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KeIth
Chidzey

Sculptor / Painter / Land Artist

 

Biography

One cannot escape their past, and so I embrace it, with all its many allusions.

After 20 years of private practice dentistry, circumstances forced a change, and I was able to pursue my original dream of creating! On top of that, I have a long-standing, deep-seated Christ based view of the world. Add in a wonderful wife & kids, and you have an interesting and eclectic back story to bring to the creative table.

In 2013, I completed a Masters Research degree in Sculpture, Performance and Installation at the College of Fine Arts (University of New South Wales). Since then I have been making, with focused research on social justice issues, the life and times of St. Francis of Assisi, and the environment.

The land, its interpretation, and issues surrounding its usage and intervention have been a recurring theme throughout my work. My university research centered around fire, and refinement through fire, its controllability, its significance and its aesthetic, and hypnotic qualities.

Among other fields of interest include:
– a considerable awareness of the science of health and welfare,
– incorporating my deep love of God in my life into my work,
– active in helping bring other artists to experience our Australian landscape through field trips and residencies in Tasmania and around Broken Hill - particularly the UNSW Arid Zone Research Station at Fowlers Gap.

This website showcases many of the elements of my work over recent years. I trust that you will enjoy what is displayed, and pass the word around to your friends and family to order or purchase some work so I can keep on creating!

For the most up-to-date work, follow me on Instagram - chidzey.art

Do you want to own any original piece?
Have dreams of a particular image?
Contact me at info@chidzey.com and we can discuss making it a reality.

Top Image: @johnephotography

 
 

Testimonials

 

“Dear Keith, such a pleasure it was to meet you, and how I love the bronze bike you made. It really is as if you knew Madeleine well.”

Joosje N.
 bronze memorial, Zorglieb cemetery, Amsterdam, 2014.

 

“We commissioned a work by Keith after seeing his sculpture and being impressed by his ability to speak volumes through each individual piece. Keith spent time listening to us and getting to know us spiritually and the resulting piece was not only stunning in its skill and visual appeal but also spoke to us as a couple in a prophetic manner over our marriage. It is a representation of how we have more to offer with our hands combined to strengthen each other with open hands and hearts and will always remind us of this in our daily lives as it resides in our home.”

Melissa S.
timber carving, 2018.

“Better than the ones in the village!”

Niels B.
bronze wombat private commission, Thredbo, 2010.

“Both the Police and Fire Brigade Commanders were astounded at your carvings …you could see their eyes widen and both took a very closer look at them for a few minutes …The Police Commander said to me, "I take it then that this is a very valuable gift", so I just smiled…”

Geoff W.
Huon Pine timber carvings, presentation gifts for Retired Police Association trip to Egypt, 2017.

 

“Emotions: warm, happy, nostalgic, confused, intense, magical
Meaning: you’re connected, two very different things/opposites can get along and create beauty (fire and ice)
Emotion to create: wonder
Other: rugged mountain range, lava, magical world, strange world
The artwork is magical with a hint of wonder. The photographer has made the fire and ice look like a rugged mountain range that spreads a mysterious air. A blue sun crests the top of the range like a loving mother watching over her children. Below, the brightness shines through the ice like lava, but maybe it is a portal to another world. At the base of the peak, a blue light is emitted, but maybe it is a magical blue fungi.

Alicia H.’s Yr 5 class
Description of Fire & Ice triptych

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 Selected Curriculum Vitae

1960 Born Sydney, lives and works in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, Australia.

Academic Qualifications
2008-13 Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture), College of Fine Arts, (COFA), Sydney.
2006-07 Master of Arts (Sculpture), coursework, COFA, Sydney.
2002-05 Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting/Drawing) graduated with distinction, COFA, Sydney.   
1984-01 Private practice surgery, Miranda, Sydney.
1978-84  Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Sydney.

