About Anna Caione
My work fuses aspects of contemporary culture and my Italian heritage, creating a threshold between the realm of intangible memory and the physical realm of place. I endeavour to touch on both personal and universal experiences, made manifest through the use of materials with an everyday, familiar cast that, although abstracted, are resonant with shared associations.
I am also concerned with subjective understandings of matter and space, exploring the energies inherent in materials and their transformative properties. I often revitalise collected remnant fabrics and found objects in ways that at times suggest old historical surfaces, architecture and the landscape, working intuitively with gestural bodily movements to construct my compositions. My working method, which connects hand and fabric, is grounded in ‘automatism’, a concept based on the intuitive drive, the irrational, and the accidental occurrences during the process of creating. New York School abstractionist Robert Motherwell once defined automatism as ‘letting the work pour out, without any critical intervention or editing’, and for me this involves stretching, sewing, pulling, layering, cutting, adding and pouring as I apply, shape and harmonise a diversity of materials into a form of palimpsest.
Once the work has been built up, I manipulate the surface to expose the expressive layers of raw materials and allow the skeletal structures of the piece and its subconscious narrative to be revealed. Thus, the final artwork functions not only as a means of exploring the physical process of creation, but also as a vehicle for contemplation, encouraging the viewer to consider the less tangible atmosphere conceived within that inflects the visible outer form.
Artist Biography
Anna Caione is an Australian artist of Italian descent. She is currently a Ph.D. researcher at Federation University. She holds a Master of Arts by Research Monash University, Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts from Melbourne University, Bachelor of Fine Art, RMIT and completed a Graduate Diploma of Fine Arts, Accademia Albertina, Turin, Italy (1994-1995). She is a Course Convenor and Academic Tutor in the School of Design at Swinburne University of Technology, teaching across design history and design studio units. Anna has held numerous solo and group exhibitions and participated in over 45 exhibitions. She has received a number of grants and awards. She was a finalist (twice)in the John Leslie Art Prize honorable mention in 2008, the Metro 5 Gallery Art Award, and McGivern Prize and was awarded the SBS Centenary of Federation Art Award. She had been selected for Artist in residency and fellowship programs - Fellowship from the International Specialised Skills Institute to study Drawing in Milan. Artist in Residence at St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne, Artist in Residence- Bourdeneuve, Betchat, France. In 2020 she was part of Melbourne Design Week in collaboration with the National Gallery of Victoria. Her research interests include Abstract Expressionism, Arte Povera, Renaissance art and contemporary art. Anna has previously been represented by Gallery 101-(2004-2010) and Catherine Asquith Gallery- (2010-2013) and West End Art Space (2017-2019). Her work is held in corporate and private collections nationally and internationally.
Solo Exhibitions
| 2021 | Strato: Five Walls, Footscray, Melbourne |
| 2019 | White on White, West End Art Space, West Melbourne |
| 2018 | GESTO, West End Art Space, West Melbourne |
| 2016 | Disporre, Langford 120, North Melbourne |
| 2013 | Intreccio, Catherine Asquith Gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne |
| 2011 | Tessuti, Catherine Asquith Gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne |
| 2008 | Ingresso, Gallery 101, Melbourne. |
| 2004 | Polverė, Gallery 101, Melbourne. |
| 2003 | Span Galleries, Melbourne. |
| 1999 | Roar Studios, Fitzroy, Melbourne |
Group Exhibitions
