Nafisa
“My work reflects close observation of the subject and an intention to reveal it’s true character, not simply the superficial likeness. Ultimately I want my artwork and my actions to be viewed for what I create them to say -we are individuals, as is each flower and animal, and we all deserve to live to express that uniqueness.”
~ Nafisa
Nafisa has exhibited extensively overseas and in Australia and her most recent awards have included the Packers Prize for the Archibald 2010, the Black Swan prize for portraiture 2008, after having won the Gold Medal for Painting at the Florence Biennale from a field of 800 artists from 60 nations in Dec 2007.
She has been represented as a finalist in every major art prize including the Dobell Prize for Drawing, the Blake Prize, The Kedumba Drawing Award, the Portia Geach Portrait Award, amongst others.
Nafisa graduated with a Masters of Fine Art from the National Art School in Sydney 2008. She holds the position of Fellow at the Royal Art Society of NSW. She continues to exhibit in Europe, the USA and England and gives select tutorials in portraiture and life painting, from her studio in Sydney and in workshops abroad.
In 2002, upon returning from NY having won a certificate of Merit at the International Portrait Competition for her Portrait of Salvatore Zofrea (which later won the Mosman Art Prize, PC), she founded Portrait Artists Australia, which gives professional portrait artists a platform and the public a database to source commissions from.
With her love of wildlife, Nafisa founded Animal Works, a charity that funds wildlife conservation projects, also voluntary run of which her art contributes significantly to the monies raised.
Her work is held in private and corporate collections locally and overseas.
EDUCATION
2005 -2007 Masters of Fine Art , Full Time - National Art School, Sydney
2003/2004 National Art School workshops. Drawing, bronze casting
2003 AGNSW – Diploma Lecture series- Great Art in the Making
2002 AGNSW – Diploma Lecture series on historical aspect of art and technical components.
2001 National Art School – workshops with Elizabeth Cummings.+ David Fairbairn
2000 Scholarship year completed with a Diploma of fine art – JAAS.
1999 Full time studies at JAAS after winning the Arthur Boyd scholarship sponsored by Toyota Lexus.
2000 Part time tuition at JAAS.
1987 – 1997 Worked in Sydney with regular travel overseas including Italy and England.
1985 – 1986 Fine arts at the University of Sydney.(discontinued)
Paddington Art School – life drawing and painting with Stephen Wosley Gordon.
1981- 1984 Bachelor of Medicine at the University of New South Wales.(discontinued)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2013 Group Show by invitation at Gagliardi Gallery, Chelsea, London.
Chianciano Art Award, Tuscany
Portrait Artists Australia NSW Parliament House exhibition
Redhill Gallery Spring Show. By invitation
2012 Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize
Chianciano Biennale, Tuscany
Mirvac Art Award, QLD
Portia Geach memorial award for portraiture
2011 Year of Friendship Exhibition-Seoul, Korea
Hunters Hill Art Prize
Portrait Artists Australia Federal Parliament House exhibition
2010 Archibald Prize for Portraiture- Art Gallery of New South Wales
Kedumba Drawing Award-
Black Swan, City of Perth Portrait Prize
“Little Treasures” Galleria De’ Marchi – Bologna , Italy
2010- Masters of Fine Art Graduates Show- NAS Gallery
2009 Lexus Mortimer Art Prize
Kedumba Drawing Award.
CRMI- Jeans 4 Genes Art Exhibition
Black Swan City of Perth Portrait Prize
2008 Lexus Mortimer Art Prize
Off The Wall –The Australian- Art Melbourne
Hunters Hill Art Prize
CMRI Jeans 4 Genes exhibition
Black Swan Prize for Portraiture
Hills Grammar Art Prize
House of Phillips Drawing Prize
2007 Blake Art Prize
Mortimer Lexus Art Prize
Florence Biennale 2007
Hutchings Art Prize- works on paper
Extinction Denied- Humane Society International
Whyalla Art Prize
Willoughby Art Prize
Northbridge Art Prize
2006 Blake Art Prize
Hills Grammar Art Prize
Willoughby Art Prize
Mortimer Lexus Portrait Prize
Hunters Hill Art Prize
MCQ International Art Prize
Mosman Art Prize
Jeans for Genes Exhibition and Art Auction-
2005 Florence Biennale 2005, Italy
Portia Geach Memorial Prize for Portraiture
The Dobell Prize, AGNSW
The Rocks Art Prize Jeans 4 Genes Campaign- Exhibition and Auction
Hunters Hill Art Prize
Extinction Denied-Humane Society International
The Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
MCQ Art Prize - The Macquarie International Portrait Artists Australia Exhibition in Washington DC (Australian Embassy)
2004 Blackfriars Drawing Acquisitive Prize.
Fleming Muntz Works on Paper-Albury
Extinction Denied -Humane Society International exhibition
Portia Geach Memorial Prize for Portraiture
‘Lies’ –curated themed exhibition, New York
Cromwells Art Prize, international travelling exhibition to Washington, New York
Hills Grammar Art Prize- Finalist
Royal Art Society –“ Drawings Only.”
