ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Contemplative, nurturing, beguiling.  These are the words that come to mind when, not only studying Amanda Shelsher’s sculptures themselves, but when reading about this dedicated mother and artist. Born in 1971 in Western Australia, and  working full time as a sculptural ceramic artist from her home in Perth Western Australia, Shelsher relished in her bush surroundings growing up as a child. She was introduced to clay at the age of ten when her mother began her own career as a professional potter. This long term exposure to the craft is evident in Amanda’s mastery of the style.

Amanda assembles and models the features of the bodies when the clay pieces are firm; she then later uses the sgraffito technique to ‘draw’ onto the figure’s bodies like a tattoo. This distinctive style requires her to build the body from one type of clay, and then paint over the surface using different coloured liquid clay called slip. She then uses a scalpel to scratch through the slip to the clay underneath to create delicate line drawings. Colour is achieved by using oxides, stains, slips and glazes, before firing the pieces to 1200C or 1300C. This ensures her work will last for generations.

Longevity is important to Shelser, she says; “My scultpures have always reflected my life and the current journey that I am on. These intimate works celebrate the intricacies of human nature; they look for an understanding of self and the world around us. My work draws inspiration from my experiences as a mother and watching the growth of my two young children…Each piece explores concepts of human beings instinctive, protective and nurturing natures, (while exploring) notions of home, suburbia, domesticity and growth. I am always considering the ideal future environment for my children and hoping they can inherit a love and respect of nature.”

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2021 Primary Visual Arts Specialist – Wembley Primary School
2019 to present day – Primary Visual Arts Specialist Landsdale Primary School
2019 – 2020 – Primary Visual Arts Specialist – Churchlands Primary School
2019 Ceramic tile Mural installation, Churchlands Primary School
2019 Landsdale Primary School Mural
2017 Dalkeith Primary School Artist in Residence
2017 Penrhos College: Artist Residence – Yr 11 & 12
2015 City of South Perth: Selected artist for Mends Street : River Walls Public Art – Bronze sculpture Feature for South Perth foreshore
2015 Lake Joondalup Baptist College Ceramic Workshop – Yr 9
2015 Churchlands Primary School: Artist Residence – Kindergarten – Yr 6
2014 Artist talk, Kidigo Art House – Tattoo exhibition with Gallery East, Fremantle Bathers Beach WA
2014 Opening Guest Speaker, Kingsway Christian College Student Art Exhibition
2014 Independent Art Teachers Assoc. Artist workshop and presentation
2014 Santa Maria College – Attadale. Artist workshop – Yr 12
2014 Lake Joondalup Baptist College, Artist presentation – Yr 11 & 12
2013 Applecross Primary School, Ceramic hand building workshop – Yr 5 – 7
2012 Public Art Sculpture Unit w/Lecturer Tony Jones. Central TAFE, WA
2011 Churchlands Primary School, Ceramic workshops – Kindergarten & Yr 3
2011 Kingsway Christian College, Artist presentation, Darch WA
2011 Sacred Heart College, Artist presentation and demonstration, Sorrento WA
2011 Lake Joondalup Baptist College, Artist presentation, Joondalup WA
2011 Hale School, Artist presentation Yr 8 – 9, Wembley Downs WA
2011 All Saints College, Artist presentation, Bull Creek WA
2010 ANU Ceramic Department, Artist presentation invitation by Janet De Boos, Canberra ACT
2009 Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Art Gallery WA
2009 Halls Head Community College, Workshop demonstration, Mandurah WA
2009 Penrhos College, Workshop and Presentation, Perth WA
2008 Panel member, “State of the West – Ceramic survey” Symposium. Central TAFE, Perth WA
2008 Artist talk, “State of the West Ceramic survey” Central TAFE Perth WA
2008 Mandurah Catholic College, Artist talk, Mandurah WA
2007 Scion Installation Space, Installed “Australian Characters” Group Exhibition. Los Angeles USA
2007 Artist Presentation, “Garden of Curiosities”, FORM.Centre for Craft and Design WA
2006 Gallery Assistant, Art Taipei, Hua Shan Culture Park, Taipei TAIWAN. Installed works for Fubon Banking corporation and gallery assistant for Raglan Gallery.
2002 Australia – Korea Foundation 10th Festival, Showcased works in Seoul, Korea – represented by CRAFTWEST, Perth WA

