Julie Blyfield never tires of looking at the Australian nature. Often her looking is at botanical specimens in museums, fragile survivors from the past ranged in drawers, but she also relishes seeing new environments, seeking out fresh inspiration for making jewellery and objects.
Embrace is Blyfield’s response to visiting the Kimberley region in northeast Western Australia in May 2018, staying near the Bungle Bungles in the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, the home of the the Jaru and Gidja peoples, who are its Traditional Custodians. This new body of work comes from immersing herself in the country, driving, walking, taking hundreds of photographs, collecting plant samples, absorbing the rich colours and textures.
Blyfield is nationally and internationally known both for jewellery and vessels, which always take the exquisite structures of the natural world as inspiration. Here she brings the two forms of her practice together in a concerted tribute to the glory of that desert country in Western Australia. On one long plinth she is presenting a model landscape, the upturned copper vessels evoking the soft bulbous shapes and intense colours of the Bungle Bungles, the delicate painted flowers and foliage of the silver jewellery threading between them, fragile and ephemeral.
Tough pebbles, delicate blooms, stringy spinifex, seeds promising new life: Julie Blyfield evokes the extraordinary beauty of that remote northwestern desert, in tribute to its present beauty and enduring significance.
Julie Blyfield: Artist Statement & Bio
Julie Blyfield has worked for over 30 years at her practice, currently from her own independent studio overlooking her garden environment in Maylands, South Australia. Julie’s jewellery and object work is inspired by research into botanical specimens, historical silver collections and the rich diversity of the Australian landscape, which she interprets using the technique of metal chasing, hammering and surface chiselling, predominately in sterling silver and more recently, copper.
Julie Blyfield has worked for over 30 years at her practice, currently from her own independent studio overlooking her garden environment in Maylands, South Australia. Blyfield’s jewellery and object work is inspired by research into botanical specimens, historical silver collections and the rich diversity of the Australian landscape, which she interprets using the technique of metal chasing, hammering and surface chiselling, predominately in sterling silver and more recently, copper.
In 2007, Blyfield was a recipient of the prestigious South Australian Living Artists Award which celebrated her achievements with a major monograph about her life and work, published by Wakefield Press. An Australia Council - Creative Australia Award (2015-16) offered Blyfield the opportunity to create and exhibit Panorama a significant body of new jewellery and objects for an international touring solo exhibition at Ruthin Crafts Centre, North Wales; The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh and Bilk Gallery in Canberra in 2017. Blyfield collaborated with Kirsten Coelho, a potter to present Ormolu at Gallery Funaki opening in October, 2017 touring to The Jam Factory in Adelaide and The National in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 2018 she presented a solo exhibition Flora at Irene Belfi Gallery in Milan, Italy.
Blyfield’s jewellery and metalwork is held in Australian and International museum collections including the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra; the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, France; the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, United Kingdom. Her work has been shown in International Art and Design Fairs such as Collect, London, UK and Chicago SOFA in America. Blyfield’s work has also been selected for the prestigious international jewellery exhibition - Schmuck and her silver objects have been shown at the Schoonhoven Silver Award several times in her career.
Blyfield has travelled, lectured and presented workshops in Australia, United States of America, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. As part of her practice she regularly mentors emerging jewellers, sharing her knowledge, skills and professional experience. She is currently mentoring the Jam Factory Metal Associates in 2019. Blyfield has won numerous prizes for her work including the Overall Winner of the South Australian Museum Natural History Art Prize where her work was acquired by the South Australian Museum collection.
