MAREA GAZZARD


 
Marea Gazzard has been a practising artist for almost 50 years, mostly working in ceramic and bronze.

She began as a student at the National Art School in 1953 and then at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London.  Later she worked in a studio in Canada before returning to Australia in 1960.


Gazzard began exhibiting in Australian in 1963.  In 1973 she and Mona Hessing mounted the now “historic” exhibition CLAY + FIBRE at the National Gallery of Victoria.  She has undertaken public commissions including “Mingarri: The Little Olgas” in bronze for Parliament House, Canberra and a ceramic sculpture for the Athens Olympics in 2004.


She has been represented by Utopia Art Sydney since the mid nineties.

In addition to her artistic career; Gazzard has been dedicated to the promotion of Australian Craft.  In 1970 she was elected Director of the World Craft Council, in 1972 she became Vice President of the World Crafts Board.


In 1980 she became the first elected President of the World Craft Council and in 1982 was appointed to the Australian National Commission of UNESCO.  In recognition of her contribution she was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1979.


Her work is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, State and Regional Galleries and private collections overseas.