Sylvia Siddell
Sylvia Grace Siddell, Lady Siddell ONZM (1941 – 26 August 2011) was a New Zealand painter, etcher, and screen-printer, based in Auckland.[1]
Sylvia Siddell | |
---|---|
Siddell in 2008 | |
Born | 1941 Auckland, New Zealand |
Died | 26 August 2011 Auckland, New Zealand |
Education | Avondale College, Auckland Post Primary Teacher's College, Auckland University, Auckland Society of Arts, Auckland Technical Institute |
Known for | painting, etching, screen printing, drawing |
Notable work | Fire and Water (2002), Out of the Frying Pan (2007), Sleep of Reason (1984), The Birds,the Bat and the Beast (2006), The Princess began to doubt the Veracity of the Lecherous Amphibian (2008) |
Spouse(s) | Peter Siddell |
Awards | Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) |
Education
Siddell attended the Avondale College (Art teacher: R.N.Field), Auckland Post Primary Teacher's College (1964–65), Auckland University Summer School (1967, tutored by Colin McCahon), night classes at the Auckland Society of Arts (1970, tutored by Louise Henderson), and night classes at the Auckland Technical Institute (1975–76).[2]
Career
Drawing on the tradition of the European vanitas, or allegorical still life, Siddell's work often depicts inanimate, familiar, and ordinary objects, giving them a sense of vibrancy and reflects on the joys, sorrows, struggles, and frustrations of daily existence.[3][4] Examples of this include her still life paintings, Fire and Water (2002) and Out of the Frying Pan (2007). Her exhibition Couches, at the Artis Gallery in 2005, is another example of how she instilled life and character into ordinary domestic objects, animating them with a sense of personality.[5]
Exhibitions
From 1975 onward Siddell exhibited regularly throughout New Zealand and her work is held in private and public collections, both in New Zealand and internationally.[3] Notable exhibitions at the Artis Gallery include Fragments of Life (2000),[6] A Rich Life (1998),[7] and Couches (2005).[5]
In 1994 she took part in the exhibition Unruly Practices at Auckland Art Gallery. The project was a series of solo projects by feminist artists living in Auckland, including work by Carole Shepherd, Claudia Pond Eyley, Mary McIntyre, Christine Hellyar.[2]
Honours and awards
In 1983 Siddell was award the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Grant to study printmaking and develop etching, lithography and hand painted screen printing techniques.[2]
In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, Siddell was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to painting.[8]
Personal life
In 1960, she married fellow artist Peter Siddell, and had two daughters, Avril and Emily (also an artist).
References
- "Sylvia Siddell". Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "Sylvia's C.V." www.geocities.ws. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "The extraordinary ordinary: Sylvia Siddell 1941 – 2011". christchurchartgallery.org.nz. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "Art New Zealand". www.art-newzealand.com. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "Fine arts: Sylvia Siddell takes her seat in history". The National Business Review. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "FRAGMENTS OF A LIFE". www.geocities.ws. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- Siddell, Peter. "A RICH LIFE". www.geocities.ws. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
Further reading
Artist files for Sylvia Grace Siddell are held at:
- Angela Morton Collection, Takapuna Library
- E. H. McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
- Robert and Barbara Stewart Library and Archives, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
- Fine Arts Library, University of Auckland
- Macmillan Brown Library, University of Canterbury
Also see:
- Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists, McGahey, Kate (2000) Gilt Edge
- Mundane and Marvellous,The Art of Sylvia Siddell (2004) Interactive Education