I was born in Odense, Denmark and migrated in 1957 to Australia. Educated at Strathfield Girls High, my further education qualifications where obtained at Meadowbank Technical Collage and a Diploma in Art from Newcastle Collage of Advance Education.
At age 16 I pursued my decision to become a professional artist. Over the years I have lived in Taree, Burwood, Marsfield, Glebe, Kings Cross, Balmain,, Pampoolah -Taree then 22 years in Carrington, Newcastle. A formidable dockside industrial suburb where my identity and art practices matured.By 1998 I needed a change, that life was over and I could see that trying to hang on to my past was unhealthy and I needed a blast of nature. A move to the top of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales has changed my artistic directions, I've spent a lot more time on my own paintings and now I live a very creative life in my quirky,colorful, controversial mural painted house in Blackheath. This year I'm taking some time out to work with my Blackheath community, a mural for the local school, art classes for adults and children, mentoring younger artists and learning some life skills.
1973 Taree Municipal Council, "School Portrait".
1977 Maitland City Gallery. "Bill and Nancy."
1978 Maitland City Gallery. "Under the Awning."
Newcastle Trades Hall Council. "Coal Soap" banner.1979 Workings' Women's' Centre, Mayfield, Newcastle (two paintings).
Brian Sutters "B.H.P Sunset"1981 Library of the University of NSW, "Carrington Beach".
Art Bank ~ Australian government, "Boy with Pigeon".1983 Newcastle Regional Gallery 1 print commissioned
The gallery society." B.H.P Behind Huge Profits"1985 Frank Bakarak. (Agent; Macquarie Galleries)
1987 Family Law Court, Newcastle. "Peace within yourself."
University of Newcastle." Spiritual Peace" - "International Peace". Wetland's Bicentennial centre, "Environmental Banner". Shortland, Newcastle.1990 Glenys Frances, "waiting"
1992 Newcastle Trades Hall council Collection, Designs for artworks for new building.
1993 Newcastle Christchurch Cathedral; Earthquake Memorial
2007 15 various painting prints watercolours. S. Archer
2008 6 paintings Steven Archer auctioneer
1980 Judge Peter Dent; Two portraits
1983 Artwork for Carrington Residents Action Committee.
1985 "Spark's Fly ~ Freewheels T.I.E. Production, Newcastle. Poster.
1986 "Side Show Alley" ~ Four banners for window display and three murals inside.
A collaborative project with Kris Smith and Beverley Fox to transform a pin ball parlour into a Side-show Alley. Hunter St Newcastle West. An original print edition for the Peggy Hill Peace Prize The Newcastle Peace Forum. An Annual Award, one local and one international. Recipients have included; David Lange ~ former P.M. of New Zealand1990 Newcastle Morning Herald, front cover design "5.5 a year later". A special supplement on
the first Anniversary of the earthquake. This painting was purchased by Newcastle City Council for a memorial.1992 Poster, "Getting Together". Amalgamation of unions.
1993 Collaborative design, artwork and fabrication of a fully operating carousel with Kris Smith
for David Hankins.Operates at Highgate Shopping Centre.1995 Designs and fabrication of signs and artwork for "All Pride" sign company. This involved
over a year of work. Fifteen 2m x 1m images spray painted on perspex. Poster for " Building Better Cities" Environmental Art Project. Carrington. For Newcastle City Council.1996 Sculpture, AllPride signs. "Map of the World"
Two original artworks for poster. Allpride signs. Original artworks for E.M. Signs. Painting for Gosford Bowling Club. Dorte Parker 1998 "The Phantom" 14th Phantom: Ending slavery of the Eastern Dark. Acrylic and oil on
canvas 2060x1400 Poster published by 99.94 Editions King Features Syndicate,Inc. The Hearst Corporation1999 "Hidden Valley" T. Murphy. Oil.
2000 "Billie" T.Murphy. Oil.
