001 and the William Fletcher Trust Grant 1999. Solo Exhibitions 2014 Temples of Jasper, Linton & Kay Galleries, Perth WA 2014 Rhonda’s Magic Garden, Anthea Polson Art, Main Beach 2013 Sky World, Linton & Kay Galleries, Subiaco WA 2013 Honey Gully, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne 2012 Freight Train, Anthea Polson Art, Main Beach 2012 Wild Fox Garden, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne 2012 The Emerald Valley, Gadfly Gallery, Perth 2011 Dark Wood Land, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne 2011 Owl Town, Anthea Polson Art, Main Beach 2010 Big Rock Candy Mountain, ID Gallery, Sydney 2010 The Deer Park, Anthea Polson Art, Main Beach 2010 Mekong Drift, Tweed River Gallery, Murwillumbah 2009 Orchard, Anthea Polson Art Gallery, Main Beach
Selected Group Exhibitions 2014 Modern Women, Linton & Kay Galleries, Subiaco WA 2012 Inspiring Artists, Recipients Of The Pat Corrigan Artists Grant, Maitland Regional Art Gallery 2012 Studio Show, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne 2012 Fishers Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown 2010 Big Paintings, ID Gallery, Sydney 2007 Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship Past Winners, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney 2007 Prometheus Art Award Finalists, Merrimac 2006 Chrysalis,The Emergence of Northern Rivers Artists, Lismore Regional Gallery 2006 Oceans 11, Lismore Regional Gallery 2005 Prometheus Art Award Finalists, Merrimac 2004 Exposition, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France 2003 The Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship Finalists, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney 2002 Sacred Heart Mission Auction, Gallery Paul, St Kilda 1999 Odds On, Honours Graduates, SCU Lismore 1998 Museum of Contemporary Art, SCU, Lismore 1995 Indonesian/Australian Show, USQ Toowoomba 1994 Minister for Education’s Excellence in Art Award, The Old Post Office Gallery, Toowoomba Awards 2012 Fishers Ghost Art Award Finalist 2007 Prometheus Art Award Finalist 2005 Prometheus Art Award Finalist
2003 The Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship Winner 2001 Pat Corrigan Artists Grant (NAVA & Arts Council Australia) 1999 William Fletcher Trust Grant 1994 Minister for Education’s Excellence in Art Award Education and Residencies 2007 3 month residency, SE Asia 2004 5 month residency AGNSW Studio, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France 2001 3 month residency, North India and Nepal 1999 BA Honours (Visual Art) Southern Cross University 1998 BA (Visual Art) Southern Cross University, Lismore
Linton & Kay Galleries Perth, Western Australia www.lintonandkay.com.au Flinders Lane Gallery Melbourne, Victoria www.flg.com.au Anthea Polson Art Main Beach Queensland www.antheapolsonart.com.au www.karleerawkins.com.au