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Suzanne Archer has been an influential artist in Australia for over four decades, producing superb works across painting, drawing and sculpture.

Born in Surrey, England, Archer has lived in Australia nearly all her adult life. For the past 30 years she has lived in the bushland suburb of Wedderburn, on the outskirts of Sydney, in a thriving artist’s community.

She made her mark in the art world relatively quickly after arriving in Australia in the 60s and has gone on to win many art prizes including the Wynne prize for landscape painting, the Dobell prize for drawing and the Kedumba drawing prize.

There were two surveys of Archer’s work over 2016/2017 which displayed its impressive depth. She has had 40 solo shows and been involved in over 150 group shows over her career.

In this podcast interview, Archer talks about how her first solo show in Sydney resulted in a media response involving not only newspaper reviews but appearances on television, how the Sydney University veterinary laboratory played a role in her work and she reveals many details of her creative process.

Press play (or subscribe) above to hear the podcast episode and scroll to see the paintings we talk about and a short video taken on the day of the interview.

Upcoming events

Over the next two years Archer will be exhibiting in solo exhibitions with Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Victoria, and at Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and Maitland Regional Art Gallery, both in NSW.

Things and people we talk about in the show

'Derangement' 2010, winner of Dobell prize for drawing prize

‘Derangement’ 2010, winner of Dobell prize for drawing

Waratahs – Wedderburn, 1994, winner of Wynne prize

Archer_Suzanne_Velocipede_oil on canvas_240 x 240cm_2016

‘Velocipede’ 2016, oil on canvas, 240 x 240cm

Archer_Suzanne_China Joy_ 240 x 330cm_oil on canvas_2016

‘China Joy’ 2016, oil on canvas, 240 x 330cm

Archer_Suzanne_Referencial - Reverential_2011_ink,charcoal & pastel on paper_77 x 113cms

‘Referencial – Reverential’, 2011, ink, charcoal & pastel on paper, 77 x 113cms

Archer_Suzanne_Vivarium_Artists Book_2013_Timber,leather,metal fittings,paper,acrylic paint_closed 22cm x 31cm_open 22cm x 311cm (2)

‘Vivarium’, Artist’s Book, 2013, timber,leather,metal fittings,paper,acrylic paint, closed 22cm x 31cm_open 22cm x 311cm

Archer_Suzanne_Blindfold_2011_Bisque-fired clay with acrylic paint_20 x 22 x 11cm

‘Blindfold’, 2011, bisque-fired clay with acrylic paint, 20 x 22 x 11cm

Screenshot 2017-05-09 19.25.40

‘Witness’, 2012, bisque fired clay, acrylic paint, embroidery thread, 18.5 x 18 x 11.5cm

Screenshot 2017-05-09 21.49.46

‘Dodo and Rider’ 2009, mixed media, 67 x 87 x 45cm

Screenshot 2017-05-11 10.39.03 (1)

‘Win a trip’, 1969, paper collage with cardboard surround, 30 x 30cm

Screenshot 2017-05-11 08.32.22

Archer in her studio, 1969, photograph taken at the time of her first solo show at Clune Galleries, Sydney

 

 

 

 

 

 

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