| 2021 | Online 6th International Biennale of Non-Objective Art-Que des femmes. Biennale internationale d’art non objectif à Pont-de-Claix, curated by Terri Brooks and Louise Blyton |
| 2021 | Parallel Visions, Museo Italiano, Melbourne—Continued |
| 2020 | #Abstraction, 4/3 Electra Street Bundaberg QLD |
| 2020 | 2020 Parallel Visions, Part of Melbourne Design Week, Museo Italiano, Melbourne |
| 2019 | Friends and Family, Daine Singer Gallery, Fitzroy |
| 2019 | Abstract Salon, Stephen McLaughlan Gallery, Melbourne |
| 2019 | Poetic Symbol: West End Art Space, West Melbourne |
| 2018 | Of Colour & Light: Victorian Women Abstract Artists, West End Art Space, Melbourne |
| 2018 | Life Abstracted, Cambridge Studio Art gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne |
| 2018 | The Exquisite Palette Show 2018, Tacit Galleries, Collingwood, Melbourne |
| 2018 | Edge, Langford 120, North Melbourne |
| 2017 | End year Exhibition, West End Art Space, West Melbourne |
| 2016 | The Art and Science of Communication in Multicultural Victoria, Poloron, Immigration Museum |
| 2016 | What Happened At the Pier—Supported by Multicultural Arts Victoria, Italian Museum, Melbourne |
| 2015 | Imago Mundi Project-Luciano Benetton Collection, Milan Italy |
| 2015 | Belle Arti Prize,Chapman & Bailey,Melbourne |
| 2013 | End of Year Retrospective, Catherine Asquith, Collinwood Melbourne |
| 2013 | PROCESS / PRESENCE PROCESSO / PRESENZA, curated by Dr Damien Smith, Melbourne |
| 2012 | Yering Station Gallery, Yarra Glen, Victoria. |
| 2011 | End of Year Retrospective, Catherine Asquith, Collinwood Melbourne |
| 2011 | Pinoteca, presso il Castello di Palena,Abruzzo,Italy |
| 2006 | Whiteout, Span Galleries, Melbourne; Switchback Gallery, Gippsland |
| 2006 | RG McGivern Art Prize Exhibition, Maroondah Art Gallery, Melbourne. |
| 2006 | John Leslie Art Prize Exhibition, Gippsland Art Gallery, Victoria. |
| 2006 | The Affordable Art Show, Gallery 101, Melbourne. |
| 2005 | Whiteout, Span Gallery, Melbourne (Touring Regional Victoria) |
| 2005 | Whiteout, Maroondah Art Gallery, Ringwood, Victoria White out, Maroondah. |
| 2005 | SBS Federation Square Art Award, exhibition and Immigration Museum, Melbourne |
| 2004 | Melbourne Art Fair 2004, Royal Exhibition Building, Represented by Gallery 101, Melbourne |
| 2004 | GeNova ’04:Arte Di Ritorno, EuroCultural Festival, Genova, Italy. |
| 2004 | Via-Vai, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick, Victoria |
| 2004 | SBS Federation Square Art Award, Manningham Gallery, Melbourne. |
| 2004 | SBS Federation Square Art Award Horsham Regional Gallery, Melbourne. |
| 2004 | John Leslie Art Prize Exhibition, Gippsland Art Gallery. |
| 2004 | Art Award Finalist Exhibition, Metro 5 Galleries, Melbourne. |
| 2004 | Group show Abstraction/Asttrato Palazzo Cisterna, Turin, Italy. |
| 2003 | Movimento Rapido, Steps Gallery, Carlton, Victoria |
| 2003 | Seeing Red, Maroondah Gallery, Ringwood, Victoria |
| 2003 | Via Vai Arte in Valigi, Museo Castello Ducale, Basilica di Collemaggio, L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. Movimento, Gallery Irascible, FestaGroup event, Carlton, Victoria Women-Donne-Via By Italia-Australia, Counihan Gallery, Melbourne,(collaborated with Italian artists.) |
| 2003 | Seta, Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne |
| 2003 | Rosso, Yering Station Gallery, Yarra Glen |
| 2003 | Women’s Salon, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick |
| 2001 | Artists on Norton, Italo-Australian Art exhibition, Sydney. |
| 1999 | Artists Program, Mira Fine Art Galleries, Melbourne. ’99 Miniartextil Como-Fili di Luce, Gallery Studio Mimmo Totaro-Como, Italy. |
| 1998 | Maionese Project, En Plein Air Arte Contemporanea Galleria, Pinerolo, Piemonte, Italy |
Curriculum Vitae
Education
| 2021–current | PhD Researcher, Fine Arts (Exegesis,) Federation University |
| 2002 | Master of Arts by Research, Monash University, Melbourne. |
| 1995 | Diploma Fine Arts, ‘Accademia Albertina’, (The Academy Fine Arts), Turin, Italy. |
