Artist Statement :

Can I be a surrealist when I grow up please? In keeping with obeying my Astrological star sign Gemini I have two primary mediums of expression, one is art and the other is music. My time is devoted to earning enough money to support both disciplines. I embrace the Hindu concept of sound as the element which represents the beginning of life, every day a new drawn day, each day a new sound.

Bio :

Jan Palethorpe was born in Melbourne and studied sculpture and printmaking at Caulfield Institute of Technology 1986-88 and the Victorian College of the Arts from 1983-84. Since 1978 she has exhibited in solo exhibitions including Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop NY, Woodbine Gallery Malmsbury, Powell Street Graphics, Leon Massoni at Tolarno Galleries, Art Space Footscray, Qdos Gallery Lorne, Gasworks Theatre, University of Melbourne Baillieu Library, and participated in many group exhibitions most recently including:

2021 Geelong Print Prize

2020 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize NSW

2020 Stones from other Mountains - China Printmaking Museum Shenzhen

2018 Rivers of Gold - Australian Print Triennial Mildura

2018 One Belt, One Road - Silk Road International Exhibition Xi’an China

2017 Guanlan International Print Prize - Shenzhen National Art Museum China

2014  Burnie Print Prize   Burnie Regional Art Gallery Tasmania

2011  Footprints  Counihan Gallery Brunswick

2005 Five Central Victorian Printmakers Castlemaine Art Gallery & Shepparton Regional Gallery

She was also awarded the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize (works on paper 2005, and highly commended 2009), and the drawing prize in the Swan Hill Regional Gallery Print and Drawing Acquisitive 2010. 

Living in the North West Kimberley for three years (1995-1998) Jan undertook several artist in residencies receiving an Australia Council Community Development Grant to be in residence at Oombulgurri Aboriginal Community in 1995.

She has also co-ordinated projects in remote communities including 30 stories on 30 Murals in 30 Days a project involving all members of the Mulan Community, WA 2006.   She has been the recipient of two Artists in Schools residencies (Arts Victoria & DEET) Worlds within Worlds producing a giant tortoise with the children of Wantirna Heights and ‘the Paper Shop’ a 3D project involving paper making, lino printing and the production of a giant 3D carpet python in the primary school and remote Malley community of Culgoa.

Jan's work is held in many public collections including the Australian National Gallery Canberra, Australian Print Workshop, Monash Medical Centre Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula Arts Centre, Hyatt on Collins Melbourne, Flinders University Art Museum S.A, Blaxland Gallery Melbourne, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Qld., Waikato Museum New Zealand,   Warrnambool Regional Gallery Victoria, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, University of Melbourne Museum of Art, Kensington Gallery S.A,  Graphico Uno Print Workshop Milan, Frans Masereel Centrum Belgium, Shire of West Kimberley Derby, NSW Art Gallery, State Library of Victoria, Castlemaine Art Museum, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery & private collections throughout Australia and U.K.