Alison McDonald’s 20 year practice is based in Townsville, North Queensland. McDonald’s art sits at the junction of consumer culture and environmental concern and ranges in size from microscopic jewellery to epic sculpture or installation.
Her work is shown in national and international exhibitions, including Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, Strand Ephemera’s (2015 winner). Her artwork is in collections of Royal North Shore Hospital, Visy Education Centre, Perc Tucker Gallery, TCC’s-Integrated Sustainability, Catholic Education, Ryan College, CQ University, Energy Super, Monterey Bay Aquarium, California and Stadiums Queensland.
McDonald completed her BVA (Hons) from JCU, then a Master of Art in Public Space at RMIT. She has also been artist in residence at Aberystwyth, Wales with an Arts Qld Career Development Grant and twice to RedGate, Beijing. McDonald taught Sculpture at James Cook University and TAFE North Qld. She recently toured a solo exhibition ‘Wanton, Wild & Unimagined’ to 13 galleries around Australia.
If you would like to purchase or hire my artworks, please contact me through this website, otherwise only my jewellery can be purchased her in Jewellery.
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2021,17,16,13,21,22 USQ McGregor School –Silversmithing, forming, stone setting, Toowoomba
2019 UnEarthed Sand Casting jewellery workshop, Kirra-lea Caynes, Melbourne
2019 Let’s Go Outside: Making Art Public, Monash University Melbourne
2017 USQ McGregor School – Papercutting
2013 TAFE Part Time – Cert IV Engineering TIG Welding
2012 Tech NQ – Introduction to Welding Course
2011 Master of Art and Public Space, RMIT
2011 Thematic Communication workshop – Prof Sam Ham
2008 Facilitation Skills & Community Consultation – Creating Links Training
2007 European tour – Venice Biennale, Kassel Documenta, Munster Sculpture Project & European Museums
2005 BVA (Hons) Sculpture & painting, James Cook University, Townsville
1981 Northern Metropolitan College of TAFE, Preston, Melbourne
1979 Jackson College – Shepparton, Victoria, Year 12 – Visual Art Studies
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2024 Aliware, Jewellery, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts
2023 Belonging, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville
2017-19 Wanton, Wild & Unimagined, 13 regional galleries around Australia
2018 Immersed, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2015 Beneath, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
2014 Triffids (extended) Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
2012 Triffids – Umbrella Studio Vault, Townsville
2012 Urban Legacy – Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2011 Flow I – Umbrella Studio, Townsville Flow blog
2009 DIY-Ville residency & exhibition, Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2008 A Chain Reaction – Umbrella Studio Arts, Townsville
2007 Diminishing – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2004 Voluptuous Perceptions – Umbrella Studio Arts, JCU, Honours
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2024 Stirring Histories, PUNQ, Umbrella Studio - outside TYTO Regional Art Gallery
2023 Flow, Jewellery & Metalsmiths Group Qld, Impress Gallery, Brisbane
2023 Pose, Wearable Art Creatives, Townsville Entertainment Centre & Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2022 Girt by Sea, Gallery 48, Townsville
2021 Journey Through Images: 40 Years of Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
2021 Contemporary Wearables, Toowoomba
2021 Pose, Wearable Art Creatives, Townsville Entertainment Centre and Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2021 After-PUNQ, Umbrella Studio, Townsville
2021 We Are SNAG Anthology 2021, online & USA
2020 Umbrella members, Umbrella Studio, Townsville
2020 Artist-At-Home-Residency, Umbrella Studio, online
2019 Planet or Plastic Exhibition, Melbourne Zoo, Nov 19 – Mar 20
2019 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Woollahra, Sydney Oct-Nov 19
