Biography

Deborah Halpern works in a wide range of media, including ceramics, sculpture, charcoal drawing, gouache and printmaking.

She was born in Melbourne in 1957, the daughter of artist and ceramists Sylvia and Artec Halpern, and began her training as an apprentice in ceramic works in 1976. She studied painting at Caulfield Institute of Technology in 1979 and in 1981 she began her exhibiting career with a solo show at Blackwood Street Gallery, and her work was also included in the annual Victorian Ceramic Show.

The following year, Halpern worked at the Croyden Community Centre as Artist in Residence. At the same time, her work was selected in Australian Crafts, 1982, at the Melbourne Meat market Craft Centre, and Potters Gallery Sydney, a group show titled "Teapot1". In 1983 Halpern exhibited solo at Rosie's Gallery in Albert Park, Victoria.

In 1984, she worked as a lecturer at Phillip Institute of Technology. She was involved in five group shows at this time, including at the National Gallery of Victoria. She was also awarded by the Arts and Crafts Society of Victoria their 5th Annual Award.

Since 1981, Halpern has had 10 major commissions for public space sculptures as well as numerous private commissions. She has exhibited regularly with Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne, since 1985, with numerous exhibitions interstate during that time.

Her work is held in the collections of the Australian National Gallery, the State Galleries of Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, and a number of Regional and University Collections

Deborah Halpern is perhaps best known for her sculpture 'Angel', which was commissioned to stand in the moat at the entrance to the National Gallery of Victoria, and is now installed at its new home on the Yarra Bank at Birrarung Marr, alongside the National Gallery of Victoria’s Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square. This work is a fine example of her trademark use of hand painted ceramic tiles in the construction of her sculptures.

To coincide with the relocation of ‘Angel’ in 2006, a major solo exhibition of Halpern’s Sculpture and Printmaking was held at the NGV. The show was accompanied by a significant catalogue, including essays by Geoffrey Edwards (Director, Geelong Gallery, former Senior Curator, Sculpture, NGV) and David Hurlston (Curator, NGV).


SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2006 Angel, Ian Potter Centre: National Gallery of Victoria; Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
2004 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
2003 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne; The Loft - Art Space At Rochford
2001 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1999-00 Buschlen Mowatt Fine Art Gallery, Vancouver Canada
1999 Art’s Toys, Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1998 Chapman Gallery, Canberra, ACT
1997 Despard Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania
1996 Small Works, Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1995 Sculptures & Works on Paper, Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1992 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1991 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1989 Irving Sculpture Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1989 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1987 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1985 Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
1983 Rosies Gallery, Albert Park, Victoria
1981 Blackwood Street Gallery, Meat Market Craft Centre

AWARDS & GRANTS
2005 Highly Commended Award, The Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award, Werribee Park, Vic
1996 ‘Ophelia’, Southgate - chosen to become the face of Melbourne by Melbourne Convention & Marketing Bureau
1996 Atom Award for ‘Angel’ (see Electronic Media section)
1994 Golden Threads Award, Australian Wool Board, Sydney
1993 Sidney Myer, Australia Day Ceramic Award, Shepparton Art Gallery
1990 Gold Prize, ‘Double Figure’, Japan Ass'n for International Garden & Greenery Exposition, Osaka Expo ‘90
1989 Special Projects Grant, Visual Arts/Craft Board, Australia Council
1988 The Myer Foundation; The Art Foundation, NGV; The Readymix Group
1987 Assistant’s Grant, Craft Board, Australia Council
1985 Crafts Board, Australia Council Grant to work and research in France
1984 Artist in Residence, Narre Warren North Primary
1984 Arts & Crafts Society of Victoria’s 5th Annual Award, Joint Winner
1982 Artist in Residence, Croydon Community School
1981 Professional Development Grant, Crafts Board, Australia Council

COMMISSIONS
2006 ‘The Big Men Fly’, Melbourne Cricket Club, Sculpture Commission for Melbourne Cricket Ground
2005 Shortlisted for the Helen Lempriere Sculpture Award
2002 Power of the Community, Beauty Park, Frankston VIC
2001 ‘The Spirit of Nilumbik’, Eltham Town Square, Shire of Nilumik.
2001 ‘The Spirit of Enquiry’, Australian National University, Canberra
1997 ‘Face Maze’, Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne
1995 ‘Family’, Highpoint Project, ceramic tiled sculpture/fountains
1992 Australian Ballet international tour, promotional material design
1992 ‘Ophelia’, Southgate Project, Melbourne
1991 Designs for merchandise, The Gallery Shop, NGV
1991 ‘Mermaid’, mural fountain, private commission, Melbourne
1990 ‘Double Figure’, Melbourne City Council for International Garden & Greenery Exposition, Osaka, Japan
1989 Margaret Murphy Memorial Mural, Shepparton, Victoria
1987 Fitzroy Nursery, iron entrance gates, Brunswick St. Fitzroy, Victoria
1987-89 ‘Angel’, Bicentennial Sculpture, National Gallery of Victoria
Numerous Private Commissions

COLLECTIONS
Aichi Arts Centre, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Artbank
Australian National Gallery, Canberra
Ballarat Fine Art Gallery
Box Hill College of T.A.F.E. Collection
Council of Adult Education Collection
Diners Club International
Geelong Art Gallery
Melbourne Cricket Club
Melbourne University Collection
Metricon Homes
National Australia Bank
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
National Gallery of Victoria
Osaka Sculpture Park, Japan
Queensland Art Gallery
Queensland University of Technology
Shepparton Art Gallery
Southgate Collection, Melbourne
University of New South Wales
University of Southern Queensland
Victorian Ceramic Group Collection
Victorian State Craft Collection
Visy Collection, Melbourne
Numerous Private Collections in Australia and Overseas.

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