Appointments/Residencies
2022 Elective Leader: FATA Conference Online, Poatina, Tas
2020  Elective Leader: FATA Conference, Poatina, Tas.
2019  Leader 10 day Field Trip: Fowlers Gap Research Station/Broken Hill.
           Curator: Creative Conversations, ACAC, Sydney Fringe Festival .
2018 Residency: Fowlers Gap Research Station.
2017  Residency: Arte Studio Ginestrelle, Assisi, Italy.
Elective leader (bronze casting) FATA2017, Poatina.
2016  Residency: Poatina Arts, Tasmania.
2015 Residency: Fowlers Gap Research Station, Broken Hill.
            Artist in Residence: Penshurst West Primary School.
2014  Residency: Big Ci, Bilpin.
2012  ’20:1’ Private commission Mary, Magdalene H.S., Narellan.
2010  Lead Artist Australian section of satellite eARTh Project, 350.org, Broken Hill.
Research Assistant ILIRI (Imaging the Land International Research Institute).

Selected Finalist of Awards
2022  Blake Art Prize, Casula Powerhouse, Sydney.
2021  Small Works Art Prize, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne.
2020 Sculpture in the Vines, Wollombi.
2017 3rd Place: XI Florence Biennale, Italy.
International Wood Sculpture Symposium, Rylestone.
Highly Commended: Sculpture at Kooindah, Wyong.
2016 Highly Commended: Sculpture in the Garden, Willowtree, Crookwell.
Sculpture at Hillview, Sutton Forest.
2015 Sculpture in the Vines, Wollombi.
            International Wood Sculpture Symposium, Rylestone.
2014 Highly Commended: Sculptors Society of NSW, Darling Park, Sydney.
2012 Sculpture At Scenic World, Katoomba.
2010 Outback Art Prize, Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill.
2008 Libris Awards (Australian Artists’ Book Prize): Finalist, Mackay, Qld.
Southern Cross Uni Acquisitive Book Prize: Barratt Galleries, Ballina.
Blake Prize (binding of poetry prize): NAS, Sydney.
2007 Winner: Art & Australia Prize, COFA Annual 07 Awards, Sydney.
           Sculpture by the Sea: Finalist, Bondi, Sydney.

Solo Exhibitions
2021       Wet – a celebration of water and creativity: Connells Point Sailing Club, Sydney.
2020 A Bush Tea Party: Gallery 47, Rylstone, NSW.
2019       Wing It: Gallery 47, Rylstone, NSW.
2018       Meet Frank: Mercure Kooindah Waters, Central Coast.
2017       A little Viewing: private residence, Sydney.
2016       Paradigm: Gauge Gallery, Sydney.
2015       Chasing Francis: Gaffa, Sydney.
2014       Gravis: Gallery Red, Glebe.
2013       Unready-made: Gallery Red, Glebe.
                Refinement in 3 Parts: industrial depot, Pyrmont.
                I Want My Mum To Come (collaboration with Jackie Benney): McGlade Gallery, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield.
2012       SMALL-large-big-LITTLE: Gallery Red, Glebe.
2011       Presenting the Letter ‘F’: Gallery Red, Glebe.
2010       Rub Two Sticks Together: Gallery Red, Glebe.
     Fuse: Angela Fitzpatrick Gallery, Broken Hill.
2009      Out of the Frying Pan …: Kudos Gallery, Sydney.

