David Bongiorno
David Bongiorno is an award-winning artist.
Exhibiting since 2004 his practice includes solo and group exhibitions, private commissions and teaching. His national art prize achievements include shortlisting in various national art prizes, “Performing Arts and Music Prize” winner, Brisbane Portrait Prize, 2025, “Highly Commended” at the Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award, 2024, “Highly Commended” at the Waterbrook Drawing Prize, 2023, and “Emerging Wearable Artist Winner” at the Australian Wearable Art Festival, 2022. His work was selected for “ACB Selects, 2024” for exhibition in Michael Reid Gallery Northern Beaches.
Fascinated by the portrayal of the figure in art as a young child, he has been compelled to pursue it ever since. Recurring themes in his work explore the inherent beauty in form and movement, capturing the underlying psyche of physical expression through figurative artworks, portraiture and self portraiture, and the imposed meaning of objects through still life.
Consistently exploring new media and techniques, his autodidactic studies of anatomy, composition, and art history have informed his keen interest in the human figure as the major focus of his art. Citing influences from the Renaissance to the early 20th century, David studies masterworks to learn from them as his teachers. A range of aesthetics and philosophies inform his work including realism, expressionism, still life, 20th-century nude photography, fashion, dance, and design.
David also uses his experience in management to help drive his vision for a flourishing art culture in his community through curating group exhibitions, creative event collaborations, teaching, and mentoring.
Education
Art Prizes
2025
-Brisbane Portrait Prize, Finalist, Brisbane State Library, Brisbane, Qld
-Du Rietz Art Awards, Finalist, Gympie Regional Gallery, Gympie, Qld
-Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award, Finalist, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane, Qld
-Local Contemporary Art Prize, Finalist, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Qld
2024
-Kennedy Art Prize, Finalist, Royal South Australian Society of Arts, Adelaide, SA
-Agency Still Life Prize, Finalist, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral, NSW
-Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award, Finalist, Highly commended, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane, Qld
2023
-Australian Wearable Art Festival, finalist, Sunshine Coast, Qld
-Mary Valley Art Festival, Finalist, Imbil, Qld
-“Fifty Squared” Art Prize, Finalist, Brunswick Gallery, Brunswick, Vic
-Waterbrook Drawing Prize, Finalist, Highly Commended, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral, NSW
2022
-Australian Wearable Art Festival, finalist and Winner Best Emerging Wearable Artist award, Sunshine Coast, Qld
-Small Works Art Prize, participating artist, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2015
-Manning Art Prize: Naked and Nude, finalist, Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree, NSW
Exhibitions
2025
- “A Celebration of the Still”, group exhibition, Michael Reid Southern Highlands Gallery, Berrima, NSW, participating artist
- “ACB Selects, 2024” exhibition, Micheal Reid Northern Beaches Gallery, Newport, NSW, selected artist
2024
- “Memento” exhibition, Stevens Street Gallery, Yandina, Qld, participating artist
- “A Wearable Canvas” exhibition, Cardinia Cultural Centre, Melbourne, Vic, participating artist
2023
- “In Process- Form and Function”, Live drawing performance with contemporary dancer/ choreographer Fiona Jopp and singer/ composer Tobias Merz, Maleny equestrian arena, Maleny, Qld
- “A Wearable Canvas” exhibition, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Participating artist
2022
- “In Process”, Live drawing performance with contemporary dancer/choreographer Fiona Jopp, Maleny Community Centre, Maleny, Qld
2020
- “Maleny Cream at the Butter Factory”, group exhibition, curator and participating artist, Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre
2019
- “The Magic of Mary Cairncross”, Book launch and exhibition, contributing artist
- “Art of the Body”, group exhibition, Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre
2018
- “Paper 2”, group exhibition, curator and contributing artist, Witta, Qld
2016
- “New Works by David Bongiorno”, solo exhibition, MAD Gallery, Maleny, Qld
Works by David Bongiorno
Acknowledgment of traditional owners.
We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which our building stands, their leaders, past, present and emerging.