1970 "Gold Coast City Art Prize" Garden Court, , South Port
1974 "Taree Municipal Council Art Awards."
"Camberwell Art Exhibition', Victoria.1979 Selection of : Graduate students; "Diploma in Art",
Newcastle College of Advance Education Foyer & Bllaxland Gallery", Sydney.1979 "Newcastle Printmakers Workshop" Seaview Gallery, Newcastle.
"Newcastle Printmakers Workshop" Prints, Demonstrations,Films,Live Music "Mary Gilmore Room", Newcastle Workers Club.1980 "Newcastle Printmakers Workshop".
Possum Brush Gallery, Taree. "Civic Playhouse" Foyer, Hunter st. Newcastle. "Newcastle Printmakers Workshop"Union St. Hall. Newcastle. "Newcastle Printmakers Workshop" Maitland city Art Gallery. "Figurative Artists of the Hunter Region" Newcastle Regional Art Gallery.1981 Newcastle's Christchurch Cathedral
War memorial Design Competition. "Project 34": "Artists of the Hunter Region" Art gallery of NSW, Sydney. Paintings, "Behind Huge Profits.B.H.P." "The banners March goes on" (197.3 x 290.0) "Newcastle Printmakers Workshop" Lake Macquarie Community Art Gallery. Tynte Gallery, North Adelaide S.A1982 "A women's Work Is" A Social Documentary
Artwork, Birgitte Hansen. Photography, Allen Chawner & Jane Brisley. Co-ordinated by Laural Quillen & Jane Brisley. A Workers Cultural Action Committee project Newcastle Trades Hall Council.1983 "Newcastle Printmakers Workshop" Exhibition.
Newcastle's Workers Club.1984 "Hunter Valley Printmakers"
Newcastle Regional Art Gallery.1984-5 "Trade Union Regalia",
Hyde Park Barracks. Sydney. Curator, Ann Stephens.1985 "Industrial Images; Conflicts of View Points."
Muswellbrook Art Gallery.1985-6 Exhibition of Art and Working Life.
Western Australian State Art Gallery.1986 "Trace 86" International Print Exhibition
11th Biennale O'estample, 30 Rue Cabonis, Paris, France "Trace 86". Exhibited in Canada and Lake Macquarie Art Gallery. Ten Paintings. (10 Newcastle Artists; each with 10 artworks Holdsworth Contemporary Gallery. Sydney.1992 "Banners of the World"
"The Contemporary Art of Banner Making". Mclellon Galleries, 270 Souchiehall St., Glasgow, Scotland. 1991-2 "Paradis Perdu","Ou L'utopie... Sans Illusion,
Prix (contraste) De L' Estampe Originale, Publisher Atelier contraste, 17 Fribourg. This was an invitation only commission of one print Artist from all over the world, based on the theme paradise lost. A book of these prints was subsequently published in Switzerland and the prints exhibited in conjunction with this book was launched at the following venues...... "Aury~Sur Matron" "Yuerdon ~ Les Bains" "Sion" and "Lugons" Museum of Art and History at Fribourg, Switzerland.1993 Tunac Art Committee, The University of Newcastle, A group exhibition of selected artists
associated with the university.1995 Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery.
"Glimpses of everyday life" Two paintings. "The Girls." "Camouflaged Fears Towards the Millennium". Maitland City Gallery. "Portrait and Figurative Exhibition".1996 Maitland City Gallery. Past winners of the Maitland City Art Gallery, Tertiary Students
Prize, to celebrate the Twentieth anniversary of this prize.1999 Ribbons of Steel. "Moving Murals". Four paintings covering the history of B.H.P in
Newcastle in theTool room, B.H.P, Newcastle "Newcastle comes to Canberra" Parliament House Canberra2002-3 "The Art Shed" Blackheath 2 group shows
"I-Lash" Katoomba. "Art at the factory" with Regine Shubert2004 “Land out of time” Penrith Regional Gallery. The Blue Mountains Landscape then and now.
curator. Carolynne Skinner
2008 Salon Des Refuses S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Real Saloon Des Refuse, Tap Gallery. Darlinghurst
1980-1 Civic Playhouse; Hunter Valley Theatre Company "Mural Stairwell".4m x 6m.