Selected Group Exhibitions
2022   ‘Connecting Through Spaces: Spiritual self and Soul Space’, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong.
2021   NSW Sculptors Society 70th Anniversary Exhibition, The Concourse, Chatswood.
Sculpture in the Garden, Rosby Estate, Mudgee.
Sculpture Bermagui.
2020/21 ‘Hazelhurst 20 Years Exhibition’, Hazelhurst Regional Galley, Gymea.2020  Sculpture In the Garden, Rosby Estate, Mudgee.
‘Endure eMERGE’, Kapi Art Space, Mt Dandenong Victoria.
2019 ‘A Moment in Time’, Sculptors Society of NSW, Incinerator Art Space, Willoughby.
2018 ‘The Elements: Spiritual Self and Soul Space’, Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong.
2017  International Contemporary Art Exhibition 2017, Assisi, Italy.
World Polo Cup Art Exhibition, Richmond.
Harboursculpture, Woolwich.
            Lake Light, Jindabyne.
2016  Incinerator: Sculptors Society of NSW.
            Sculpture at Killalea, Shellharbour.
Sculpture in the Garden, Rosby Wines, Mudgee.
           EcoArts Conference, UoW, NSW.
           Lake Light Sculpture, Jindabyne.
2015  Sculpture on the Greens, Wyong.
            SPARC National Conference 2015, Alexandria, Sydney.
            HarbourSculpture: Woolwich, Sydney.
EARTH HOUR: Creative Conversations on Climate Change: Annandale Creative Arts Centre, Sydney.
            Gateway Exhibition: Sculptors Society of NSW, CBD, Sydney.
2014  Boundless Plains – Conversations: ACAC, Sydney.
           Kammerklang Ablaze: NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney.
2013   5: Gallery Red, Glebe.
2012   31 Days: The Space Within: Gallery Red, Glebe.
2011    Uncontainable, Uni of Sydney.
Towers Exhibition, Sculptors Society of NSW, CBD, Sydney.
The Paginated Garden & The Re-Paginated Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
2010   The Sound of the Sun (collaboration with Eva Muller), Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
2009   Kammerklang: NSW Conservatorium of Music, Sydney.
2008   Australian Bookbinders Exhibition: AGNSW, Sydney.
Back to Basics: Noosa Regional Gallery, Noosa.
2007   Inspired by May: Stanton Library, North Sydney.
Australian Bookbinders Exhibition: AGNSW, Sydney & Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery, Launceston, Tas.
2006   Post-it (Exquisite Corpse): Peloton Gallery, Sydney.
9x5: Kudos & Truck (various locations), Sydney.
CopyCat: Barcom St, Sydney.
Founding Member & Secretary of International Noise Inc. an artist run initiative.
2004   In Every Sense: Exeter.
            Must Go: Newcomtemporaries, QVB, Sydney.
2003  Spiders and Flies: Newcomtemporaries, QVB, Sydney.    

Publications
2017       ‘So Many Tears’ Barry O’Malley [https://thelandy.com/2017/03/29/so-many-tears/] Mar 2017.
2015       ‘Chainsaws and chisels helping a country community carve out a name hosting a wood sculpture symposium’ Melanie Pearce, ABC Central West [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-29/rylstone-wood-symposium-brings-eight-artists-together/6895324] Oct 2015.
2013       ‘Is it possible for an individual to achieve personal refinement through pyretic methodology?’ Thesis for Master of Fine Arts, COFA, 2013.
2010       'COFA Graduate Keith Chidzey Creates 200m Artwork for 350.org Global Earth Project' The COFA Blog, [http://blog.cofa.unsw.edu.au/?p=4524] Dec 1 2010.
                ‘Arid Wetness’ Janis Lander, The College Voice, Vol 8 Issue 1, [http://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/media/documents/CVoice/Vol8Issue1.pdf]  July 2010.
2008      ‘Once Upon a Time – Or: what to do at the end of a COFA degree.’ Janis Lander,  COFASA Voice, Vol 6 Issue 1,  (http://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/media/documents/CVoice/Vol6Issue1/Once-Upon-a-Time.pdf) Aug 2008.
 ‘New Tricks’, Tracey Clement, COFA Art & Design, Issue 20, p.16-17.
2007      ‘Bookbinders’ art on show’, Imogen Yang, Look, Sept 2007, AGNSW, p.54.
2006       ‘Artists Books & Burning Chairs’ Janis Lander, COFASA Voice, Vol 4 Issue 2, (http://www.cofasa.unsw.edu.au/voice/index.php) Nov 2006.
 ‘Think Outside the Box‘, Tracey Clement, Australian Art Review, July-Oct. 2006, p.58-61.
‘New Blood’, Annemarie Lopez, Australian Art Review, Mar.-June 2006, p.90.
2004     ‘The Operation Was A Success, The Patient Died ….’, John McDonald, The Director’s Elegy, Newcontemporaries, June.
               ‘Talented art students to show their work in Exeter’, Anne Beaumont, Exeter Village. Voice, #11 – Spring, p.3.