2019 NOW Contemporary Art Prize, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery. Oct-Nov 19
2019 Strand Ephemera, invited artist re NQ Stadium public artwork.
2017 Colours of Queensland, Flying Arts Qld, Touring exhibition
2016 T150, JCU Lecturers & Students, Umbrella Studio, Townsville
2016 Greensmith, Eco and Ethical jewellery, Artisan, San Francisco
2015 Godre’r Glais, Aberystwyth residency artists, Umbrella Studio
2015 Strand Ephemera, Townsville
2015 NQ Conservation Council Postcards Art Exhibition, Umbrella Studio
2014 Umbrella Members Exhibition, Umbrella Studio, Townsville
2014 Greensmith, Eco and Ethical jewellery, Artisan, Brisbane
2013 Sculpture by the Sea & Sculpture Inside, Bondi, Sydney
2013 Strand Ephemera, with architect Stephen de Jersey, Townsville
2013 Innovations, Industrial Waste from Finlay Homes – Studio 2, Townsville
2012 Expanded Field of Printmaking, Print-sculpture collaboration, Umbrella Studio
2012 Open Studio, May, Aberystwyth Art Centre Residency, Wales UK
2012 Seaweed, Part of the Green Series, Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
2011 Strand Ephemera, outdoor sculpture exhibition – Townsville
2011 August Movement, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2010 Threads: the art of women, Brightspace, St Kilda, Melbourne
2010 JCU Staff Exhibition, eMerg Media Space, JCU Townsville
2010 Red Gate Studio to Umbrella Studio – Umbrella Studio,Townsville
2009 Open Studio Sep & Oct, Red Gate Residency – Bei Gao, Beijing, China
2009 Strand Ephemera, outdoor sculpture exhibition – Townsville
2009 Now and Then Q150 exhibition, Umbrella Studio, Townsville
2009 Launch – Finalist for Clayton Utz Scholarship, Brisbane
2009 Hit the bottle campaign, Newcastle Art Gallery & ABC
2009 Art Off the Wall, Melbourne, Art off the wall
2009 Five Senses, Flying Arts, State Library of Queensland, Brisbane
2009 Linden Postcard Show, Melbourne
2009 Eco Luxury – Decoration + Design Fair, Sydney – Designer Alena Smith
2008 Collectors – Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2008 The Nude – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
2008 Art Sydney Front feature wall, Weekend Australian, Sydney
2008 Revivication – Rushcutters Bay Gallery, Sydney
2008 Riverfestival – Ephemeral Outdoor Art Exhibition – Townsville
2007 Waste Not – Flinders Lane Gallery Upstairs, Melbourne
2007 Strand Ephemera, outdoor sculpture exhibition – Townsville
2007 Somewhere between harems & hardware? Gallery Hinchinbrook, Ingham
2007 The Percivals – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2006 Chair… Members’ Exhibition – Umbrella Studio Arts
2006 Angels – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
2006 Compact Prints International Exhibition – Umbrella Studio Arts
2006 Fashioning The Exquisite Corpse – Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2006 Percival’s Vestment – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
2006 Works by COMVAT Lecturers and Post Graduates, JCU
2005 Strand Ephemera, outdoor sculpture exhibition – Townsville
2005 RSL Townsville, VP60 – Group painting/drawing
2005 Perc’s Purses – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery- Townsville
2005 NQ Environment Postcard Exhibition – Umbrella Studio Arts
2004 The Churchie – Anglican Church Grammar School, Brisbane
2003 JCU 3rd Year BVA Exhibition – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2003 Sheilas from the Shed – Umbrella Studio Arts
2003 Survivor jigsaw mural – El Rancho del Rey, Tully, NQ
2003 International Locksmith Convention – Marriott Resort, Gold Coast
2002 JCU 3rd Year BVA Exhibition – Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
2002 Musical Chairs – James Cook University BVA, Pinnacles Gallery
2001 Achievements, JCU, BVA Selected Works – JCU Gallery
2000 Hanging Your Nudes out to Dry – Pinnacles Gallery
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2022 Cornucopia scientifica, Ryan Catholic College - Science Block, Townsville
2020 Warmth, public artwork Townsville Stadium
2018 Drain, Rockfield Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
2017 Engaged, Central Qld University – Townsville Campus
2017 Connected, Central Qld University – Townsville Campus
2017 Sunset-years, Energy Super – Townsville Office
2017 Shift, Energy Super – Townsville Office
2016 Casting Off, Warwick Art Gallery, Jumpers & Jazz in July
2015 Catholic Education – Environmental public artwork & trophy
2011 Townsville City Council, Integrated Sustainability Services
2011 Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, permanent collection Sea Notes
2010 Magnetic Island Solar Park – public artwork
2008 Sydney Royal North Shore Hospital, Kollings Research & Education Facility
2006 Catholic Cathedral Townsville – Restoration of 14 relief plaster Stations of the Cross
2004 Visy Recycling & Education Centre -Townsville
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2023 Quick Response Grant, Flying Arts Inc. - WOW Wellington NZ
2021 SmartyGrant – Business Basics
2015 Strand Ephemera Winner – Artistic Excellence
2013 North Queensland Outstanding Individual Visual Artist for 2012
2010 Nominated for Townsville Art Awards – Visual Art Award Individual
2009 Clayton Utz Scholarship Finalist, Brisbane
2009 Art off the wall, Art Fair Melbourne
2008 Art off the wall, Art Fair Sydney – Highly commended
2005 Strand Ephemera 2nd People’s Choice Award
2005 Townsville Art Society – People’s Choice Award
2005 Townsville Art Society – Highly commended
2003 Townsville Art Society – Three Dimensional Award
2002 James Cook University – 3rd Year Painting Award
2002 James Cook University – 3rd Year Drawing Award
1998 Member – Golden Key Honour Society (Academic achievement)
1982 Goulbourn Valley Regional Gallery, Shepparton Art Society – Honourable Mention
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2020 Artist at Home Artist in Residency, Umbrella Studio, Townsville
2016 Warwick Regional Gallery, Jumpers & Jazz in July Festival
2014 Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China residency in the Bei Gao Studio’s
2012 Aberystwyth Art Centre residency, Wales for 3 months
2009 Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China residency in the Bei Gao Studio’s
2009 DIY-Ville, Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2009 Hit the bottle campaign, Newcastle Art Gallery
2006 Hughenden State School, Hughenden