Dennis Nona
Country/Region: Torres Strait
Tribe: Badu IslandDennis Nona is widely acknowledged as one the most important Torres Strait Islander artists. Born in 1973 on Badu Island in the Torres Strait Dennis Nona was taught the traditional craft of wood carving. This, along with his cultural heritage learnt through story telling and ceremonies helped him develop his linocut skills which feature an intricate decorative style based on the rich narrative legends of the Torres Strait Islander people. The symbols he uses of sea creatures, masks and designs were influenced by coastal Papuan art used on trading items such as drums with traditional designs carved on them.
Click to show/hide full Biography.
Tribe: Badu IslandDennis Nona is widely acknowledged as one the most important Torres Strait Islander artists. Born in 1973 on Badu Island in the Torres Strait Dennis Nona was taught the traditional craft of wood carving. This, along with his cultural heritage learnt through story telling and ceremonies helped him develop his linocut skills which feature an intricate decorative style based on the rich narrative legends of the Torres Strait Islander people. The symbols he uses of sea creatures, masks and designs were influenced by coastal Papuan art used on trading items such as drums with traditional designs carved on them.
Dennis Nona is widely acknowledged as one the most important Torres Strait Islander artists.
Born in 1973 on Badu Island in the Torres Strait Dennis Nona was taught the traditional craft of wood carving. This, along with his cultural heritage learnt through story telling and ceremonies helped him develop his linocut skills which feature an intricate decorative style based on the rich narrative legends of the Torres Strait Islander people. The symbols he uses of sea creatures, masks and designs were influenced by coastal Papuan art used on trading items such as drums with traditional designs carved on them.
Dennis feels strongly about retaining his culture through his art. He holds an Associate Diploma of Art from Cairns TAFE and a Diploma of Visual Arts in Printmaking from the Institute of Arts, Australian National University, Canberra.
Subjects and Themes
Melanesian influence. Denis's linocuts derive from his wood-carving experiences on Badu Island. He is inspired by coastal life and family traditions.
Collections
Artbank, Sydney, Australia
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, Australia
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
Australian National University Printmaking Collection, Canberra, Australia
Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat, Australia
Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia
Brighton University, Brighton, UK
British Museum, London, UK
Cairns Regional Gallery, Cairns, Australia
Cambridge University Museum, UK
Charles Darwin University Art Collection, Darwin, Australia
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide, Australia
Foundation Burkhardt-Felder Art & Culture, Motiers, Switzerland.
Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island, Australia
Gateway Horn Island Museum, Horn Island, Australia
Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise, Australia
Glass House Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie, Australia
Griffith University Art Collection, Brisbane, Australia
Hood Museum of Art, Hanover, USA
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie, Australia
Machida Graphic Arts Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne, Australia
Museum of American Indian Arts, New Mexico, USA
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Australia
Musee d'Art et d'Histoire, Rochefort, France
Musee des Confluences, Lyon, France
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
Noosa Regional Gallery, Noosa Heads, Australia
OTC Collection, Sydney, Australia
Parliament House, Canberra, Australia
Perc Tucker Gallery, Townsville, Australia
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia
Queensland University of Technology Art Collection, Brisbane, Australia
Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide, Australia
The Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, Australia
University of Wollongong Art Collection, Wollongong, Australia
University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, Australia
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
EXHIBITIONS
Group Exhibitions
1991 The Eighth National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1991 Group Show, Hogarth Galleries,Sydney
1991 Cairns Art Society Exhibition, Cairns Regional Art Gallery, Cairns, QLD
1992 One People One Soul, Palm Court Gallery, Cairns, QLD
1992 Colours of Black, Queensland Aboriginal Creations, Brisbane
1992 Group Exhibition, Gallery of Australian Landscape, Brisbane
1992 Cross Currents, Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney
1992 The Ninth Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1992/1993 New Tracks Old Land: An Exhibition of Contemporary Prints from Aboriginal Australia, touring USA and Australia
1993 Aboriginal Printmakers, Northern Territory University Art Gallery, Darwin