Julie Blyfield: CV July, 2020
Education
1984-87
Associate Diploma of Jewellery Making and Silver-smithing
South Australian College of the Arts and Education, Adelaide, SA
1976-78
Diploma in Teaching (Secondary Fine Art)
Torrens College of Advanced Education, Adelaide, South Australia
Solo exhibitions
2017- 2019
Ormolu - Julie Blyfield and Kirsten Coelho
Gallery Funaki, Melbourne, Victoria; Jam Factory, Adelaide, South Australia; The National Contemporary Jewellery & Objects, Christchurch, New Zealand
2018
Flora
Irene Belfi Gallery, Milan, Italy
2016
Rare Collection
Objectspace, Auckland; The National, Contemporary Jewellery & Objects, Christchurch, New Zealand
2015
Panorama
Ruthin Crafts Centre, Denbighshire, Wales, United Kingdom; tour to The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh Scotland UK; Preview at the JamFactory, Adelaide, South Australia
2013
Second Nature
Gallery Funaki, Melbourne, Victoria
Twice Loved
Studio 20/17, contemporary jewellery and objects, Waterloo, Sydney, NSW
2011
Julie Blyfield: Contemporary Jewellery & Objects 1990 – 2010
Jam Factory, Adelaide, South Australia
Julie Blyfield (Feature artist)
Chicago SOFA represented by Charon Kransen Arts, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, USA
2010
Julie Blyfield: Contemporary Jewellery & Objects 1990 – 2010
FORM Gallery, Perth, Western Australia
2009
Natural Selection
Gallery Funaki, Melbourne, Victoria
2007
Julie Blyfield Vessels and Brooches
JamFactory Contemporary Craft & Design SALA feature, Adelaide, SA
2003
Flourish Gallery
Funaki, Melbourne, Victoria
2002
Traces
The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Traces (with Lynn Kelly)
Fingers Contemporary Jewellery, Auckland, New Zealand
Upon Reflection
Window Exhibition, University of South Australia Art Museum, Adelaide, South Australia
2001
Traces (with Lynn Kelly)
JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, Adelaide, South Australia
1994
Memento Celebration Sentimentality
Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide, South Australia
Memento Celebration Sentimentality
Craft Victoria Melbourne, Victoria
1988-89
At the Bullring Bullring (with Leslie Matthews)
Jam Factory, South Australia & Emerald Hill Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria
Group exhibitions
2019
Frame
represented by Galerie Ra Munich Germany
Schmuck 2019 (Juried entry)
73rd Internationalen Handwerksmesse Munich, Germany
2018
To Have and to Hold: The Daalder Collection of International Jewellery
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia
Schoonhoven Silver Award 2018 (Juried entry)
Nederlands Zilvermuseum Schoonhoven, Netherlands
SOFA Chicago 2018
represented by Galerie Noel Guyomarch Festival Hall, Navy Pier Chicago IL, USA
Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery 2018
Gallery Funaki, Melbourne, Victoria
Funaki/The National: STOCKROOM
The National Jewellery Gallery Christchurch, New Zealand
Frame
represented by Galerie Ra Munich Germany
Aurora Australis, Contemporary Jewelry from Australia
Galerie Noel Guyomarch, Montreal, Canada
18th Silver Triennial 2016 (Juried entry)
Gesellschaft Fur Goldschmiedekunst e.V. Hanau Germany European tour
2017
Collect 2017
International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects Rosemarie Jaeger Gallery, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2017 Itami International Jewellery exhibition
Museum of Arts & Crafts, ITAMI, Hyogo, Japan
Containment
The National at Anna Miles Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
Sugar Spin: you, Me Art and Everything/ GOMA turns 10
Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland, Brisbane
2016
Jewelry, Art and Antique Fair Florida
Palm Beach Charon Kransen Arts, USA
Fleurieu Art Prize (Juried entry)
Samstag Museum of Art/ University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
Calendar Girls Gray Street Workshop 30 year exhibition
Gray Street Workshop, Adelaide, SA
Science and Art 12 Years of the Waterhouse Natural Science Prize
National Archives of Australia, Canberra, ACT
TEFAF Maastricht 2016, Adrian Sassoon
Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
2015
20/20: Gallery Funaki 20th Anniversary
Melbourne, Australia
Recent Acquisitions Art Gallery of South Australia
Adelaide, South Australia
Art Palm Beach 2015
Palm Beach Country Convention Centre, Charon Kransen Arts, Florida, USA
A fine possession Jewellery and Identity
Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney, NSW
Bodywork: Australian Jewellery 1972-2012
National Gallery of Australia touring, Australia
Calendar Girls - Gray Street Workshop 30 year
September online feature, Adelaide, South Australia
2014
A fine possession Jewellery and Identity
Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney, NSW
SOFA CHICAGO 2014
Charon Kransen Arts, Festival Hall, Navy Pier Chicago IL, USA
Boxes curated by Galerie Ra and Galerie Lemaire
Amsterdam, Netherlands, www.gallery-lemaire.com
National Contemporary Jewellery Award 2014 (finalist)
Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith, NSW, Tour to Courtesy of the Artist, Sydney, NSW