1982-3 "Newcastle Out Of Workers Cottage Mural". Fort Scratchly, Newcastle East.
1984 "Muswellbrook Art Gallery and Town Hall Mural". (Two story building)
1985 "Year of Youth" mural, commissioned by Newcastle Community Arts Centre:
At Dairy Farmers' Wall, Hunter St, Newcastle West. 35m x 2.4m.1987 "Shadow Mural", Newcastle Out of Workers', Wood St.
1988 "Levens Harvest", Western wall at Paterson Dairy Supplies, 56 Alexandra Rd,
Ulverstone,Tasmania A Community Arts Project. "Early Trading at the Skin Shed". 24.7x 3.4 on cliplock, Cnr. High and Hope St. Sheffield, town of murals, Tasmania.1989 Design for external mural for Newcastle Workers Club(This was not fabricated because
the building was destroyed by the 1989 earthquake.) "Coal 11". Two murals for Newcastle Regional Museum, Hunter St. Newcastle. "Coal Tunnel", "long Wall Mining". 1990 "The Time Tunnel", Newcastle Beach Mural.
Newcastle City Councils' first Town Art Project. A "Football Mural" for the foyer of Newcastle West Leagues Club.1992 "Kings and Queens Wharf Mural". 2m x 3m.
Opposite Pacific Park Newcastle East. A Newcastle Town Art project.1992-3 "Newcastle Workers' Club".New building.
I was successful with a grant from the Australia Councils' Art in Public Places. This enabled me to create a collaborative team of artworkers consisting of Kathy Grushka, Textile Artist and John Clif, ceramicist. We worked with the architect, Interior designer and club board. Four separate art works were fabricated. "Teaching Newcastle how to swim" painted mural artist Birgitte Hansen. "Eight Hours" A 34o ceramic tile mural, artist, Birgitte Hansen and John Clif. "The Beacon" artist Kathy Grushka. A Neon and textile Installation. Large major ceramic Pots, artist John Cliff. "Newcastle Trades Hall Council". New Building: A collaborative design project with Matthew Harding.This proposal included murals, furniture, woodcarvings,Logos and sculptures. This was not fabricated due to lack Of finances.1995 "Ace of Clubs" Wallsend R.S.L Club. Two murals Commemorating "Australia
Remembers" 50 years. 3m x 4m each. "Indoor Bowls". A 20.m x 2.5 m mural at Merrylands Bowling Club. Sydney.1995-6 "Camel Racing".Re-designing and restoring a side show alley machine. This included a
8m x 1.5m, mural. Highgate Shopping centre, Melbourne.1996 "Carrington Community Mural" thanking the Carrington Community for being my
neighbours for over twenty years. I04 Young St, Carrington. "Belmont !6 footer" Club. 12m x 8m plus ceiling creating an under water environment. "Seven Seas" a mural inside the Seven Seas Hotel Carrington. Based on the wharfs, harbour and Workers of Newcastle.1999 "Moving Murals" Four murals commissioned by B.H.P Steel, Newcastle as part of
Ribbons of Steel. Four steel frames were fabricated by the workers in the steelworks for these. 2000 Internal mural at Eldon Guest House, Katoomba working with people with mental
disabilities. "Helter Shelter" a bus shelter at Glenbrook painted for the Blaxland neighbourhood centre and as part of "Living in Harmony".2001 "Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?"
This has been part of a major project for me of Renovating my house and studio. I have renovated Four houses during the past 8 years. 2002 "Mountain Boulders" A Major Mural for Blue Mountains City Council. Katoomba St
Katoomba. Based on a painting by Rainis Zusters.2006 “Reverence” A community mural at Waratah St, Katoomba. Designer and supervising artist.