1993 Mixed Exhibition, Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney
1993 Contemporary Prints from Aboriginal Australia, Augen Gallery, Portland, Oregon, USA
1993 Cairns TAFE Students, Studio One, Canberra
1993 Australian Aboriginal Printmakers, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, Washington, USA
1994 Gold Coast Art Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise, QLD
1994 International Print Exhibition, Machida, Tokyo, Japan
1994 Aboriginal Exhibition, South Australian Art Gallery, Adelaide
1994 Malu Ural, National Maritime Museum, Sydney
1994 Aboriginal Art Award, Heritage Commission, Canberra
1995 Same but Different, Aboriginal and Islander Students at the Australian National University, School of Arts Gallery, Canberra
1995 Mixed Exhibition, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
2001 Gelam Ngzu Kazi - Dugong My Son, Australian Museum, Sydney
2001 Gelam Ngzu Kazi - Dugong My Son, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC, Canada
2002 Paipa - 'Windward', National Museum of Australia, Canberra
2003 Beneath the Monsoon - Visions North of Capricorn, Artspace Mackay, Mackay; Cairns Regional Gallery, Cairns; Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2003 Dream Traces, Brighton University, Brighton, UK
2003 Tjibaou Cultural Centre, Noumea, New Caledonia
2003 Bovicai Collaborative Exhibition, Qld.
2003 Coochimadlo Island Market Exhibition, Qld
2003 Indigenous Outback Exhibition, NAIDOC Day, Brisbane
2003 Michael Fox Gallery, Brisbane
2003 Pandanus Art Collabrative Exhibition, Currumbin Beach,
2003 19th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Darwin
2003 Shell Fremantle Art Award, Fremantle
2003 Christchurch Art Gallery/Te Puna, Waiwhetu, Christchurch/Aotearoa, NZ
2004 Christchurch Art Gallery/Te Puna, Waiwhetu, Christchurch/Aotearoa, NZ
2004 Fragments, Little Stanley Street Gallery, Brisbane
2004 21st Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award
2004 Angel Orensanz International Art Award, New York, USA (Winner)
2004 Robin O'Chin Memorial Art Award, Brisbane
2004 Shell Fremantle Art Award, Fremantle
2004 Artscape Group Exhibition, Brisbane
2005 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award
2005 Shell Fremantle Print Award 1975-2005
2005 Busan International Print Art Festival, Busan, Korea
2005 ARC Art, Design & Craft Biennial, Brisbane
2006 bangu yibara: works from the MCA Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
2005 Sesserae; The Art of Dennis Nona, Dell Gallery at Queensland College of Art, Brisbane 2005 Sesserae and Other Stories, Kickarts, Cairns 2005 Sesserae; New Prints by Dennis Nona, Darwin Entertainment Centre Gallery, Darwin
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Cooee Aboriginal Art, Sydney
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Australian Embassy, Paris
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London
2006 Australie: le jeune homme et la mer, l'oeuvre grave de Dennis Nona (Iles du detroit de Torres, Queensland), Arts d'Australie, Stephane Jacob / Ambassade d'Australie, Paris
2006 - 2007 Sesserae; The Works of Dennis Nona Regional Tour. Rockhampton Regional Gallery, Qld. Port Macquarie Regional Art Gallery, NSW. Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island, Qld. Cairns Regional Gallery, Qld. Cooloola Shire Gallery, Qld. New Land Regional Gallery, Adelaide SA. Logan City Art Gallery, Qld. Caloundra City Gallery, Qld
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Darwin Entertainment Centre Gallery
2006 Sesserae: New Works by Dennis Nona, Framed Gallery, Darwin
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona Suzanne O'Connell Gallery, Brisbane
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Impressions on Paper Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Big Star Art Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Art Mob, Hobart
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), Andrew Baker Gallery, Brisbane
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), Helen Maxwell Gallery, Canberra
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), Art Mob, Hobart
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), United Galleries, Sydney
2010 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), United Galleries, Perth
2011 Between sky, land and sea. Legends revisited, Australian Embassy, Paris, France
2011 Prints & Sculptures, Museum of Art & History, Rochefort, France
2011 Waii, Gold Coast City Gallery, Surfers Paradise
2011 Dennis Nona - New Works, Art Mob, Hobart
2012 The Engraved Works of Dennis Nona, Australian Art Museum La Grange, Motiers, Switzerland
VIEW SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1973 on Badu Island in the Torres Strait Dennis Nona was taught the traditional craft of wood carving. This, along with his cultural heritage learnt through story telling and ceremonies helped him develop his linocut skills which feature an intricate decorative style based on the rich narrative legends of the Torres Strait Islander people. The symbols he uses of sea creatures, masks and designs were influenced by coastal Papuan art used on trading items such as drums with traditional designs carved on them.