Domain of the material curated by Tomyo Hiraiwa
Create Space Tokyo, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Cross Currents curated by Charon Kransen Arts
Vaudeville Gallery, Fredericksburg, Texas, USA
Show Time: The Art Collection of Arts Centre Melbourne
The Arts Centre, Melbourne, Victoria
Jewelry from down under
Taboo Studio, San Diego California, USA
Kunst Rai represented by Galerie Ra
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The other side - Jewellery and objects from Australia and New Zealand
Gallery SO, London, UK
Collect 2014 represented by Galerie Ra
Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Frame represented by Galerie Ra
Munich, Germany
2013
Ausstellung Silbertriennale
International Deutsches Klingen Museum, Solingen, Germany
SOFA CHICAGO 2013
Charon Kransen Arts, Festival Hall, Navy Pier Chicago IL, USA
Bodywork: Australian Jewellery 1972-2012
National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, National Gallery of Australia, ACT Australian tour
Beyond precious… beyond the oceans - Contemporary Jewellery Australia and New Zealand
Circuits Bijoux, presented by Helene Aziza, Atelier D'Art de France Paris, France
Kunst Rai
Galerie Ra Amsterdam, Netherlands
17th Silver Triennial (Juried entry)
International Gesellschaft fur Goldschmiedekunst, Deutches Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau, Germany and European tour
Schmuck 2013 65th (Juried entry)
Internationalen Handwerksmesse Munchen, Munich, Germany; The Gallery of Art, Legnica, Silver Festival, Poland
Re Collections
Jam Factory Adelaide, South Australia
TEFAF Maastricht 2013, Adrian Sassoon
Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
Boston Art & Design 20/21 Fair
Boston Centre for the Arts, Charon Kransen Arts, USA
Art Palm Beach
Palm Beach Convention Centre, Charon Kransen Arts, USA
Collect 2013
Galerie Ra, Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom
Cabinets of Nature and Curiosities
Bayerischen Staatssammlung fur Palaontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
Frieze Art Fair
Charon Kransen Arts, New York, USA
2012
ART BASEL Miami
Charon Kransen Arts, Miami FL, USA
Collec+ors - Khai Liew Collaboration
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide SA
2012
SOFA CHICAGO
Charon Kransen Arts, Festival Hall, Navy Pier Chicago IL, USA
Time and Vision online VAAus platform
Bargehouse, South Bank London, UK
Masterpiece
London Adrian Sassoon, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, UK
20 Years: Rhiannon Vernon-Roberts Memorial Collection of contemporary Australian Jewellery
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
Frame, Ra present, Ra 35 years Ra Gallery, International Trade Fair
Galerie Ra, Munich, Germany
TEFAF Maastricht 2012 Adrian Sassoon
Maastricht Exhibition & Congress Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
New! Contemporary Australian Decorative Arts
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
Collect 2012 Galerie Ra
Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Unexpected Pleasures – The Art and Design of Contemporary Jewellery (Juried)
The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; The Design Museum, London, UK
Object Fair, Ra present, Ra 35 years Ra Gallery
Galerie Ra, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Art Palm Beach
Palm Beach Convention Center, Charon Kransen Arts, USA
SOFA New York Park Avenue Armory
Charon Kransen Arts, New York, USA
Please note: This CV has been revised and shortened. For Julie Blyfield's full CV, please contact the gallery.
Awards and achievements
2011
First Prize, The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize
SA Museum, Adelaide, SA
Honorable Mention, CHEONGJU International Craft Biennale 2011
Seoul, Republic of Korea
2007
Awarded SA Living Artist SALA monograph recipient
Arts SA / Wakefield Press SA
Residencies & Workshops
Collections
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK; Indiana University Art Museum, Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France, Aberdeen Art Galleries and Museums, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; National Museums of Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland, UK; Turnov Collection, Czech Republic; National Gallery of Australia, ACT; Art Gallery of SA, Adelaide, SA; Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth WA; SA Museum, Adelaide, SA; Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, University of SA; The Arts Centre Melbourne, VIC; Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Queensland; The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, New South Wales; National Gallery of VIC, Melbourne, VIC; Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Griffith, New South Wales; Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery Toowoomba, Queensland; Geelong Gallery, Geelong, Victoria.
Grants
2019
Funding to develop new solo exhibition for Sydney and New Zealand
Australia Council for the Arts
2014
Creative Australia Grant
Australia Council for the Arts
Julie Blyfield
Surfacing
October 19-November 12, 2022