Salvatore Zofrea

b. 1946

Painter and printmaker Salvatore Zofrea was born in Italy, arriving in Australia in 1956 at the age of 9. After leaving school and working for several years, he attended the Julian Ashton Art School (1961-3).

Over the past 40 years, he has held solo exhibitions throughout Australia, and internationally in Rome. His work has also been featured in group exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Zofrea’s large commissioned works include his ‘150 Years of the Sydney Morning Herald’ mural (1979), the State Bank of New South Wales mural (1985) and a fresco for the Sydney Opera House Trust (1993).

In 1979, his ‘Psalm23’ was acquired by the Vatican, Rome, for its collection.

In 1982 he received a Power Bequest award of 6 months residence in Paris, and a Churchill Fellowship in 1986 to study fresco technique in Florence with master of fresco Leonetto Tintori.

Zofrea has won the Sulman Prize three times (1977, 1979 and 1982) and is a many-times finalist in the Archibald and Wynne prizes.

In 1992 the late Art Gallery of NSW director, Edmund Capon, arranged for a selection of Zofrea’s ‘Psalms’ series be displayed in the Art Gallery of NSW and to tour NSW Regional Art Galleries. In 1996 he was made a Cavaliere (Knight) by the Italian Government for services to the Arts.

From 1994 to 1999 he created the ‘Appassionata’ series of 100 autobiographical woodcuts, exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW, and touring nationally prior to being acquired by the Gallery. In 2000, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia exhibited his ’50 Portraits’ which then toured NSW Regional Galleries.

In 2014, he was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the Arts.

Currently, Zofrea is working on his ‘Four Circles’ series, depicting Australian wildflowers in their natural light at various times of the day – morning, midday, afternoon and evening. Each circle consists of 25 panels, each one being 153cm high x 122cm wide, totalling 30 metres in overall length.

Seven monographs on his life and work have been produced and four films, including Richard Mordaunt’s Salvatore Zofrea – Master of Light (2016).

Salvatore Zofrea is represented by Australian Galleries, Sydney and Melbourne.

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS

2022

2018

In Blog

Salvatore Zofrea – In Collaboration with 3:33 Art Projects

Image above:  Days of Summer  2008-23  hand-coloured woodcut with lapis lazuli on paper  edition unique  44 x 59 cm “…I was …

Read More

Salvatore Zofrea: The Drawn Line – Orange Regional Gallery

Image: Salvatore Zofrea. Photograph (detail) courtesy of Stephen Oxenbury/ Artist Profile and Orange Regional Gallery Salvatore Zofrea: The Drawn Line, …

Read More

Christine Wrest-Smith Finalist in the Percival Portrait Painting Prize

Image: Christine Wrest-Smith, Portrait of Salvatore Zofrea. Congratulations to Christine Wrest-Smith who has been announced a Finalist in the Percival Portrait Painting …

Read More

Dianne Fogwell – ‘Prescience’ Exhibition at Geelong Gallery

Image above: Dianne Fogwell  Prescience  2023  linocut and woodcut  4,500 x 145 cm  – installation at Geelong Gallery Congratulations to …

Read More

Raymond Arnold Highly Commended & Rodney Pople a Finalist in the 2024 Glover Prize

Image above: Raymond Arnold Congratulations to Raymond Arnold, who has been Highly Commended in the 2024 Glover Prize, and to …

Read More

The 2024 Palmer Sculpture Biennial

Image above: Greg Johns  The Kiss (Buried Alive)  2022-23  Corten steel  140 x 486 x 18cm “Congratulations to Greg Johns …

Read More

Gallery News – When one door closes, another one opens…

The three adjoining properties which comprise the Australian Galleries Sculpture Park in Porcupine Ridge are now on the market. The …

Read More

Marina Strocchi – Featured in The Art of Healing magazine

Image above: Marina Strocchi  Dusk in the Hills  2023  acrylic on linen  60 x 93 cm Marina Strocchi’s insightful writing …

Read More

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2024

Image above: Greg Johns  Sit Down Fella (Contemplative)  2023  Corten steel and bronze  260 cm high To view a selection …

Read More

Barbie Kjar – Winner of the 2024 Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing

Image above: Barbie Kjar and her winning work No Expectations  2024 Photograph by Louisa Chircop Congratulations to Barbie Kjar, Winner …

Read More

David Frazer ‘All That You’ve Loved’ Exhibition at Trinity College

‘David Frazer is primarily a graphic artist, a printmaker, who in his work creates a little microcosm, or a convincing …

Read More

Simon Normand – Exhibition Reviews and Interviews – The Age, ABC Radio & Nikkei Asia

Image above: Simon Normand  Map – Australia  2023  acrylic on canvas and mixed media  145 x 170 cm  Simon Normand’s …

Read More

Michael Buzacott – SLOT Window Gallery 2024

Image above: Michael Buzacott  Olympia  2024  steel  199 x 130 x 69 cm   SLOT is an independent window gallery …

Read More