Biography

Biography

Date and Place of Birth
04/04/1974 – Melbourne, Australia

Art Education

1993 – 1996
Melbourne University
Diploma of Visual Arts Education

1992
Moorabbin College of TAFE, VIC
Certificate of Art and Design

1986 – 1991
Sacred Heart Girls College, VIC
Victorian Certificate of Education

Positions in the Arts

1998 – 2018
Freelance Artist / Teacher WA

1997
Secondary Art and History Teacher
Sacred Heart Girls College, VIC

Commissions
Private Collections
UK, USA, New Zealand, Switzerland, Singapore, NSW, VIC, WA.

Exhibitions

June 2023
PLC Art Exhibition, Peppermint Grove
Winnner of People’s Choice Award

February 2021
Beatuy in Isolaltion
Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park

December 2021 – January 2022
SUMMER EXHIBITION
STUDIO Gallery & Bistro

May 2019
PLC Art Exhibition, Peppermint Grove
Winnner of People’s Choice Award

December 2018
In the Realm of Nature
The Studio Gallery, Yallingup

September 2018
Claremont Art Exhibition

May 2018
PLC Art Exhibition
Peppermint Grove, WA
WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

November 2017
Feature Artist
The Studio Gallery, Yallingup, WA

December 2016
Christmas Exhibition
The Studio Gallery, Yallingup WA

November 2016
Feature artist
Pullman's Resort, Bunker Bay WA

Dec 2015 – Jan 2016
Feature Artist
Pullman’s Resort
Bunker Bay, WA

August 2015
A & A Gallery
Joint Exhibition
Subiaco, WA

October 2015
Loft Space – Bill Brown Building
The Art Label Joint Exhibition
Bunbury, WA

April 2014
Loft Space, Bill Brown Building, Bunbury
Group Exhibition
‘The Art Label’

October 2013
‘St Marks Art Exhibition’
Group Exhibition

September 2012
The Studio Gallery, Yallingup
Joint Exhibition
"Spring Exhibition"

December 2011
The Studio Gallery, Yallingup
Group Exhibition
“Twelve Studio Artists”

November 2011
Mosman Art Gallery (NSW)
Group Exhibition
“Ship to Shore” (Australian Society of Marine Artists)

June 2011
Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery
SOLO EXHIBITION
“Water of Life”

May 2010
Memorial Gallery Mosman Park.
Group Exhibition
Between River and Sea

May 2010
Gadfly Gallery Dalkeith.
Group Exhibition
Art for Africa

November 2009
Creative Tides - Iona Presentation College, Group Exhibition

May 2009
Memorial Gallery Mosman Park, Group Exhibition 'Between River and Sea'

March 2009
Atwell Gallery, Atwell, Group Exhibition 'Waterworks'

May 2008
Atwell Gallery – Group Exhibition 'Waterworks'

2005
Malvern Art Prize Finalist – Group Exhibition

2003
City of Stirling – Art Awards Exhibition

2000 – 2002
Cottesloe Beach Cafe – Solo Permanent Exhibition

2000
Live Webb International, Inglewood – Group Exhibition

1999
Camelot Gallery, Mosman Park – Solo Exhibition

December 1996
333 Collins St (VIC) – Group Exhibition

Awards
PLC, Peppermint Grove WA - Winner People's Choice Award 2019

PLC, Peppermint Grove WA - Winner People's Choice Award 2018

Melbourne University – Dean's Honor 1996

Recognition of Outstanding achievement in the Visual Arts

Melbourne University - Dean's Honor 1995

Private Collections
Queensland, Switzerland, Singapore, UK

Artist’s Statement

Montgomerie's style weaves effortlessly between social realism and a contemporary take on the techniques of the Old Masters. Painterly yet smooth, inviting yet intimately personal reflections... her works are a testament to the light, depth, moods, possibilities and energies of the cleansing 'Water of Life' she finds herself immersed in!

From the age of 7 it was evident that Genevieve Montgomerie's drawing demonstrated a child's talent for capturing what it was that she saw as opposed to what was in the mind's eye.

An unusual talent for a child of this age, her artwork drew great interest from her teacher and principal among others which in turn inspired Montgomerie to continue to observe carefully and sketch, render and layer – pencil, pastel and eventually paint on countless sheets of butcher's paper, notebooks and visual diaries.

In 1993 Montgomerie began 4 years at Melbourne University studying Visual Arts Education. Following graduation from Melbourne University, and prior to commencing as a secondary teacher at Sacred Heart College, Montgomerie travelled to Western Australia with her (now) husband. Discovering the incredible, intoxicating colour of the Indian Ocean and what magic it shed upon Perth's coastline, Montgomerie commenced sketching and painting Western Australia's coast. While Montgomerie did return to Melbourne to teach at the end of January, the great Indian Ocean had made a lasting impression – eventually drawing her back to the West at the end of 1997.

Montgomerie is probably best known for her intricate acrylic studies, capturing the quality of outdoor life shared by Australians indulging in the pleasures of coastal living. Her Western Australian works, in particular, are spontaneous and simple in subject yet recall for the observers a familiar perspective they cherish as particularly 'western beauty'.

Having lived in Cottesloe, Swanbourne and Mosman Park for 22 years now, Montgomerie feels very much a part of the rich beach culture she reflects in crisp aqua waters and bold golden light of the 'Indiana' hemmed edge of Australia.

Once described as 'technically traditional with a refreshing twist on the realist' Montgomerie's work is strong and vibrant with a determined expression of her national pride.

“A few years ago an Aboriginal spiritual healer friend said to me (about my creativity)...as though the voice of our creator was speaking through him... “stop wading in the water sister... come swim with me”... and from that point I have worried less about my weekly deadlines and people’s opinions of me.. and worried more about my need to watch and to capture, to dive in and reinvigorate - by breathing in all that is mesmerising about the waters that surround us and translating that with paint! "

If at the end of this.... my friends words... “stop wading in the water... come swim with me”.... or in fact my works inspire you to stop and reflect on how good we have got it, surrounded by such beauty and endless opportunities to seize the day at the water’s edge... then your souls might be richer for it!”

Exert from Montgomerie’s Solo Exhibition
“Water Of Life” – Moores Building Fremantle

Copyright

The copyright of all artworks featured on this site are owned by Genevieve Montgomerie. They may not be copied or transmitted in any way without written permission from the copyright holder.

Please contact the copyright holder to request permission for use of works g.montgomerie@optusnet.com.au