Royal Art Society - Spring Exhibition
Royal Art Society – Christmas Exhibition.
Jeans 4Genes ‘Music Legends’exhibition & auction-Mick Jaggers jeans for Children’s Medical Research Institute
2003 Archibald Salon des Refuses-Portrait of Maria Venuti AM .
Hills Grammar Art Prize- Finalist
Cairns Art Prize-Finalist-Portraiture
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award-Finalist
Mosman Art Prize
Spring Exhibition-Royal Art Society of NSW
Willoughby Art Prize
Selected for ‘Jeans for Genes’ campaign, to paint on Gwyneth Paltrow’s jeans for fundraising dinner and auction.
Hazelhurst Art Prize- works on paper
2002 Autumn exhibition – Royal Art Society of NSW.
Hills Grammar Art Prize -Finalist
Contemporary Portrait – American Society of Portrait Artists.
Spring exhibition – Royal Art Society of NSW.
Selected for ‘Jeans for Genes’ campaign, theme of ‘Generations’ for the fundraising dinner and auction.
Ryde art show.
Shirley Hannen Portrait Prize.
North Sydney Art Prize.
Albury Art Prize.
Willoughby City Art Prize.
Drummoyne Art Show
Hunters Hill Art Prize
Blackheath Rhodendryn Arts Festival
Julian Ashton Teachers and Scholars Exhibition
Mosman Art Society Show
2001 North Sydney Art Prize.
Blackheath Rhodendryn Art Festival.
Bezel Art Exhibition – Mary Place Gallery.
Julian Ashton Teachers and Scholars exhibition.
Selected for ‘Jeans for Genes’ campaign, to paint Janet Jackson’s Jeans for the fundraising dinner and auction.
Mosman Art Society Show – Mosman art gallery.
Portia Geach memorial award – S.H. Ervin gallery.
Ryde art show.
Spring exhibition – Royal Art Society of NSW.
Kings Art Prize – Kings School, Parramatta.
‘The Definitive Horse Show’ – North Sydney Fine Art gallery.
Drummoyne art show.
Ryde art society exhibition
Hunters Hill art prize.
Hills Grammar Art Prize-Finalist.
Autumn exhibition – Royal Art Society of NSW
2000 Royal Art Society – Selected for hanging, Shirley Greathead Award.
Royal Easter Show .
Selected for ‘Jeans for Genes’ campaign, to paint Wayne Gardner’s Jeans for the fundraising dinner and auction.
John Balmain Portrait prize –Highly Commended.
‘Young Masters’, North Sydney fine art.
Hunters Hill Art Prize.
‘Medal of Distinction’, Royal Art Society.
Blackheath Rhodendryn Art Festival.
Ryde art society exhibition.
Drummoyne art show.
Hunters Hill art prize.
‘From the mountains to the Harbour’ exhibition North Sydney Fine Art.
‘In and out of the Garden’ exhibition North Sydney Fine Art.
Christmas Exhibition – Royal Art Society of NSW.
‘Bezel’ exhibition in conjunction with Sherman Galleries.
Julian Ashton Teachers and Scholars exhibition.
1999 Royal Easter Show.-selected for drawings & still life sections
Julian Ashton Teachers and Scholars exhibition.
Hunter Hill Art Prize.
‘Body Language’ three person show at PCL Exhibitionists.
‘Medal of Distinction’, Royal Art Society.
Jeans 4 Genes – Museum of Contemporary Art.
Royal Art Society ‘Spring’ exhibition.
Royal Art Society ‘Nudes’ exhibition.
Rocks Art Prize.
Blacktown art show.
Ryde art show.
Parramatta art show.
North Sydney Fine art, ‘All on a Summers Day’.
Glebe art show.
Alice Bale Travelling Scholarship. Coburg, Vic.
1998 Julian Ashton Teachers and Scholars exhibition
Opening Exhibition - Millennium Art Gallery.
Waverly Art Show.
‘Flowers’ exhibition - Royal Art Society of NSW.
‘Spring Exhibition’ - Royal Art Society of NSW.
Glebe art show.
The Rocks Art Show.
Mosman Art Prize.
‘Medal of Distinction’, Royal Art Society.
