BIOGRAPHY
Canadian born Laurie McKern is a multimedia, contemporary artist who paints everything from the places she has traveled, or figurative, nostagic imagery, to the crazy antics of a French Canadian skunk and his best friend – The Adventures of Smokey & Stinky.
In 2020 Laurie was awarded a yearly residency program and private studio from Northern Beaches Council at Creative Space, North Curl Curl. Visits very welcome please call to make an appointment.
In 2010 Laurie co-founded the art school: Gallery Cats Sydney, where she currently teaches classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Mona Vale, Northern beaches, NSW
EXHIBITIONS
2020
Select artworks showing at Gallery on Palm Beach, 1/1095 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach, NSW
Open Thursday – Sunday, 10am – 3pm
‘Inception’ Group exhibition showcasing the works of resident artists of Creative Space, 105 Albott Rd, North Curl Curl, NSW. December
2019
30 Days in Ireland, Art and Soul Collective Gallery, Seaforth, June
Artist Residency at Olive Stack Gallery, Listowel, Ireland, April
Pittwater Artists Trail- Open Studios, March
2018
‘Monday Nights’ Nude Studies with Laurie McKern, Evert Ploeg, Petra Pinn and Jane Park. Creative Space, Nth Curl Curl, July-Aug
‘Annual Art Muster’ Art & Soul Collective Gallery, Seaforth, Aug
Pittwater Artists Trail- Open Studios, November
Pittwater Artists Trail- Winter Exhibition, Newport Community Centre, June
Works represented at; Art & Soul Collective Gallery, Seaforth. Glen Street Theatre, Belrose. Cherry Blossum, Narrabeen Beach
2017
Group exhibition, Be Brave Art Space, Avalon
‘The Muse’ Solo Exhibition, Ethel Street Gallery, Seaforth, Australia. November
‘Cabaret’ Exhibition featuring figurative artists Wendy Sharpe, Evert Ploeg, Laurie McKern, Petra Pinn and Jane Park. Glen Street Theatre, Belrose, Australia. October
‘Diversarty Studio & Gallery’ Opening Exhibition, Cromer, Australia. July
Finalist- Northern Beaches Art Prize, Creative Space, North Curl Curl, July
‘The Adventures of Smokey & Stinky’ Solo Exhibition & Book Launch, January
2016
‘A Kagaroos Visit’. Australian Cultural Centre, Parco dei Cimini- Soriano nel Cimino, Rome, Italy
‘InterART’. Glen Street Theatre, Belrose, Australia
‘Natural to Abstraction’, Art & Soul Collective, Creative Space, North Curl Curl
‘Scaled Down’ Art and Soul Collective, Gallery Lane Cove. May to June
‘Fresh Batch #2’ Platform 72, St Leonards. February
‘Glen Street Theatre Project’ Art and Soul Collective, Jan- March
Finalist- ‘Thirty by Thirty’, The Colour Trap Gallery, Avalon
2015
‘A Kagaroos Visit’. Parco dei Cimini- Soriano nel Cimino, Rome, Italy
‘A Kangaroos Visit’. Palazzo Velli Expo, Rome, Italy
‘Pre Rome Exhibition’. Yuga Cafe, St Johns Rd. Glebe, Australia
Gallery Oscar Stock Room Show, Turramurr
‘The Way We See It’. Artworks from Laurie McKern and Petra Pinn. Gallery Cats Studios, Brookvale, Australia
‘Animalia’, International Print Exchange, The Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral, NSW, Australia
‘Gallery Oscar Group Show’. St Ives, Australia
‘Ku-ring-gai Artists Trail’. Turramurra, Australia
‘Warringah Print Makers Studio Annual Exhibition’ Fresh Water, Australia
Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale, Australia
2014
‘Gal’s, Broads & Tattoo Dolls’. Solo -The Australian Art Show, Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia
‘Stock Room Show’. Gallery Oscar. Turramurra, Australia
Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale, Australia
2013
‘Same, Same But Different’. Manly Art Festival Exhbition/Event, Sept. Works from Artists Laurie McKern, Petra Pinn and Chelle Dickins, Gallery Cats Studios, Brookvale NSW, Australia
‘Animalia’, International Print Exchange, The Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral, NSW, Australia