Solo Exhibitions

Group Exhibitions

2019 Hale School Invitational Annual Art Exhibition, Wembley Downs, WA
2019 Churchlands SHS Art Exhibition, WA
2019 Mount Lawley SHS Art Auction, WA
2018 Treasured : City of Wanneroo – Wanneroo Gallery, WA
2018 Churchlands SHS ‘Creating Community’ Group Art Exhibition’
2017 Gallery East, Kidigo Art House, Bathers Beach, Fremantle, WA
2017 Newman Art Show, Newman College, Wembley Downs WA
2015 Artitude Crown, Perth WA
2015 Perth College, Art Exhibition, Mt Lawley WA
2015 Shire of Mundaring, Art Acquisition award, WA
2014 Skepsi@Montsalvat, Melbourne, VIC
2014 Gold Coast International Art Award, Gold Coast Art Gallery, QLD
2014 Quiet Conversations, Skepsi Gallery, Eltham VIC
2014 Above and Below, Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney NSW
2014 Mount Lawley SHS Art Auction, Mount Lawley WA
2014 Fine Art at Hale, Hale School, Wembley Downs WA
2014 Churchlands SHS Art Exhibition, Wembley Downs WA
2014 Artitude,Crown Casino w/Gallery East WA
2014 Help the Homeless Art Auction, Fremantle WA
2013 Beaver Galleries Christmas Exhibition, Canberra ACT
2013 Kerrie Lowe Gallery Christmas Exhibition, Newtown, Sydney NSW
2013 Artisans in the Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney NSW
2013 Artsource – Featured artist, St Hilda’s Art Fair. Mosman Park WA
2013 Unconcious Articulation, Melody Smith Gallery, Perth WA
2013 Help the Homeless Art Auction, Fremantle Town Hall WA
2013 Hale Art Show, Hale Grammar School, Perth WA
2013 Artitude, Crown Casino, Perth WA
2012 Kerrie Lowe Gallery Group Christmas Exhibition, Newtown, Sydney NSW
2012 Gallery East Christmas Show, North Fremantle WA
2012 A Child is Born, Wesley Church Christmas Exhibition, Perth WA
2012 Help the Homeless Art Auction, Fremantle Town Hall WA
2012 Gold Coast International Ceramic Awards, Gold Coast City Art Gallery QLD
2012 Stations of the Cross, Wesley Church , Perth WA
2012 30 x 30, Margaret River Galleries, Margaret River WA
2011 Narrative Knot Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Manly NSW
2011 Homage to Frida, 19 Karen , Mermaid Beach QLD
2010 Ergon Energy CQ Ceramic Award, Rockhampton Art Gallery, QLD
2010 Down Memory Lane, Darwin Gallery, Darwin NT
2010 Help the Homeless Art Auction, Fremantle Town Hall WA
2010 Femme Folk and Fable, Linton and Kay Contemporary, Subiaco WA
2010 Hale Art Exhibition, Wembley Downs, WA
2010 Perth College 25th Annual exhibition, Perth WA
2009 Summer Exhibition, Wagner Art Gallery. Paddington NSW
2009 Mazenod College Art Exhibition – Feature Artist, Lesmurdie WA
2009 Hale Art Exhibition, Wembley Downs WA
2009 Music Box Project, Holmes A Court Gallery, Perth WA
2008 State of the West, TAFE Gallery, Perth Central TAFE Perth WA
2008 Perth College 23rd Annual exhibition, Perth WA
2008 Minnawara Art Award, City of Armadale WA
2007 Australian Characters, Scion Installation L.A Space, Los Angeles USA
2007 Hellfire Gallery, Esperance WA
2007 Alice Craft Acquisition, Alice Springs NT
2006 Conversations in Clay, Ananya Fine Arts HONG KONG
2006 Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe WA
2005 Gold Coast International Ceramic Award,  Gold Coast City Art Gallery QLD
2005 Statements in Sculpture, Skepsi Gallery, Carlton VIC
2003 Remembering: Women Working for Women, Moores Building, Fremantle WA
2003 Ceramics: The Australian and New Zealand Context, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery NSW
2003 Gold Coast International Ceramic Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery QLD
2003 From the Fringe to the Centre, Mildura Arts Centre VIC
2002 Off The Wall and Grounded, Glenn College VIC
2002 Alice Craft Acquisition, Alice Springs NT
2002 Sidney Myer Fund International Ceramics Award, Shepparton Art Gallery VIC
2001 Gold Coast International Ceramic Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery QLD
2001 Storey’s Group Show, Gallows Gallery,  Mosman Park WA
2000 Celebration, Manly Art Gallery and Museum. Sydney NSW
2000 Gold Coast International Ceramic Award, Gold Coast City Art Gallery QLD

COMMISSIONS

2016 ‘Resonance’ – public artwork, 3 large bronze swan feathers – Mends Street Promenade, South Perth foreshore, Perth WA

COLLECTIONS

AWARDS

PUBLICATIONS