1997 Mosman Art Prize.
Waverly Art Prize Ryde Art show.Liverpool art sh0wsFairfield art show
AWARDS
2010 Packing Room Prize – Archibald prize for Portraiture -AGNSW
Finalist –Archibald Prize
Finalist Black Swan City of Perth Portrait Prize
2009 Finalist- Black Swan, City of Perth Portrait Prize
Finalist -Kedumba Drawing Award- by Invitation
Finalist – Lexus Mortimer Prize for Portraiture
2008 Finalist – House of Phillips Fine Art Prize
Finalist –Hills Grammar Art Prize
Winner- City of Perth, Black Swan Portrait Prize
Finalist – David Wilson Portrait Prize
Highly Commended and Finalist- Lexus Mortimer Art Prize
2007 Gold Medal- First Prize for Painting Florence Biennale
Finalist Whyalla Art Prize
Highly Commended Mortimer Lexus Prize for Portraiture
Finalist Hutchins Art Prize
Finalist Willoughby Art Prize
Finalist Hills Grammar Art Prize
First Prize Northbridge Art Prize- Open Section
Finalist Blake Prize for Religious Art
2006 Finalist MCQ prize
Finalist Mosman Art Prize
Highly Commended Mortimer Lexus Prize for Portraiture
Finalist Willoughby Art Prize
Finalist Hills Grammar Art Prize
First Prize- Northbridge Art Prize – 3D Section
Finalist Blake Art Prize
2005 Finalist- MCQ Art prize
Bronze Medal- Florence Biennale- installation/mixed media. 2005
Finalist- Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
Finalist- Dobell Drawing Prize 2005, AGNSW
Finalist- Portia Geach Memorial Prize for Portraiture
2004 Winner – (acquired) Blackfriars Drawing Acquisitive Prize.
Finalist-Hills Grammar Art Prize(by invitation)
Finalist-Portia Geach Memorial prize for portraiture
Finalist- Fleming Muntz Art Prize- Works on paper
Finalist Cromwell Art Prize – Portrait of Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki
Highly Commended-Medal of Distinction-Spring Exhib. R.A.S. of NSW.
2003 Finalist- Salon des Refuses- 2003 with portrait of Maria Venuti AM
Winner – First Prize still life/portrait – Blackheath Arts Festival.
Highly Commended – Drawing - Blackheath Arts Festival.
Finalist- Hills Grammar Art Prize (by invitation)
Highly Commended-Cairns Art Prize- Portraiture
Second Prize- Shirley Hannan Portraiture Award- Drawing
Highly Commended- Spring Exhibition Royal Art Society
Winner- ‘People’s Choice’ - Mosman Art Prize
Finalist- Hazelhurst Art Award- works on paper
2002 Finalist – Hills Grammar Art Prize (by invitation)
Finalist – American Society of Portrait Artists ‘Contemporary Portrait’ receiving Certificate of Merit with portrait of Salvatore Zofrea.
Finalist – Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize.
Finalist – Albury Art Prize.- works on paper
First Prize – Willoughby Art Prize Drawing
First Prize – Drawing- Blackheath Arts Festival
Second Prize- Portraiture- Blackheath Arts Festival
2001 ‘Best of Show’ – Barry Morris Memorial Prize – Blackheath Arts 2001 Festival
Finalist – Portia Geach Memorial Award – ‘Game of Kings.’
First Prize- Portraiture Blackheath Arts festival.
Highly Commended – drawing prize – Blackheath arts festival.
Highly Commended –‘Animal Magic’ – Macquarie University.
Highly Commended – drawing – Ryde Art Show.
Finalist – Kings Art prize.
2000 ‘Peoples choice award’ Blackheath Arts Festival & Awarded First Prize for Portraiture.
Runner up of twelve finalists and ‘Peoples Choice’ award – Hills Grammar Art Prize (by invitation).
Highly Commended and two Commended. - Drummoyne Art Prize.
Highly Commended - John Balmain Portrait Prize.
1999 Highly Commended -drawing - Royal Easter Show.
Highly Commended - Medal of Distinction - Royal Art Society.
Highly Commended - Glebe Art Prize.
Highly Commended - Ryde Art Prize – Drawing.
Highly Commended - Parramatta Art Show – Still Life.
Highly Commended - Blacktown Art Show – Contemporary section.
1999 Arthur Boyd Scholarship – sponsored by Toyota Lexus for full-time attendance to Julian Ashton Art School..
Accepted as exhibiting member of the Royal Art Society
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2002 Nov 11-30 ‘A LINGERING DOUBT’ – The Arthouse Hotel, Sydney
Dec 4 – 22 ‘OBSERVATIONS’ – Vista Blue Gallery, Sydney
2004 Nov 9- 20 ‘FLORA and FAUNACATION’ – Depot Gallery,
2006 Oct 9 – 31 ‘WILD THINGS’ – Sara Roney Gallery, Sydney
2008 Oct 13- Nov ‘REGENERATION’ – Artarmon Galleries, Sydney
2009 Mar 21- Apr 4 ‘Elephant Walk, Elephant Talk’ – Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney.
2009 Oct 19 th- Nov 12 ‘Elephant Extravaganza’- Art House Hotel Gallery, Sydney
2012 March 30 Passion- Richard Martin Gallery, Sydney
GRANTS
Willoughby Council Arts Assistance to fund the exhibition-‘Flora & Faunacation’ in Sydney 2004
Vermont Arts Centre, artist-in-residence program – selected for 1 month attendance , 2008