High Tide
150cm
Bronze Sculpture,
Mela Cooke
Female figurative form
65x70x51cm
+Plinth
Limited Edition bronze sculpture
swimmer sculpture series
Price, availability and freight on request. 0451 331 333 · sculpture@artpark.com.au
About the work
Mela Cooke
Australian Bronze Sculptor
“The process of working in clay is a sensual form of expression.”
My sculptures portray the character and beauty of the people in my world.
I have been influenced by two sculptors in particular, Constantin Brancusi and Henry Moore, and their work has inspired me to employ strong lines and subtle gestures to make my sculptures come alive.
Woking across various mediums, including marble and timber lead to my appreciation for the beauty & timelessness of bronze, which has resulted in my work now solely being in this medium.
I find that my inspiration and love for people and animals is best expressed in bronze sculptures. I enjoy the process of working in clay, with its sensual form of expression, which allows for different qualities of surface and line, negative space, motion and emotion.
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The sculpture finally cast in bronze has a unique strength and beauty, and allows the figures to disclose a certain tension and suggestion of movement while maintaining subtle expression.
Art education : studied sculpture at Brisbane Institute of Art with Frank Lambert 1991-1993
and continued at his private classes 1993-2014.
Studied marble sculpting with Graham Radcliffe 1998-2000 Brisbane.
Studied marble sculpting with Italian sculptor Giovanni Balderi 2000
President Sculptors Qld 2015,2016
Vice President Sculptors Qld 2017,2018,2019,2020
Exhibitions Record:
• Group exhibitions 1992 to 2022 in Brisbane and Melbourne, London 2003.
• Solo exhibition Brisbane 2002, 2006, Sydney 2016, Sorrento Vic 2020 , Brisbane 2022
• 2018 Exhibition ‘Wild Forms’, Urban Paradise Gallery Brisbane.
• 2019 Sculptors Exposed Pine Rivers Art Gallery
• 2019 Qseven Sorrento, Vic
• 2020 Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk 2020
• 2020 Northshore ‘Sculpture By The River’, Brisbane
- 2021 Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk 2021
- 2021 Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk 2021
- 2021 ‘A Brush With Sculpture’ Exhibition Mercedes Building, Brisbane
- 2022 Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk 2022
- 2022 Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk 2022
- 2022 Shell Cove Sculpture Walk 2022
- 2023 Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk 2023
- 2023 Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk 2023
- 2023 Shell Cove Sculpture Walk 2023
- 2023 Sculpture by the Sea – Bondi
- 2024 Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk 2024
- 2024 Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk 2024
- 2025 Kiama Sculpture Walk 2025
- 2025 Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk 2025
Collections: private collections in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, France, USA, UK, Belgium,
HK, Shanghai.
Public Sculptures
Twenty four sculptures in the CBD of Maryborough, Qld, Australia.
Sculptures ‘Dingo Family’ and ‘Platypus’ in forecourt of Hervey Bay Cultural Centre, Qld
Awards:
• 2018 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula, Vic
• 2018 Winner of the Family Choice Award Montalto Sculpture Prize Vic
• 2018 Winner Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition
• 2018 Winner of the ‘Volunteers Choice’ Award Stanthorpe Art Prize
• 2018 Finalist Artentwine Sculpture Biennial Tas
• 2018 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Indoor Sculpture
• 2018 Royal Qld Exhibition 1st prize Outdoor Sculpture
• 2018 Winner Wynnum Manly Yacht Club Sculpture Exhibition
• 2018 Winner People’s Choice Sculptors Qld Annual Exhibition
• 2019 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic
• 2019 Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition 2nd prize
• 2019 Winner George Verine Memorial Prize, Sculptors Qld Annual Exhibition
• 2019 Winner 3D Award Somerset Bendigo Bank Art Award
• 2019 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Outdoor Sculpture
• 2019 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Representational Sculpture
• 2020 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic Feb
• 2021 Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition 2nd prize
• 2021 Winner of 3D category Bundaberg Art Prize
• 2021 Finalist in Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic
• 2022 Selected sculptor Art In The Vines, Hanging Rock Winery Vic
Represented by:
Soho Galleries, Sydney
ARTPark Australia
Van Gogh Gallery, Spain
Galeria Azur, Germany
About Mela Cooke
Mela Cooke
Australian Bronze Sculptor,
Mela Cooke
Mela Cooke is a renowned Australian sculptor celebrated for her lifelike and expressive bronze figures. Born in Victoria, Australia, Cooke's artistic journey was nurtured through her education at The University of Melbourne and The University of Queensland.
With a foundation in physiotherapy, Cooke possesses a deep understanding of the human form. This knowledge, combined with her keen eye for detail, allows her to capture the essence of her subjects with remarkable precision. Her sculptures, often inspired by family and friends, are meticulously crafted through a process that involves extensive photography and careful observation of posture and gesture.
Cooke's preference for bronze stems from its inherent beauty and durability. The medium's ability to convey both subtlety and strength aligns perfectly with her artistic vision. She strives to imbue her sculptures with the unique character of each individual, emphasizing the inner qualities that define them.
Cooke's recent focus on "women in action" highlights her fascination with the dynamic energy of athletes. Her swimmers, in particular, reflect her lifelong passion for the sport and her ability to convey the grace and power of human movement.
Mela Cooke's work is showcased in private collections worldwide, including Asia, Europe, the United States, and Australia. Her public sculptures, such as the large bronze figures adorning the streets of Maryborough, Queensland, have become iconic landmarks.
Beyond her large-scale installations, Cooke also creates smaller, intimate bronzes that are perfect for interior spaces. These pieces continue to demonstrate her exceptional skill in capturing the nuances of the human form and the enduring appeal of bronze as an artistic medium.
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Additional Mela Cooke work is available through our sister gallery, SOHO Galleries — view the full collection at https://www.sohogalleries.net/australian-sculptors/mela-cooke-sculpture/