Dennis feels strongly about retaining his culture through his art. He holds an Associate Diploma of Art from Cairns TAFE and a Diploma of Visual Arts in Printmaking from the Institute of Arts, Australian National University, Canberra.
Subjects and Themes
Melanesian influence. Denis's linocuts derive from his wood-carving experiences on Badu Island. He is inspired by coastal life and family traditions.
Collections
Artbank, Sydney, Australia
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, Australia
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
Australian National University Printmaking Collection, Canberra, Australia
Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat, Australia
Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia
Brighton University, Brighton, UK
British Museum, London, UK
Cairns Regional Gallery, Cairns, Australia
Cambridge University Museum, UK
Charles Darwin University Art Collection, Darwin, Australia
Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide, Australia
Foundation Burkhardt-Felder Art & Culture, Motiers, Switzerland.
Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island, Australia
Gateway Horn Island Museum, Horn Island, Australia
Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise, Australia
Glass House Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie, Australia
Griffith University Art Collection, Brisbane, Australia
Hood Museum of Art, Hanover, USA
Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie, Australia
Machida Graphic Arts Museum, Tokyo, Japan
Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne, Australia
Museum of American Indian Arts, New Mexico, USA
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Australia
Musee d'Art et d'Histoire, Rochefort, France
Musee des Confluences, Lyon, France
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australia
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
Noosa Regional Gallery, Noosa Heads, Australia
OTC Collection, Sydney, Australia
Parliament House, Canberra, Australia
Perc Tucker Gallery, Townsville, Australia
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia
Queensland University of Technology Art Collection, Brisbane, Australia
Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide, Australia
The Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Tweed River Art Gallery, Murwillumbah, Australia
University of Wollongong Art Collection, Wollongong, Australia
University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, Australia
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
EXHIBITIONS
Group Exhibitions
1991 The Eighth National Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1991 Group Show, Hogarth Galleries,Sydney
1991 Cairns Art Society Exhibition, Cairns Regional Art Gallery, Cairns, QLD
1992 One People One Soul, Palm Court Gallery, Cairns, QLD
1992 Colours of Black, Queensland Aboriginal Creations, Brisbane
1992 Group Exhibition, Gallery of Australian Landscape, Brisbane
1992 Cross Currents, Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney
1992 The Ninth Aboriginal Art Award Exhibition, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
1992/1993 New Tracks Old Land: An Exhibition of Contemporary Prints from Aboriginal Australia, touring USA and Australia
1993 Aboriginal Printmakers, Northern Territory University Art Gallery, Darwin
1993 Mixed Exhibition, Cooee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Sydney
1993 Contemporary Prints from Aboriginal Australia, Augen Gallery, Portland, Oregon, USA
1993 Cairns TAFE Students, Studio One, Canberra
1993 Australian Aboriginal Printmakers, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, Washington, USA
1994 Gold Coast Art Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise, QLD
1994 International Print Exhibition, Machida, Tokyo, Japan
1994 Aboriginal Exhibition, South Australian Art Gallery, Adelaide
1994 Malu Ural, National Maritime Museum, Sydney
1994 Aboriginal Art Award, Heritage Commission, Canberra
1995 Same but Different, Aboriginal and Islander Students at the Australian National University, School of Arts Gallery, Canberra
1995 Mixed Exhibition, Fireworks Gallery, Brisbane
2001 Gelam Ngzu Kazi - Dugong My Son, Australian Museum, Sydney
2001 Gelam Ngzu Kazi - Dugong My Son, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC, Canada
2002 Paipa - 'Windward', National Museum of Australia, Canberra
2003 Beneath the Monsoon - Visions North of Capricorn, Artspace Mackay, Mackay; Cairns Regional Gallery, Cairns; Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2003 Dream Traces, Brighton University, Brighton, UK
