“The art and vision [of Peter Schipperheyn] is wholly inspired by the great figurative traditions in Western art: his delicate drawings reflect an extraordinary sensitivity for the human figure, whilst his majestic marble sculptures are expressions of the grandeur and vision that aspire to the greatest European traditions. He is currently unique in Australia; no other living Australian artist has so totally dedicated himself to seeking a truly contemporary expression of Western arts most inspired tradition.”
Edmund Capon, Director, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 1989.
Peter Schipperheyn completed his artistic training in Melbourne and Rome and in 1979 was awarded an Italian government scholarship to study marble carving at the Academia di Belle Arti, Carrara, Italy. In 1992 Schipperheyn received the Wynne Prize for two enormous heads carved from Carrara marble. Major commissions include a relief panel honoring Dame Joan Sutherland for the Sydney Town Hall, a baptismal font for Saint Stephan’s Cathedral, Brisbane, fourteen “Stations of the Cross” in bronze for the Notre Dame University in Freemantle and an “Eternal Flame”, made from Australian granite, for the Holocaust Centre, Melbourne. In 2003 the McClelland Sculpture Gallery and Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Sculpture Fund commisioned a major bronze sculpture, entitled “Thus Spake Zarathustra”. His work can be found in public and private collections throughout Australia and in U.S.A., Europe and Asia.
Education
1975
Started training in painting and drawing at Caulfield Institute of Technology
1976
Traveled to Europe
Lived in Rome for nine months
Attended Academia di Belle Arti, Roma
1978
Graduated with Diploma of Fine Art from Caulfield Institute of Technology
Awarded Abercrombie Sculpture Prize for a commission for monumental sculpture “Senility”
Awarded Camberwell Rotary Prize for Painting
H.F.C. Drawing Prize
Dandenong Festival Drawing Prize
1979 – 1980
Italian Government Scholarship. Studied Marble carving at “Accademia di Belle Arti di Carrara” (Italy)
Exhibitions
Selected Shows
2014
‘Peter Schipperheyn – Recent Works in Marble & Bronze’, Mossgreen Gallery, Melbourne.
2013
‘Fine Australian Sculpture’ – Group Exhibition, Mossgreen Gallery, Melbourne.
1996
19th and 20th Century Australian Painting and Sculpture Decorative Arts Lauraine Diggins Fine Art
1995
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
1992
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
1985
Melbourne University Gallery, ‘Renaissance References’
The Frederick R. Wiseman Travelling Collection (ongoing worldwide travelling exhibition of sculpture paintings and graphics)
1983
The Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
1979
Caulfield Arts Centre ‘Victoria Sculptors’
Collections/Commissions
Public Collections
2004 – 2006
The McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park Langwarrin Victoria
2005
“Figure Femminile” large scale sculpture in marble permanent collection of McClelland Gallery
2001
St Patricks Cathedral Melbourne Victoria
2000
The Australian Catholic University, Melbourne Victoria
1994
The University of Notre Dame, Indiana U.S.A.
The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle W.A.
1992
The Art Gallery of New South Wales
1991
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
1990
St Stephen’s Catholic Cathedral, Brisbane
1988
Town Hall, Sydney
The Moree Plains Gallery, Moree, New South Wales
Sydney Town Hall
1987
St Kilda City Council, Melbourne
Mt Macedon Cemetery, Macedon, Victoria
Frederick Wiesman Collection, Los Angeles, USA
1986
Victorian State Theatre, Melbourne
1985
Kew City Council, Melbourne
1983
Geelong Art Gallery, Victoria
1979
Commune di Carrara, Carrara, Italy
Private Collections
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Australia
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U.S.A.
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Canada
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Italy
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France
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Netherlands
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England
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Belgium
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Germany
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Brunei
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Singapore
Commissions
2011 – 2014
‘Grocon’ – Monumental five meter high bronze sculpture of William Barak (Wurundjeri leader)
2011 – 2013
‘Three Runners’ bronze sculptures of the Merv Lincoln, Ron Clark and Ralph Doubell commissioned by Lindsay Fox, Melbourne High, Melbourne.
2012
‘Madonna’ Notre Dame University, Perth. Comprising of twenty sculptures as commemorative graduation gifts
2009 – 2012
Commissioned by Richard Melzac to commemorate Chiam Nachman Bialik for Bialik College, Melbourne.
2007
2007 – 2008
‘Cyrus the Great’,Persian Cultural Institute Foundation comprising of twenty-five sculptures.
2007
‘Hands of Zarathustra’commissioned by Jim and Philippa Davern, Statuario marble.
2007
‘Eros, commissioned by Simon Meadmore – Statuario Marble
2006
‘Urbanica’commissioned by Daniel Grollo – Sculpture in bronze.
