Jo Tracy
Personal biography:
Born 29th September 1960 in Sydney I'm the middle child in a fascinating family of seven children.
I grew up in a big and happy household in Longueville in Sydney.
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be an artist. My major influences are my intense fascination for maths,science,sociology and anthropology as well as the works and lives of other artists past and present. My inspiration mostly comes from nature and thoughts on our origins and the nature of life. I also get greatly inspired by music and by my own very vivid imagination. I've often been called a dreamer and nine times out of ten I'm dreaming about art.
Feeling so passionate about being an artist, and the important role of art in society, I liken it to a vocation more than a career.
I attended the National Art School from 1989 to 1992 where I majored in photography. Extremely multi-tasking,I have leaned toward the digital arts since leaving NAS. I am continually trying to develop and improve my skills and techniques as well as evolve through challenge and experimentation, using a multitude of media and technologies including an intra-oral dental digital videao camera.
I have been in over 35 fine art exhibitions, many of which I also curated.
Participating in the very first soley digital fine art show in Sydney at Digit One gallery in 1995 was a milestone as was my solo digital show at PCL Gallery in 1999.
I have had five solo shows and have exhibited in a number of established galleries in Sydney.
I have recieved a favorable press reviews in the Sydney press.
Recently I was invited to take part in a 'Pixel Perfect' exhibition in SoHo in New York but due to lack of funds I was unable to attend. I have also been invited to exhibit at Agora Gallery in New York as well as in a number of other countries.
I love my family and friends and my beautiful daughter Emelye who is now 24 years old.
Life as an artist has been a struggle for my health and sanity but I consider myself lucky to have been born in Australia, which is a wonderful place to be.
I have so much that I want to do that I fear life is way too short to accomplish all of my goals.
Sydney is a wonderful city, but find it very frustrating as an artist as it is not very supportive to artists and it is very expensive place to live.
I believe I can make a valuable contribution to my society's creative identity and culture.
Basically I'm gunna do it anyway "even if it doesn't pay"!
"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go the making of genius.
Love, love, love -
is the soul of genius" Mozart
Art Education:
National Art School East Sydney 1989-1992
Mitchell College Bathurst 2001-2
Enmore Design Centre 2004
Influential teachers:
Rex Dupain, John Williams, Ingeborg Theissen, Ruby Davis, Noal and Vivienne Thurgate.
Prof. G.D. Tracy
Influential artists:
Picasso, Rembrandt, Giotto, Goya, Leonardo Da Vinci, Marc Chagal, Monet, Gaudi, Henri Matisse, Marcel Duchamps, Mondrian, Rene Magritte, Rosalie Gascoine, Emily Kingwarre, Hans Arp, Clarice Beckett, Jasper Johns, Velasquez, Titian, Turner, Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dali, Vincent Van Gogh, M.C.Escher, Diane Arbis, Man Ray, Max Dupain, Fiona Hall, Bill Henson, Grace Cossington, Gustav Klimpt, Clifford Possum, Giorgio de Chirico, Sophie Taeuber, Roy Lictenstein, William Dobel, PaulKlee, Andy Warhol, Keith Harring, Brancusi, Giacometti, Christo, Ron Muik, Rodin, Richard Maplethorpe, Max Ernst, Francis Picabia and Paul Cezanne.
Exhibition History: 1992 to 2004
1992 ‘Lichtaffen’ Cell Block Gallery National Art School
1992 ‘5 at A Time’ the Freezer Nightclub Darlinghurst and then at Fringe Bar
1994 ‘Digital Art and Mixed Media’ Fatz Café Gallery East Sydney
1995 ‘2D Digital Fine Art Exhibition’ Digit One Gallery North Sydney
1996 ‘Surfacing’ Group show at PCL Exhibitionists Surry Hills Sydney
1997 'Gaze’ solo show at Gallery Café Surry Hills
1998 ‘Friends of the Earth Exhibition’ Tap Gallery East Sydney
1998 ‘Sydney Independent Artists’ Tap Gallery East Sydney
1998 'Inaugural pre-Christmas Art Sale’ stock sale at PCL Exhibitionist
1999 'Seen” solo show at Pod Gallery Paddington
1999 ‘Landlines’ PCL Exhibitionists Surry Hills
1999 ‘Little Gems’ Miniatures show at Tap Gallery East Sydney
1999 ‘Digital Underware – from Mandala to Mandalbrot’ solo show PCL Gallery
1999 ‘Pre_Christmas Art Sale’ PCL Exhibitionists Surry Hills
2000 'Luggage Not Baggage' PCL Exhibitionists Surry Hills
2000 'Pre-Christmas Art Sale' PCL Exhibitionists Surry Hills
2001 'Group Show' Knot Gallery Surry Hills
2001 'Pre-Christmas Art Sale' Stock sale atPCL Exhibitionists Surry Hills
2002 'Link' small group show at PCL Exhibitionists Surry Hills
2003 'Knot Show' group exhibition at Knot Gallery Surry Hills
2003 'Indivisible' solo show at TAP Gallery East Sydney
2004 'Multiverse Scenarios' solo show atKnot Gallery Surry Hills
2004 'Art 4 Labour' Tap Gallery Dalinghurst
2004 'Cubaust' Australian and Cuban art at Tap Gallery Darlinghurst
2004 'Images of the cross' Tap Gallery - part of Kings Cross Arts Festival
2005 'Barter Charter' Knot Gallery - participant in Sydney Equisse
2005 'Lines of Communication' - solo show at Tripod Gallery Sydney
2006 'Gangfestival'outdoor exhib.-Chippendale Australian/Indonesian artists.