‘The Print Exchange 2013’, Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, New York City and Graphic Arts, Workshop San Fransisco
‘Marilyn’, Tap Gallery, Darlinghurst
Finalist, Pyrmont Prize, Pyrmont
2012
‘Sizzle’, Gallery Cats Studios, Brookvale
‘Sketch Book Project’, Brooklyn Sketch Book Library, Brooklyn NY
2011
‘Cup Cakes in a Crisis’, supporting the Hamlin Fistula Relief & Aid Fund, Gallery Cats Studios, Brookvale
‘Insight Out’, Tap Gallery, Darlinghurst
Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale
2010
‘Art Sydney’, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
Solo Exhibition ‘The Oddities of Life‘, Frameworks, The Manly Art Gallery & Museum
North Shore Art Society Art Exhibition, North Steyne, Manly
Art for Goats 5th Annual Exhibition, Gallery Cats Studios, Brookvale
Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale
2010 MANLY ART FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS……
-North Shore Art Society Art Exhibition, North Steyne, Manly
-Manly Arts Festival, Artists & Craftsman of Pittwater Art Exhibition, Queenscliffe, Manly Arts Festival
2009
Art for Goats 4th Annual Exhibition, Art House Hotel, Pitt St, Sydney
Cosmopolitan, Baileys or Midori? with artists Petra Pinn & Midori Furze, The Art House Hotel Pitt St, Sydney
Artists & Craftsmen of Pittwater Annual Award Exhibition, Mona Vale
Warringah Print Studio Annual Exhibition, The Antique Centre, Sydney
Pittwater Community Arts, Avalon Community Centre, Avalon
Art Sydney, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale
2009
MANLY ART FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS……
-Artists & Craftsman of Pittwater, Queenscliffe, Manly
-North Shore Art Society, North Steyne, Manly
-Womanly T-shirt Exhibition, Manly Wharf Beach, Manly
-Make Up Your Mind Exhibition, Manly Wharf Beach, Manly
2008
Changing Climate, Reinventing Lives, Select printmakers exhibition, regional galleries across Australia
The Dark Side, Gallery 26, Millions Point, Sydney
Artists and Craftsmen of Pittwater, Art Exhibition, Queenscliffe SLSC, Manly
River, Sea, Gallery 26, Springwood
The North Shore Art Society, Art Exhibition, North Steyne Surf Club
Artists and Craftsmen of Pittwater, Art Exhibition, Mona Vale Memorial Hall
Artists and Craftsmen of Pittwater, Annual Exhibition, Mona Vale
North Shore Art Society Annual Exhibition, Collaroy
Pittwater Community Arts Annual Exhibition, Avalon Market Day Exhibition
Art and Artefact, Gallery opening, Turramurra
Artists and Craftsmen of Pittwater Xmas Show, Mona Vale
2008 MANLY ART FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS……
Art For Goats Annual Exhibition, Ethel Street Gallery, Seaforth
Artists and Craftsmen of Pittwater, Art Exhibition, Queenscliffe SLSC, Manly
The North Shore Art Society, Art Exhibition, North Steyne Surf Club
2007
Warringah Print Makers, Annual Art Exhibition, The Watch House, Balmain
Gallery 26 Group Show, Gallery 26, Milsons Point, Sydney
Warringah Print Makers Annual Exhibition, Sydney Antique Centre
About a Women Art Exhibition, The Tap Gallery, Darlinghurst
2007
MANLY ART FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS……
Art For Goats Annual Exhibition, Ethel Street Gallery, Seaforth
The North Shore Art Society, Art Exhibition, North Steyne Surf Club
2006
Finalist The Royal Easter Show, Sydney
Art For Goats Exhibition, Divine Designs, Brookvale
2005
Artists and Craftsmen of Pittwater, Select Member Exhibition, The Manly Art Gallery
Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale
2004
Artists and Craftsmen of Pittwater, Art Exhibition, Mona Vale
2003 Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale
2002 Finalist Warringah Art Prize, Manly Vale
1995 The Rocks Artists Exhibition, AS&N Gallery, The Rocks
GALLERY REPRESENTATION
2010-2017, Gallery Cats Studios, Brookvale, Diversarty Gallery, Cromer.
