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.
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 Manyung Gallery Sorrento ‘Women in Action’ solo exhibition
• 2020 Northshore ‘Sculpture By The River’, Brisbane
• 2021 ‘A Brush With Sculpture’ Exhibition Mercedes Building, Brisbane
• 2023 Sculpture by the Sea – Bondi
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