| 1991 | Bachelor of Education, (Visual Arts), The University Of Melbourne. |
| 1994 | Degree in Fine Arts, RMIT University, Melbourne, Major in Painting and Drawing. |
| 1990 | Diploma in Interior Design, Melbourne College of Decoration. |
Professional Engagements
| 2010–current | Academic Tutor Lecturer in Drawing & Design History, Swinburne University |
| 2016–2018 | Tutor Melbourne Polytechnic in Painting & Drawing |
| 2018 | Fellowship Study, Fine Art (Martenot Philosophy)-Milan, Italy |
| 2012 | Artist in Residence—Bourdeneuve, Betchat, France. |
| 2008–2010 | Heide Museum of Art, Melbourne, Education Manager. |
| 1994–1995 | Attended Albertina Academy of Fine Art of Turin. |
Grants and Awards
| 2018 | Finalist, Artbank Road Show |
| 2018 | Italian Australian Foundation International Fellowship ISSI (International Specialised Skills Institute: founded Sir James Gobbo) |
| 2018 | Finalist, Life Abstracted Prize, Cambridge Studio Art gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne |
| 2006 | Finalist, Honourable Mention, John Leslie Art Prize Exhibition, Gippsland Art Gallery, Finalist R&M McGivern Art Prize, Maroondah Art Gallery, Melbourne. |
| 2004 |
Finalist & Honourable Mention John Leslie Art Prize Exhibition, Gippsland Art Gallery. Finalist Metro 5 Gallery Art Award, Melbourne, Australia. City of Moreland Arts Grant |
| 2003 |
Second place SBS Centenary of Federation Art Award,
Arts Victoria, International Cultural Exchange Grant. Moreland City Council: Cultural Exchange Grant. |
| 1999 | First Prize, Artists on Norton National Contemporary Art Award: Sydney |
| 1995 | Italy- studio volunteer experience for artist Zorio Gileberti ArtePovera Movement-Turin. |
Selected Bibliography
| 2020 | Review Parallel Visions, SBS Radio 15 March |
| 2019 | Interview, J-Air 87.8 FM Arts Show Alex McCulloch |
| 2018 | Art Collector October-December 2018, pg.65 |
| 2018 | Laura Egan, Il Globo, 1 August, A gesture on canvas: An exhibition ‘Gesto’ inspired by studies in Milan |
| 2018 | Interview 3RRR with Richard Watts—Smart Arts Program |
| 2017 | Dr Rita Wilson Monash University, Italian American Review—Summer 2017, Volume7, Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College, New York |
| 2017 | A.Harper, 120 Collins publication,Issue 07—Autumn 2017 |
| 2016 | S.Bavato, Il Globo, 18 July,Arte Per Creare Legsmi |
| 2016 | S.Bavato, Il Globo, 9 June, Quelle Storie Di gioa e incognite |
| 2011 | Art Collector July-September 2011, pg.34 |
| 2008 | A.Waters , 120 Collins publication,Issue 07—Autumn 2017 |
| 2004 | M. Backhouse, The Age, Domain, 13 March. |
| 2003 | H.Evans, The Age, Domain, 23 February. |
| 2002 |
L. Gorden, Leader Newspaper, Brunswick, Moreland, 7 May. G. Hubbard, Il Globo, 16 August. M. Backhouse, The Age, Domain, 17 August. |
| 1999 | Crivellari, Arte, Progetto Maionaise, Italy, January edition. |
| 1999 | Review ‘Artist’s on Norton, SBS Radio 6.30pm, 20 November |
Catalogues
| 2020 | Parallel Visions, Museo Italiano, Co.As.It—Melbourne |
| 2015 | Imago Mundi Project-Luciano Benetton Collection, Milan Italy |
| 2013 | Dr Damien Smith, PROCESS / PRESENCE PROCESSO / PRESENZA, Melbourne |
| 2005 | Published by Bois De Chesne, Top Art & Food |
| 2004 | Melbourne Art Fair, Catalogue |
| 2003 |
Damien Smith, Via Vai Arte in Valigia, touring exhibition, Italy & Australia. The SBS Federation Square Art Award, SBS: Special Broad Casting Service. |
| 2002 | Women Donne Via-By Italia-Australia, Counihan Gallery, Melbourne. |
| 1999 | ‘99 Miniartextil Como-Fili di Luce, Studio Mimmo Totaro, Como, Italy |
Collections
| St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne |
| Maroondah Art Gallery, Melbourne |
| SBS Federation Square, Melbourne |
| Barbara Wilson, fashion, Melbourne |
| Smith & Tracey Architects, Melbourne |
| Conti Architects, Commission, Melbourne |
| ANZ Bank Foyer, 91 William Street, Melbourne CBD |
| En Pleinaire Contemporary Art Gallery, Pinerolo, Piemonte, Italy |
| Private collections: Australia, Italy, Holland, Ireland |