Painter and printmaker Salvatore Zofrea was born in Italy, arriving in Australia in 1956 at the age of 9. After leaving school and working for several years, he attended the Julian Ashton Art School (1961-3).
Over the past 40 years, he has held solo exhibitions throughout Australia, and internationally in Rome. His work has also been featured in group exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Zofrea’s large commissioned works include his ‘150 Years of the Sydney Morning Herald’ mural (1979), the State Bank of New South Wales mural (1985) and a fresco for the Sydney Opera House Trust (1993).
In 1979, his ‘Psalm23’ was acquired by the Vatican, Rome, for its collection.
In 1982 he received a Power Bequest award of 6 months residence in Paris, and a Churchill Fellowship in 1986 to study fresco technique in Florence with master of fresco Leonetto Tintori.
Zofrea has won the Sulman Prize three times (1977, 1979 and 1982) and is a many-times finalist in the Archibald and Wynne prizes.
In 1992 the late Art Gallery of NSW director, Edmund Capon, arranged for a selection of Zofrea’s ‘Psalms’ series be displayed in the Art Gallery of NSW and to tour NSW Regional Art Galleries. In 1996 he was made a Cavaliere (Knight) by the Italian Government for services to the Arts.
From 1994 to 1999 he created the ‘Appassionata’ series of 100 autobiographical woodcuts, exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW, and touring nationally prior to being acquired by the Gallery. In 2000, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia exhibited his ’50 Portraits’ which then toured NSW Regional Galleries.
In 2014, he was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the Arts.
Currently, Zofrea is working on his ‘Four Circles’ series, depicting Australian wildflowers in their natural light at various times of the day – morning, midday, afternoon and evening. Each circle consists of 25 panels, each one being 153cm high x 122cm wide, totalling 30 metres in overall length.
Seven monographs on his life and work have been produced and four films, including Richard Mordaunt’s Salvatore Zofrea – Master of Light (2016).
Salvatore Zofrea is represented by Australian Galleries, Sydney and Melbourne.
PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS
Image above: Days of Summer 2008-23 hand-coloured woodcut with lapis lazuli on paper edition unique 44 x 59 cm “…I was …
Image: Salvatore Zofrea. Photograph (detail) courtesy of Stephen Oxenbury/ Artist Profile and Orange Regional Gallery Salvatore Zofrea: The Drawn Line, …
Image: Christine Wrest-Smith, Portrait of Salvatore Zofrea. Congratulations to Christine Wrest-Smith who has been announced a Finalist in the Percival Portrait Painting …
Congratulations to Jennifer Keeler – Milne for being selected as a finalist in the Ravenswood Art Prize 2024 for her …
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Image above: Dianne Fogwell Prescience 2023 linocut and woodcut 4,500 x 145 cm – installation at Geelong Gallery Congratulations to …
Image above: Raymond Arnold Congratulations to Raymond Arnold, who has been Highly Commended in the 2024 Glover Prize, and to …
Image above: Greg Johns The Kiss (Buried Alive) 2022-23 Corten steel 140 x 486 x 18cm “Congratulations to Greg Johns …
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Image above: Marina Strocchi Dusk in the Hills 2023 acrylic on linen 60 x 93 cm Marina Strocchi’s insightful writing …
Image above: Greg Johns Sit Down Fella (Contemplative) 2023 Corten steel and bronze 260 cm high To view a selection …