SARAH REARK

Born Melbourne 1974

I have been living and working in South Gippsland for the past 15 years and currently fluctuate between studios of Yanakie, Korumburra and Inverloch.

My work often resonates with metaphor or symbolism forming a visual poetry. I rely on both process and intuition in and out of the studio, where I observe, research, collect and make connections between the inner and outer worlds. This is often done through travelling and working within the natural environment.

In my paintings, drawings and assemblages, I am constructing meaning often through the ambiguous subjects of transformation and time or timelessness. My work pays homage to the connections with the in-between spaces and places in life. Often the pauses or hidden spaces are revealed through the ephemeral and transient nature of the relationship with the Self.

My paintings are often surreal creations of worlds, places or at times, atmospheres. At other times they are more direct records of Devine presence itself.

Formal Qualifications

2006 Master of Visual Arts, Monash University.

1999 Graduate Diploma of Education, Monash University.

1997 Graduate Diploma of Visual Arts, Monash University.

1996 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Monash University.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2026 ‘Sarah Reark and Mary Henry’, Stockyard Gallery, Foster, Vctoria.

2019 ‘Drinking the wind’, The Hub, Bass Coast Shire, Inverloch, Victoria

2013 ‘Jeetho: a living contrast’, Coal Creek Gallery, Korumburra, Victoria.

2011 ‘Timescapes’ Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell, Victoria.

2010 ‘In the Hills’ Moos, Meeniyan, Victoria.

2009 ‘Flood,Fire; Wool, Wood and Wire’ Gallery ARC Yinnar, Victoria.

2007 ‘Between Water and Earth’ Glen Eira City Gallery, Melbourne.

2004 ‘Cathexis’ Gallery Una, Ripponlea, Victoria.

2002 ‘Dialectical’ Gallery ARC, Yinnar, Victoria.

1999 ‘Journey and Discourse’ MAC Gallery, Melbourne.

Selected Duo Exhibitions

2010 ‘Where in the world…’ Guildford Lane Gallery, Melbourne.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024-2025 WRAP East Gippsland Gallery, Bairnsdale.

2017 Winter Arts trail, commercial locations, main street, Korumburra

2015 to 2016 Local artists shows, Federation Gallery, Korumburra

2015 ‘National Biennale Drawing Exhibition’ Gallery ARC Yinnar

2011 ‘National Biennale Drawing Exhibition’ Gallery ARC Yinnar

2012 ‘Bay Of Fires’ Gallery Parnella, Tasmania.

2012 ‘Great Southern Portrait prize’, Stockyard Gallery, Foster, Victoria.

2012 ‘CLIP Awards’, Perth Centre for Contemporary Photography, Perth.

2011 ‘Field of Trees’ Gallery ARC, Yinnar, Victoria.

2010 ‘Innerscape’, Fitzroy Gallery, Fitzroy, Melbourne.

2009 ‘National Biennale Drawing Exhibition’ Gallery ARC Yinnar

2009 ‘Glen Eira Artists Exhibtion’ City Council Gallery, Caulfield.

2008 ‘Small Works’, Brunswick St Gallery, Melbourne.

2007 ‘Steps in Time’ Gallery ARC, Yinnar, Victoria.

2004 Mountbatten Gallery, Southsea, United Kingdom.

2001 ‘Within’ Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Victoria.

2000 ‘Art on Tour’ Nicholson Street Gallery and Cowwarr Art Space, Victoria.

Prizes and Awards

2006 Highly commended ARC Yinnar National Drawing Prize

2005 Australian Federation of University Women – Victoria

-Special assistance award for painting.

2000 Regional Arts Victoria ‘Such Fertile Ground’ Grant for 30m2 outdoor

sculptural installation, a statewide centenary recognition project.

1996 Centre for Art and Design, Monash University

Patrons Art Prize: Painting

Patrons Art Prize: Art History and Theory

1992 Geelong Grammar Ruth White Art Prize

Myer Melbourne Arts Week Window Design

Commissions, Publications, Community and Public Art

2023 – Large scale public murals, community art project, Wallace Avenue Dinosaur Park, Inverloch.

2022- Large scale public mural, Community art project, Environmental Centre, Inverloch.

2020-2021 Private Plen Air Commisions, Bass Coast.

2019 Public park sculpture mosaic stones, Community Art Project, Inverloch, Bass Coast Shire.

2018 Large scale public mural, community art project for Community House, Inverloch, Bass Coast Shire.

2016-17 Large scale oil paintings, private, Melbourne.

2015 ‘Trax’ Inverloch skate park community art project, murals, Bass Coast Shire.

2009 Front cover design drawing for published novel.

2009 Design drawings for unique pottery.

2004 Abstract paintings, private, Melbourne.

2002 Essay for Regional Arts Victoria and ABC about '……such fertile ground', a centenary project.

2001 'Hazelwood west history project': Map making, Hazelwood Power & Monash University.

2000 '…such fertile ground' Regional Arts Victoria: Installation light sculpture covering an area of 900 square metres on land.

1999 Large scale figurative mural paintings for salon, Melbourne.

1997 Group commission, temporary mural, Monash University.

1996 Installation and Design, Loy Yang Power, Gippsland.

1995 Illustrations for children's book, Melbourne.

1992 Installation and Design, Myer Windows, Melbourne.

Guest Speaking and Presentations

2015 The 6th International Art in Early Childhood Conference, Hong Kong

Art in community, schools and home: Collaborative murals.

2001 Regional Arts Victoria Annual Conference

Cultural Workshop: 'Reconciliation' : an approach for arts councils Geelong performing Arts Centre.

numerous openings

Publications

'Critical Analysis of Such Fertile Ground' : Australian Broadcasting Corporation and State Library of Victoria 2002.

'Fast Facts' Regional Arts Victoria, 2000.

'Arts View' Volume 2, page 9, Arts Victoria, 2001.

'Regional Arts Victoria Annual Report', front / back cover and page 14, 2001.

'Jumbana' Hazelwood Power Quarterly Magazine, pages 22,23, November 2000.

Collections

Private collections: Melbourne, Darwin, Brisbane, Gippsland,

UK (Hampshire), Spain (Oviedo)