Brett Piva is a Newcastle based painter, sculptor, installation artist and curator.
Piva’s work intersects two worlds; the natural landscape of the Australian bush and the manufactured surfaces of urbanised space. Diverse organic markings sourced from sojourns in remote environments are replicated on manmade surfaces; gnarling curls of bark against the perfection of cut glass, or the lines of leaves on brick and mortar.
The organic and synthetic are constantly at play and reflecting the other’s attributes. Reflection itself is an enduring theme in Piva’s work.
In his primary practice of verre églomisé, reflection is present in the literal sense. The viewer’s own reflection and their surrounds become part of the artwork; an immersion that creates a transversal of time and space conducive to introspection.
Furthermore, the mark making is inspired by periods of solitude and field research in remote parts of Australia, where the artist himself reflects on his connection to place and memory.
Formally trained in commercial arts before diverging into contemporary landscape and abstraction, Piva’s work has been exhibited in Japan, New York, Chicago, London and Australia. His work is held in esteemed private collections such as the University of Newcastle and he has achieved professional and personal artist residencies both on home soil and abroad.
Piva is a staunch advocate for the arts in Newcastle and Australia. As the founder and director of both the MAKE IT- MADE IT Conference and Newcastle’s Onwards Studio and Gallery, Piva has championed knowledge sharing and mentoring to established and emerging artists throughout the community.
AWARDS
2023 Finalist. Gosford Art Prize. Gosford Regional Gallery
2023 Finalist. Fifty Squared. Brunswick Street Gallery
2022 Finalist. Works on Paper Prize. Blackstone Gallery
2011 Peoples Choice. Two Tone Exhibition. The Roost Gallery
COLLECTIONS
The University of Newcastle Private Collections artwork
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Epitomes Shared from a V-Bottom Tinnie. Straitjacket Art Space. Newcastle
2023 Solice in Condensed Alabaster. Sugi Gallery. Artist In Residence. Myoko Japan
2021 The Other Art Fair. The Cutaway Barangaroo. Sydney
2020 NO SHOW. Onwards Gallery. Newcastle
2020 Komorebi. Studio Kura. Artist In Residence. Itoshima Japan
2019 Shelter Amongst The Ancient River Reds. Onwards Gallery. Newcastle
2019 Divergence - Third Quarter Gallery, Brisbane
2016 For The Devil Down South. Good Space Gallery. Sydney
2014 Five Days of Decay. Edwards Gallery. Newcastle
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 LOCALS. Outre Gallery. Melbourne
