Ruth Downes was born in Sydney in 1954. She studied Interior Design at the National Art School graduating in 1975. Downes then worked as an artist at the Australian Museum and between 1979-1986 she tutored in exhibition and furniture design in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Sydney.
She then worked as designer for the Bicentennial Authority until 1988.
Since 1988 Downes has run her own business in Sydney commissioned for public art, visual identity, exhibition and graphic design. She has also created her own mixed-media exhibitions which have toured to many venues in Australia and USA.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION:
1972-1975 National Art School, Sydney. Dip.Int.Des. ASTC.
AWARDS:
2001 Peoples Choice Prize, National Sculpture Prize and Exhibition, National Gallery of Australia, ACT
SOLO TRAVELLING EXHIBITIONS:
Barely Wearable
2024 Bribie Island Seaside Museum, Moreton Bay, Qld
2023-24 Peppin Heritage Centre, Deniliquin, NSW
2023 Caroline Springs Gallery, Caroline Springs, Melbourne, Vic
2022-3 Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Manly, NSW
2021 Hurstville Museum and Gallery, Hurstville, NSW
2021 Lapunyah Art Gallery, Chinchilla, Qld
2021 Gympie Regional Art Gallery, Gympie, Qld
2020 Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW
2020 Jervis Bay Maritime Museum and Gallery, Huskisson NSW
Lunch for the Trades
2011 Maitland Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2010 Cairns Regional Gallery, & Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, Qld
2009 Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW
2008 Harvey Bay Regional Gallery, Qld; Port Macquarie Hastings Regional Gallery, NSW
2007 Manly Art Gallery and Museum, NSW; Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Qld
Tea Party in the Mayoral Garden
2010 Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, Qld
2009 Workshop Arts Centre, Willoughby, NSW
2007 Araluen Galleries, Alice Springs, NT; Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Qld
2005 Maitland Regional Art Gallery, NSW; Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, NSW
2005 Cowra Art Gallery, NSW; Manly Art Gallery and Museum, NSW
2004 Port Macquarie Regional Gallery, NSW; Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2003 Maroondah Art Gallery, Melbourne, Vic; NERAM, Armidale, NSW
2002 Australian Consulate General, New York, USA
2002 Australian Ambassador’s Residence, Washington DC, USA
2002 Embassy of Australia, Washington DC, USA [sponsored by Macquarie Bank and NGA]
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2021 ‘Transformation‘ – Royal Botanic Gardens Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2021 Northern Beaches Environmental Art and Design Prize, Curl Curl, NSW
2019 Northern Beaches Art Prize, Curl Curl, NSW
2017 ‘Land’ Exhibition, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Manly, NSW
2013 Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, WA
2012 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, NSW
2006 Maunsell Wickes Gallery, Paddington, NSW
2005 Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, NSW
2003 & 2004 Defiance Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2003 Rockhampton Regional Gallery, Qld
2002 SOFA [International Sculpture, Object & Functional Art Fair], Chicago, USA
2002 Snyderman/Works Gallery, Philadelphia PA, USA
2001 National Sculpture Prize and Exhibition, National Gallery of Australia, ACT
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
2013 Damien Freeman ‘Why put Sculture by the Sea?’ Look 10|13 AGNSW
2005 Kate Buckingham ‘The national sculpture prize’ Antiques & Art 68thedition
2002 Lauren Martin ‘Stirring originaliTea’ The Sydney Morning Herald Feb 27 p.7 2002
2002 Benjamin Haslem ‘Sculptor takes top prize for populari-tea’ The Australian’ Feb 27
2002 Louise Martin-Chew ‘Rebirth of Sculpture in Australia’ Art & Australia Vol 40/1
2002 Margaret Meagher ‘On being ARTea’ State of the Arts May-Aug p.83
2002 Meredith Hinchliffe ‘Tea Party’ Object No 40 p.15
2002 Serena Lei ‘Tea is her bag’ The Washington Diplomat July p.4
SELECTED COMMISSIONS / PUBLIC ARTWORK:
2016 Parramatta Jubilee Park, in-ground glass mosaic refurbished and relocated from Mall
2009 Rockdale City Council; 70m mural with stainless steel motifs
2004-07 Parramatta Mall and Main St street furniture & safety rails – Winner of 2007 AILA NSW Greenspace Award
2007 24 Hunter St, Parramatta; commercial glazing/awning structure-public artwork
2006 Manly Council, Market Lane; innovative mural featuring Manly Daily headlines
2006 The Dominion, 31 Hassall St; Parramatta, floodgates-public artwork,
2005 HMAS Parramatta Memorial, Queens Wharf Park, Parramatta
2000 Roads and Traffic Authority/State Wide Roads; M4 Motorway, Parramatta to Penrith; 650 acoustic walls
1997 Sydney Water, James Ruse Drive Bridge, Parramatta; relief sculpture
1996 Parramatta Council, Heritage Centre; terrazzo floor
1996 Parramatta Council, Charles Street Wharf; steel sculpture & mosaic
1995 Department of Defence, Pitt Street head office; atrium artwork
1994 Parramatta Council, Parramatta Mall; in ground glass mosaic,
1988 Australian Bicentennial Authority; ‘Bicentennial Look’ design