2006
‘Zarathustra’ commissioned by Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Sculprure Foundation, installed at McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, Langwarrin
2000
‘Male Figure with Mask of Tragedy’, ‘Female Figure with Mask of Comedy’ colossal figures, Westin Hotel City Square, Melbourne
‘Madonna and Child’, life-size bronze figures, commissioned by Whitefriars College
‘Madonna and Child’, commission for Australian Catholic University, Melbourne
Grave Piece for G. Powell
1997
Relief carvings to the new altar St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne
Portrait of Phyllis M Gration A. M. and “Lady Nell” founder of the Seeing Eye Dog School
1996
Processional Cross commissioned by Notre Dame, Fremantle
1995
‘Autumn Leaves’ commissioned by Mr James Davern
Portrait bust of Peter Garrett
Female torso commissioned by Mr Simon Peck, Melbourne
1993
Portrait of Nobel Prize Laureate Patrick White
1991
Portrait of Sir Eric Westbrook, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
1989
Baptismal font and wall sculpture commissioned for the new Baptistery of St. Stephen’s Catholic Cathedral, Brisbane
1988
‘Puara Del’ Intimta’, purchased by Cultural Foundation of the Moree Art Gallery in New South Wales with the assistance of the Myer Foundation d Mr. Sinclair Hill
1987
Sydney City Council, commemorative sculpture to Dame Joan Sutherland, Sydney Town Hall
Private commission, sculpture for the late Laurie Matheson
1983
‘Clydesdale Horse’ sculpture commissioned by the Carlton & United Breweries for the State Theatre Building at the Victorian Arts Centre in Melbourne
1981
Private Commission for “S..HE” monumental work in marble for Mr. Laurie Matheson
‘Madonna’ sculpture commissioned by the Carmelite Order for the Whitefriars College, Melbourne
Awards/Grants
Hide Awards
2008
Commission Simon Meadmore sculpture for garden in Carrara marble. Carving works in marble preparing for one man show
2007
Commission from the Persian Cultural Foundation “Cyrus the Great” works sent to various locations around the world including USA France and Britain
2006
Installed largest male bronze in Australia, Commission Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Sculpture Fund Four metre tall sculpture in bronze “Thus Spake Zarathustra”
2005
Installed to McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park “Torso Femminile” sculpture in Carrara Marble 2.8 mtre high 6 tons
1999
Selected to decorate Cello for “The Artful Cello” Exhibition, Victorian Arts Centre. Portraits of Children, Private commission
1998
“Eternal Flame” sculpture in granite for Holocaust Museum Melbourne. Commission “Peter Pan” fountain private collection Rockhampton
1997
Carved panels for the new altar, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne
Portrait of Phyllis M Gration, A. M. Gration, and “Lady Nell” founder of the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School
1996
Relief Panels in fiberglass executed for Village Roadshow for cinema complex’s in Singapore, Jam Factory, and Melbourne Casino
Processional Cross-for the Chapel at Notre Dame University
1995
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
1994 – 1996
“Stations of the Cross” fourteen relief panels in bronze Notre Dame University, Fremantle
1994
Commenced monumental work “Figure Femminile”
Commission “Our Lady Sculpture” Notre Dame University Fremantle
1993
Commission Portrait of Patrick White, Noble Prize laureate
Portrait Commission, Australian of the Year for National Australia Day Council
1992
Awarded “Wynne Prize”, winning works (two colossal heads in marble purchased for collection of Art Gallery of New South Wales
Wynne Prize Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, for Maschera Maschio, Maschera Femmina
1991
Commission portrait of Sir Eric Westbrook for the National Gallery of Victoria
1990
Commission portrait of Mr. Bruno Grollo in marble, Melbourne
1989
Commission for St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane of a new Baptismal Font for the Baptistery
1987
Commissioned by the Sydney City Council to create a commemorative work for Dame Joan Sutherland’s 60th Birthday to be located in the Sydney Town Hall
Commissioned to do a grave piece for the late Laurie Matheson at Mt. Macedon Cemetery
Commissioned monumental work with assistance from Mr Ken Myer “PAURA DEL’ INTIMITA” for the Moree Plains Gallery, N.S.W.
1983
Awarded Individual Artist Development Grant from the Victorian Ministry for the Arts
Commissioned by Jack Chia “MOTHER AND CHILD” monumental work for No. 1 Collins Street, Melbourne
Commissioned by Carlton & United Breweries to do a sculpture “THE CLYDESDALE HORSE” for the Victorian State Theatre Building, Melbourne
Commissioned by Returned Service League for a 3 metre high sculpture for the Alfred Square, St Kilda.
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
1981
Commission for “S..HE” monumental work in marble
Commissioned to carve a “MADONNA” for Carmelite Order, Melbourne
1979
Awarded Italian Government scholarship
1978
Awarded, Camberwell Rotary Prize for Painting
H.F.C. Drawing Prize
Dandenong Festival Drawing Prize
Abercrombie Sculpture Prize Commission for Monumental sculpture ‘SENILITY’ later renamed ‘THE GRIP OF TIME’
BIO
About me
How did I get here
SKILLS
Sculpture
Drawing
Design
Z Brush