2019-2023 COLLECT - The Lock Up Art Space. Newcastle
2022-2023 Summer Salon, Straitjacket. Newcastle
2023 Fifty Squared. Brunswick Street Gallery. Melbourne
2023 Out For Summer. Onwards Gallery. Newcastle
2022 DARLINGS. Curatorial & Co. Sydney
2022 LOCUS. Blackstone Gallery. Newcastle
2021 Ordinary Intricacies. Watt Space Gallery. Newcastle
2019 The End Again, Again, Again - Georgetown Shitty Shed
2019 Trespass Exhibition- Onwards Studio. Newcastle
2018 The End Again Exhibition - Georgetown Shitty Shed
2018 Art On Decks Exhibition - Softy’s Gallery. Newcastle
2017 The End Exhibition - Georgetown Shitty Shed
2017 Deeper Voice of Textiles Sculpture Exhibit - Newcastle
2016 Back to The Future Exhibition - Abicus. Newcastle
2016 First impressions - Pumphouse Gallery. Newcastle
2015 Directors Choice - Gallery 139. Newcastle
2015 Look See, Good vs Evil - The Lock Up Gallery. Newcastle
2014 Look See, Music & Lyrics - The Lock Up, Newcastle
2014 PVS Show-card Show - Previnylites Society. New York
2014 Four Walls - Pocket Gallery. Newcastle
2013 Paste the Paper - Nook Store. Newcastle
2013 Sign Painters Film Exhibition - Newcastle Museum
2013 Look See, Directors Cut - Watt Space. Newcastle
2013 Super Exhibition - Curve Gallery. Newcastle
2013 House of Horrors - The Annandale Hotel. Sydney
2012 Good Rubber - The Roost Gallery. Newcastle
2011 Two Tone - The Roost Gallery. Newcastle. People’s Choice Award Winner
RESIDENCIES
2017-Current Onwards Gallery. Artist Studio
2023 Artist In Residence, Myoko, Japan
2021 Murrumbidgee River Artist In Residence. Australia
2020 Studio Kura. Itoshima, Japan
2016 Tassie Design Shack. Taranna Tasmania
2015 Rue De Belleville. Paris, France
2014–2017 Studio 754. Artist Studio
2014 Edwards Gallery. Newcastle New South Wales
2012–2014 Pocket Gallery. Artist Studio
TALKS AND PODCASTS
2024 Port Stephens Creative Conference
2023 Newcastle Art Gallery Society.
2022 Art Wank Podcast with Fiona Verity and Julie Nicholson
2021 Typisim Podcast with Dominique Falla
2020 On Process with Adam Busby
2020 Masterclass Lecture. The University of Newcastle
2020 Creative Industries Lecture. The University of Newcastle
2015–2019 MAKE IT–MADE IT Conference. Host, Curator and Director
2019 Creative Industries Lecture. The University of Newcastle
2018 Creative Industries Lecture. The University of Newcastle
2017 Typism Conference. Gold Coast
2017 The Design Conference. Brisbane
2017 Creative Industries Lecture. The University of Newcastle
2017 Art & Design Lecture. Pumphouse Design School
2016 TDK Lecture Series. TDK Tuesdays
2016 Conversations in Art . The University of Newcastle
2015 Creative Mornings. The Lock Up, Newcastle
2014 Screen Based Media Lecture. The University of Newcastle
CURATING AND DIRECTING
2018–Current Onwards Gallery Exhibition Schedule
2015–2019 MAKE IT – MADE IT Conference - Newcastle Conservatorium
2016 First Impression Exhibition - Pumphouse, Newcastle
2014 Four Walls - Pocket Design Studio Gallery, Newcastle
2013 Sign Painters Film + Exhibition - Newcastle Museum
2012 Short Shorts film festival - Time & Place, Newcastle
2012 Sketch’n Out - Time & Place Gallery, Newcastle
2012 Time & Place Gallery. Exhibitions and Events
SELECT MURALS AND FESTIVALS
2024 Port Stephens Creative Conference. Shoal Bay
2022 MAC Yapang. Lake Macquarie Art Gallery
2022 Westfield Entertainment Precinct. Kotara NSW
2022 Skelcon Headquarters. Newcastle
2022 GWH Development Headquarters. Newcastle
2022 Care Foresight Doctors Surgery. Hamilton NSW
2021 The Big Picture Festival. Melbourne
2021 Onwards Gallery. Newcastle
2021 Wangi Wangi Library Creative Hub. Lake Macquarie
2021 Newcastle City Council/Coassemble. Newcastle
2019 The Corner Entertainment Precinct. Newcastle
2019 Maitland Regional Art Gallery. Maitland
2019 Casino Council Lettering Mural. Richmond Valley
2019 Banna Lane Festival. Griffith
2019 Onwards Studio. Newcastle
2019 Third Quarter Gallery. Brisbane
2019 VANS: House of Vans Skateboarding. Sydney
2019 Onwards Studio. Newcastle
2018 Islington Commercial Apartments. Newcastle
2018 Fish Lane Festival. Brisbane
2017 Salty Dog Hotel Bitumen Mural. Tasmania
2017 Hudson St Hum. Newcastle
2017 First Coat Intl’ Arts Festival. August, Toowoomba
2017 First Coat Intl’ Arts Festival. April, Toowoomba
2017 Blacksmiths Beach Lake Macquarie Council. Lake Macquarie
2016 Good Space Gallery. Sydney
2016 Gumball Festival Stage Mural. Hunter Valley
2017 Thrashville Festival Crowd Mural. Hunter Valley
2016 Gumball Festival Bar Mural. Hunter Valley
COMMUNITY
2024 Workshops and collaborative murals with health and therapy centres in Newcastle
2022 Youth Mural Workshop. MAC Yapang. Lake Macquarie Art Gallery
2013–Current Art Documentary Film Screenings. Onwards Gallery / MAKE IT– MADE IT Conference
2017–2019 Youth Mental Health Nature Walk and Drawing Workshops. MAKE IT–MADE IT Conference
2015 London Design Week, lettering and design workshop in Southwark, London UK
2013–2019 Design and Lettering workshops in 10 major cities across Australia
TEACHING
2022 Workshop with Wallsend High School/ MAC Yapang mural
2019-20 Casual Lecturer and Tutor. University of Newcastle
2019 Public Art Workshops with Northlakes High School
2013 Casual Lecturer and Tutor. University of Newcastle
2013-19 Design and Lettering workshops across Australia and London Uk
EDUCATION
2010 Diploma of Video and Animation. Design Centre Enmore
2004 Bachelor of Design/Visual Communication, The University of Newcastle
2001 Diploma of Design, Newcastle TAFE
2000 Trade Certificate of Traditional Signwriting Commercial Arts and Typography
SELECT CLIENTS
VANS Australia
Maitland Regional Art Gallery
MAC Yapang - Lake Macquarie Art Gallery
The University of Newcastle
The Third Quarter Gallery. Brisbane
Fish Lane Festival. Brisbane
Melbourne/Frankston Council
Newcastle City Council
Lake Macquarie Council
Richmond Valley Council
Port Stephens Council