2007 “Eight Hours” A major 8m x 8m triptych mural at the renovated Sydney Trades Hall for unions N.S.W
2008 “Misty Bluegum Forest” Blackheath Public School
1969 "The Nancy Kilgour Memorial Award "for the best Intermediate Art Student, NSW
Most promising student, Perth. "Bankstown Student Award" 1st Landscape, 2nd portrait and highly commended in design.1973 Section A: Painting in Oils; Taree Municipal Council Art Awards.
Tamworth Arts and Craft Award: Highly comm.1974 Dubbo Arts Society: Highly commended.
1975 Taree Municipal Council Art Awards;
1st prize local section. Encouragement Award: "Toohey's Paint a Pub"1976 Joint Winner: Maitland City Art Gallery Tertiary Students Art Award.
1977 Joint Winner: Maitland City Art Gallery Tertiary Students Art Award.
1979 George's Prize: Represented NSW (no award)
1980 Maitland Art Prize: Highly Commended Local Section.
1985 Port Stephen's Cultural Centre Art Prize:
Commended: Print.1987 B.H.P Awards for the Pursuit of Excellence
Entry Officially Accepted: No Award Sponsored by B. Fox and K. Smith.1990 Newcastle Show Art Award
Joint Winner: Traditional Painting Highly commended: Drawing1992 Newcastle Show Art Award: Highly Commended.
1993 Maitland City's Art Prize; Highly Commended:
1998 Newcastle Show Art Award; Highly Commended:Sculpture.
2008 Selected to hang painting” Turning Japanese
At Salon Des Refuse. S.H.Ervin Gallery. Sydney 1973 "Old Bakery" Cundletown, Taree. Director, John Bassetti.
1974 as above
1975 as above
1978 "Decoration and Australiana Calendar Series"
Cooks Hill Gallery, Newcastle. "The kids are knowing so they put on good Performance's before life traps them." Holdsworthy Galleries, Woollahra, Sydney. NSW. St Thomas Church Hall, Carrington.1982 "Carrington is a place of many broken hearts".
Holdsworth Galleries, Woollahra, Sydney. NSW. "Carrington Residents Action Group" presents an environmental exhibition of painting & photographs: Birgitte Hansen and Allen Chawner. St Thomas Church Hall, Carrington, Newcastle.1984 "Trade Union Banner Project".
Newcastle Regional Museum.1986 "My Own Studio" No 1. Carrington.
1988-9 "Trade Union Banner Project".
Newcastle Regional Art Gallery.1991 "My Own Studio" No 2, Carrington.
1994 "Back to Back" Ceramic Gallery,
Bull St. Cooks Hill, Newcastle. Ceramic Tiles.1994-5 "Gibson St. Gallery."
2003 "Gallery Lane" Leura. "wrestling"
I have always been involved with training and developing collaborative teams.
This has involved hands on experience during the fabrication of the projects.
1976 Purfleet. Taree. Worked with Kevin Gilbert setting a training and craft workshop for the
local kooris'.1977-8 "Newcastle Printmakers Workshop". Ran classes in etching and was workshop
supervisor.1978-83 "Newcastle out~of~ Workers": Art, Mural and Etching Classes.
1983 "School of Art and Design": Newcastle Technical College.
1984 "Newcastle Community Arts Centre".
1985-87 Hamilton Technical College ~ P.E.P ~" Young Women and Work".
1987 "Newcastle Out Of Workers'": Mural Project.
I have employed and been responsible for paid trainees on many of my mural projects.2002-3 Adults and childrens classes at my "Shed"
2008 Adult and childrens art classes .At the cottage
Blackheath Public School
1980 My first banner. Commissioned by Brent Macgregor, for Freewheels Theatre in Education,
as a backdropbased on the Stockton mining diaster of 1896. The original featured four cut out heads for the actors to speak, with flip up portraits of four prominent power brokers of the 1980's. These portraits were stolen at a doctor and nurses ball - the rest of the banner was found outside the operating theatre of Wallsend Hospital. This was acceptable to Newcastle Trades Hall and was framed and hung in the foyer of the Trades Hall.1983 "Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union Of Australia", Newcastle Sub Branch, NSW.
