Madonna Pearl Staunton OAM (1938–2019) was an artist and poet who lived in Brisbane.[1] She is known for her works on Australian Modernism.
Background and career
Madonna Staunton was born in Murwillumbah in 1938 and died in Brisbane in 2019. Staunton is recognised for her contributions to Australian Modernism over five decades.[2] Studying in Brisbane under Bronwyn Thomas, Staunton was quickly recognised as one of Brisbane's upcoming artists.[3]
Staunton's earlier work consisted of torn sections of Contemporary Art Society newsletter and magazines. Her art was informed by notably poetry, literature, music and Buddhism and Zen philosophy. culture[4] Illness in 1974, forced Staunton to reconsider her method from large scale paintings to collage. In the 1980s, Staunton showed an interest in assemblage and sculpture, along with a return to painting.[4]
Staunton has used small everyday items in her works such as tickets, matchboxes, piano keys, book bindings taken from urban waste and assembled in an abstract format.[4] Some say her art brings intense meditative and introspective qualities, perhaps reflective of her cultural beliefs.[4]
In the 1996 Australian Day Honours Staunton was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to the visual arts"[5] and received a National Women's Art Award.[3]
In 2012 Madonna Staunton was interviewed in a digital story and oral history for the State Library of Queensland's James C Sourris AM Collection.[6] In the interview Staunton talks to Professor Robert Leslie Lingard about her art and life, the influences on her art including her childhood, fragile health, and poetry, the various artists and experiences that she has encountered and that which motivates and inspires her.[7]
Staunton died on 16 December 2019. A memorial service was held at the University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane.[8]
Individual exhibitions
| Year | Exhibition |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Madonna Staunton: Out of Clear Blue Sky, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane[9] |
| 2013 | Madonna Staunton: Dream Trolly, grahame galleries + editions, Brisbane |
| 2003 | Madonna Staunton retrospective, IMA, Brisbane[10] |
| 1996 | Recent Works – Sutton Gallery Melbourne |
| 1995 | 1-6 Recent Works, Bellas Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1994 | Madonna Staunton A Survey 1966–1993, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville |
| 1994 | Madonna Staunton, Bellas Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1993 | Paradigms, Sutton Gallery Melbourne |
| 1992 | Iconic Images, Bellas Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1991 | Recent Works, Gary Anderson Gallery, Sydney |
| 1989 | Assemblage Collage, Bellas Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1988 | Gary Anderson Gallery, Sydney |
| 1984 | Gary Anderson Gallery, Sydney |
| 1983 | Ray Hughes Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1980 | Ray Hughes Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1979 | Institute of Modern Art Brisbane |
| 1978 | Ray Hughes Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1977 | Ray Hughes Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1976 | Ray Hughes Gallery, Brisbane |
Group exhibitions
| Year | Exhibitions |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Mary Place Gallery, Sydney. Organised by Bellas/Sutton Galleries |
| 1996 | Reference Points 4, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane |
| 1996 | Asia-Pacific Hotel Art Fair, Brisbane |
| 1979 | European Dialogues, Biennale of Sydney, Art Gallery of New South Wales |
References
- ^ "Madonna Staunton | Milani Gallery". milanigallery.com.au. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ Mckay, Peter (2014). Out of a clear blue sky – Madonna Staunton. Brisbane: Queensland Art Gallery. ISBN 978-1-921503-65-8.
- ^ a b Staunton, Madonna (2003). Madonna Staunton. ISBN 1-875792-46-5.
- ^ a b c d Helmrich, Michele; Zurbrugg, Nicholas (1994). Madonna Staunton – A Survey. Brisbane: Queensland University of Technology. ISBN 0-86856-485-0.
- ^ "Australian Honors Search Facility". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ "James C Sourris AM Collection | State Library of Queensland".
- ^ "Madonna Staunton OAM digital story, educational interview and oral history". State Library of Queensland OneSearch Catalogue.
- ^ "Vale: Madonna Staunton". QAGOMA Blog. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ QAGOMA. "Madonna Staunton". Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Madonna Staunton". Artlink Magazine. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
External links
- QAGOMA Blog post "Out of a clear blue sky"
- Madonna Staunton OAM digital story, educational interview and oral history. James C. Sourris artist interview series 2010-2015, State Library of Queensland, 4 April 2012, 6.30min, 26:27min and 54:51min version available to view online.
- Portrait of an artist: Madonna Staunton retrospective James C Sourris AM Collection, State Library of Queensland, 6 Sep 2022. In this Portrait of an Artist event Josh Milani from Milani Gallery, Brisbane Poet and Artist Nathan Shepherdson, and Peta Rake, Curator at the University of Queensland Art Museum, discuss the career and legacy of the late artist, Madonna Staunton OAM.