2016, Platform 72, St Leonards.
2014-2015, Gallery Oscar, St Ives.
2004-2o10 Gallery 26, Milsons Point, The Moulton Gallery Mona Vale, The Ethel Street Gallery, Seaforth, The Tap Gallery, Paddington.
AWARDS AND PRIZES
-Awarded a community grant from Northern Beaches Council for creating On line art class – 2020
-Awarded a yearly residency program and private studio from Northern Beaches Council at Creative Space, North Curl Curl. 2020
– Awarded a 30 day artist residency at Olive Stack Gallery, Listowel, Ireland, April 2019
-Warringah Art Prize, The Packers Prize, Manly Vale 2005
-The Peter Campbell Art Award, (Peoples choice) ACOP, Mona Vale 2004
-The Outstanding Art Award, ACOP (judged by Marcia Moulton of Moulton Gallery) Mona Vale 2004
SPECIAL PROJECTS
2020 Free online art lessons during the pandemic with the help of a community grant from Northern Beaches Council- still in process- Portraiture for everybody
2020 Free online art lessons during the pandemic- Laurie McKern Art Teacher Understanding Colour – Colour Theory
2012 The Sketch Book Project. Sketch book on permanent collection at the Brooklyn Sketch Book Library, Brooklyn NY
2010 The Manly Art Gallery and Museum invited Laurie to exhibit her small sculptures and etchings in the Frameworks project running for a 3 month duration at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum.
2008 Laurie’s etchings where selected for the moving collaborative exchange print makers exhibition ‘Changing Climate- Reinventing Lives which ran for several months in galleries across regional Australia.
- Co founder of ‘Art For Goats’ an annual exhibition in support of Oxfam Australia, 2006-2010
- Co founder of Gallery Cats Studios- collaborative shared studios/art school/gallery in Brookvale- since 2010
- Creator of The Song Hour 88.7 FM & 90.3 FM Sydney showcasing local songwriters original material
TRAINING/STUDIES
1982 -1984 Illustration Art, Sheridan College, Ontario, Canada
1992 Children’s Book Illustration, University of Sydney, Australia
1989 Batik Textiles, Sumatra, Indonesia
2007 Print Making Techniques, Warringah Print Makers Studio, Manly Vale, Australia
Graphic Artist/Art Director/Illustrator in both Toronto and Australia from 1984 – 1994
ARTIST TALKS & DEMONSTRATIONS
-Artist talk about my artistic practice & artworks on exhibition ‘The Oddities of Life’, Manly Art Gallery and Museum
-Radio interview on 88.7 FM & 90.3 FM talking about Art For Goats
-Artists talk about my artistic practice & artworks on exhibition ‘Cosmopolitan, Baileys or Midori?’ Art House Hotel
-Artists talk about my artistic practice & running charity exhibitions for ACOP Artists Lunch
–Radio interview on 88.7 FM & 90.3 FM talking about musical practices
COMMISSIONS
2016 Large live painting for Benefit Cosmetics for opening of Westfield Mall, Brookvale
-Numerous works for the Queenscliffe Surf Life Saving Club
-Numerous private commissions in Canada and Australia
-Mural for Jenny Wren Preschool, Narrabeen, Australia, -Mural for Narrabeen Lakes Primary School, Australia, -Commissioned mural works in Toronto, Canada.
-Freelance illustration work for Spectra Graphics, Home Life and LMB Graphics, Toronto, Canada. ‘The Funny Things Folk Say’ by Tony Wellington and ‘Remembering You’ by Wendy Nadler
PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES
2016 Book- The Adventures of Smokey & Stinky Collection of Works
Country Living Magazine
-Manly Daily editorials and interviews for art and music
-Sydney Experience (Asian Tourist Magazine)
-Changing Climate- Reinventing Lives-booklet on printmakers in Australia
-The Sketch Book Library – Artworks Publication
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS
-Make Up Your Mind in Manly in 2007 with artist Angela Von Boxtel
-Separate workshops with children and mothers at the Manly Bear Cottage
Professional member of NAVA, Warringah Print Makers, Red Bubble, Art and Soul Collective, Inc and SONGSALIVE Australia
Various works of art have been sold to collectors from all over the world including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, America, Canada and Australia.