(Fully paid for by this union)1983-4 "Workers Cultural Action Committee", a sub committee of Newcastle Trades Hall,
Applied to the Australia council for grants to complete the "Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union of Australia. Newcastle sub Branch. "Newcastle Teachers Federation "Newcastle. "Amalgamated Metal/ Foundry and Shipwrights Union", Newcastle. "Unemployed Peoples Banner". Newcastle. Double sided. 2m x 3m.1985 "Newcastle Trades Hall Centennial Banner". Double sided. 2.8 x 1.8 m.
1986 "Fireman and Deckhands Union". NSW Branch Double sided. 2.5 x 1.8 Newcastle.
"Public Service Association". Double sided 1.67 x 2.8m 1987 "Building Trades Group's" Banner. (2.8m x 1.5m.)Newcastle
"Builders' Labourers Federation" Hobert, Tasmania Double sided
1988 "Waterside Workers Federation". Double Sided. 1.8m x 2.m.
Artist in resident program for Trades Hall Council. Supervised a full time trainee. "Federated Engine Drivers and Fireman's Association". Mining division,Muswellbrook, Hunter Valley, Double Sided. 3m X 2m.1989 "Meatworkers' Union". Banner. (Double sided.) Newcastle.
1989-90 "N.S.W Teachers' Federation".Mixed media Doubled sided. Fabric, knitting,
embroidery,patchwork,hand coloured photographs on canvas, and hand painting. 3m x 4m. Trainee co-workers on this project. Suzie Crook (Knitting) and Nola Taylor (textile) Fabricated on site at the federations Sydney's' office. 1990 In 1989 an earthquake in Newcastle destroyed the Newcastle Workers Club and Trades
Hall with a substantial loss of life. The May day specific issue banners and floats were also destroyed.Volunteers rebuilt the frames and I painted fifteen new "Issue" banners for May Day1991 "Printing and Kindred Industries Union". Double Sided. 2m x 2.5m. Sydney.
This was fully funded by this union. The success of these banners have been acknowledged all over Australia, Britain and Canada and reproduced in publications. The highlights included an exhibition in Scotland celebrating banners of the world. In Australia the reward was to have one of my banners (Building Trades Group) reproduced in the highly respected publication - "Australian Painting 1788~1990" by Bernard Smith with Terry Smith. Oxford University Press, 1990. (Pages 484,485.)
My mother, Meta D Hansen is a formidable 91 years old. I have One son, Simon Chawner and Two granddaughters, Celine and Chloe Chawner. I have 3 older sisters, Lis, Jyette, Dorte and a deceased brother, Per. My father was Axel Hansen. I have 4 nieces. As a migrant family to this country we have all had to remake ourselves at personal costs but in the end they are all precious to me. We are a family.
I love to use my Skills to relate and portray multi-layered visual stories. My range of mediums and practice's with examples of my work are displayed throughout this site. Murals are my speciality. Figurative work, genre, landscape, natural and industrial. Large scale paintings. Trade Union banners. Enduring environmental art-design - Conceptualized and site specific community based art work - Paintings - Portraits, public, family, business and community stories.Collaborative team work. Being a supervising artist on Public art projects.Hand painted ceramic tile murals.I am able to work to the design brief and budget constraints when working with clients,communities,architects and interior designers.I have renovated 4 houses incorporating various paint techniques,ceramic tiles,door features,color co-ordination, murals outdoors,ceilings,walls. Mural consultancies, working with communities vie the Internet,helping with design,mural elements and fabrication techniques while the client works with their own artists to produce the mural on site is a new service. Adult+children's art classes are now on.
All images and stories by Birgitte Hansen are copyright