2003 Tjibaou Cultural Centre, Noumea, New Caledonia
2003 Bovicai Collaborative Exhibition, Qld.
2003 Coochimadlo Island Market Exhibition, Qld
2003 Indigenous Outback Exhibition, NAIDOC Day, Brisbane
2003 Michael Fox Gallery, Brisbane
2003 Pandanus Art Collabrative Exhibition, Currumbin Beach,
2003 19th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Darwin
2003 Shell Fremantle Art Award, Fremantle
2003 Christchurch Art Gallery/Te Puna, Waiwhetu, Christchurch/Aotearoa, NZ
2004 Christchurch Art Gallery/Te Puna, Waiwhetu, Christchurch/Aotearoa, NZ
2004 Fragments, Little Stanley Street Gallery, Brisbane
2004 21st Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award
2004 Angel Orensanz International Art Award, New York, USA (Winner)
2004 Robin O'Chin Memorial Art Award, Brisbane
2004 Shell Fremantle Art Award, Fremantle
2004 Artscape Group Exhibition, Brisbane
2005 22nd Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award
2005 Shell Fremantle Print Award 1975-2005
2005 Busan International Print Art Festival, Busan, Korea
2005 ARC Art, Design & Craft Biennial, Brisbane
2006 bangu yibara: works from the MCA Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
2005 Sesserae; The Art of Dennis Nona, Dell Gallery at Queensland College of Art, Brisbane 2005 Sesserae and Other Stories, Kickarts, Cairns 2005 Sesserae; New Prints by Dennis Nona, Darwin Entertainment Centre Gallery, Darwin
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Cooee Aboriginal Art, Sydney
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Australian Embassy, Paris
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London
2006 Australie: le jeune homme et la mer, l'oeuvre grave de Dennis Nona (Iles du detroit de Torres, Queensland), Arts d'Australie, Stephane Jacob / Ambassade d'Australie, Paris
2006 - 2007 Sesserae; The Works of Dennis Nona Regional Tour. Rockhampton Regional Gallery, Qld. Port Macquarie Regional Art Gallery, NSW. Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island, Qld. Cairns Regional Gallery, Qld. Cooloola Shire Gallery, Qld. New Land Regional Gallery, Adelaide SA. Logan City Art Gallery, Qld. Caloundra City Gallery, Qld
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Darwin Entertainment Centre Gallery
2006 Sesserae: New Works by Dennis Nona, Framed Gallery, Darwin
2006 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona Suzanne O'Connell Gallery, Brisbane
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Impressions on Paper Gallery, Canberra, ACT
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Big Star Art Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
2007 Sesserae; New Works by Dennis Nona, Art Mob, Hobart
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), Andrew Baker Gallery, Brisbane
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), Helen Maxwell Gallery, Canberra
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), Art Mob, Hobart
2009 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), United Galleries, Sydney
2010 Muluka Pyban (Passing Down), United Galleries, Perth
2011 Between sky, land and sea. Legends revisited, Australian Embassy, Paris, France
2011 Prints & Sculptures, Museum of Art & History, Rochefort, France
2011 Waii, Gold Coast City Gallery, Surfers Paradise
2011 Dennis Nona - New Works, Art Mob, Hobart
2012 The Engraved Works of Dennis Nona, Australian Art Museum La Grange, Motiers, Switzerland
VIEW SHORT BIOGRAPHY
There are no products matching the selection.
This is a custom CMS block displayed if category is empty.You can replace it with any custom content.
