This Passion is My Story.
DEBORAH ZIBAH BIO
Born in Zimbabwe, Africa, my family and I immigrated to Australia in 1988.
Whilst in Africa, I discovered a talent for art in high school, but the opportunities for any art education, at that time, in a war-torn country were minimal.
I received my first formal art training at the local TAFE, in 1992 here in Australia. Shortly after that I started a mural business, AMAZING MURALS, decorating numerous cafes, restaurants, private homes and hotel lobbies for several years.
My real desire was to attend university to study abstract painting, and enrolled in ECU, Perth in 2000, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2003. Since then, I’ve been exhibiting regularly in group and solo shows throughout the Perth and southwest regions, my solo shows numbering 25 so far.
My love of surface texture is the driving force of my art practice. Expressive, spontaneous mark making, and emotive gesture is the intuitive process of my work. Using wide metal scrapers and trowels, the paint is applied then scraped back to create vibrant depths of colour fields, uncontrived by the human hand.
This adventure of paint is always so exciting for me. There are never enough hours in the day to explore the endless possibilities that creativity offers on a two-dimensional surface.
Some of the most enjoyable moments I have spent in my studio is the experimental process.
This is more than play time. Its the crucial element in the development of my work. In the beginning, there are no expectations, there is no plan, no preconceived outcome, no pressure to produce anything succinct……….just playfulness. I choose the colours and combinations which are pleasing to me and begin plastering them onto the surface with large trowels and spreaders. Scribbles of wax crayon, thick graphite fingers, felt pens and oil stick are applied in unfettered abandon, then more paint is applied. At this stage, elements of collage are glued on, then the playfulness continues. The work has to be be fresh and spontaneous, and has to be ‘in the flow’ of unlimited creativity. I utilise many, different tools to build up exciting areas in the work. The time comes when areas need to be clarified, stripped back, or painted over and this process requires decisive and calculated decisions to bring the work to a conclusive resolution.
The Artistic Abstractions Of Deborah Zibah
By assimilating a boundless variety of shapes, signs, symbols and statements, Deborah Zibah
manifests an entire cosmos on the canvas. With a style uniquely rigorous and industrious, as
it is symbolic, her abstracts feature high impact colours, which are ultimately interspersed,
intertwined, pulled together and pulled apart. The mind, rendered intrigued, can barely
contain her work in a single viewing, as the eye is continually compelled to manoeuvre
backwards and forwards, to and fro upon the large-scale pieces, with every corner and inch
of area contributing to the overall wondrousness and overarching narrative.
The development of Deborah’s style was birthed after a long period of experimentation and
creative expansion. Offered an extensive, widescale, 116-piece commission in 2009 by the
Sebel Hotel, Mandurah, provided a unique opportunity to develop an organic, yet highly
distinguishing process, in an effort to describe the distinct water systems of the West
Australian region. Joining a local plein air group several years later, she began, for the first
time, to paint in a mode far more representational in nature and it was the combination of
this style, together with her previously established process, that lead to a desire to begin
painting in large-scale abstract form.
When initialising new work, the substrate is first prepared, typically internal household doors
due to their rigid strength. Each colour palette consists usually of two richly earthy colours,
black and white, and a batch of hues derived from the originals. A deep love of surface
texture is one of the most instrumental driving forces behind Deborah’s works, and paint is
applied with wide sweeps that are later scraped across the surface area. The absence of
brush strokes gives the work a completely uncontrived quality that administers elements of
freshness and impetuosity. Most predominantly found within the confides of her abstracts
are the artistic traces of American abstract expressionists Franz Kline, Richard Diebenkorn
and Hans Hofmann, and Spanish surrealist Pablo Picasso. Their influential use of colour
segregation, patterns, contours and interlocking forms has had tremendous impact upon the
artistic universes she renders.
DEBORAH ZIBAH RESUME
www.zibahartworks.com. deborah@zibahartworks.com Facebook: Zibah Artworks Instagram: Deborah Zibah
Telephone +61416220983
PRIVATE AND CORPORATE COMMISSIONS
2024 Mr. Colin Isles
2400 mm x 900mm painting
Acrylic on panel, Waterlilies
2023 Mrs Elizabeth Morely
2400mm x 1200mm painting
Mixed media on panel for bedroom
2023 Ms. Janice McDonald
Flowstone Wines, Margaret River, WA
2170mm x 850mm painting with jazz theme
2022 Ms. Catherine Bastow
Nash Clavey Lawyers, Mandurah,WA
Painting for waiting room 150cm x 120cm
2022 Mr. Kevin Hamill
Painting 180cm x 80cm
2020 Mr. and Mrs. Rimpas, Perth, WA
Portrait of 3 grandsons
120cm x 60cm, oil on panel
2020 Mr. and Mrs. Percudani, Mandurah WA
4 x 45cm x 45cm abstract marina paintings
2020 Omilayo Vashinti, Houston, Texas, USA
Estuary Series painting
160cm x 120cm
2020 Mrs. Jillian Capper
Painting, 25cm x 25cm oil on board
Gallery Aura, Kojonup, WA
2019 Mrs. Jillian Capper
Painting for lounge room
130cm x 130cm mixed media on board
Kojonup, WA
2019 Janice MacDonald
2200cm x 150cm mixed media on board
Margaret River, WA
2018 Mr. and Mrs. Marcoza
220cm x 85cm mixed media on board
Mandurah, WA
2018 Mrs. Gayle Vienetta
Mural 11.5m x 2.5m
The Stage Door Waterfront Restaurant
Mandurah Boardwalk, Mandurah WA
2017 Thomas Murrell
Private commission
175cm x 110cm, oil on canvas
Subiaco, Perth WA
2017 Yael Kurlansky
Client commission
300cm x 120cm
2017 Yael Kurlansky
Client commission
180cm x 70cm
Bitumen, resin, acrylic on board
2017 Mr. and Mrs. M. O’Shaunecy
Private commission
120cm x 50cm
Bitumen, resin, oxides on board
2117 Mr. and Mrs. G. Stoop
Private commission
50cm x 50cm
Industrial enamel and ink on canvas
2016 Red Umbrella Gallery, Fremantle
2 paintings, 180cm x 120cm
Industrial enamel and ink on canvas
2016 Janice MacDonald
Margaret River, WA
Two large scale paintings
Diptych 180cm x 100cm
180cm x 120cm
Mixed media on board
2016 Yael Kurlansky
Yael K Designs, Perth
Client commission
2015 Mr. and Mrs. H. Rimpas
North Beach, Perth
275cm x 120cm
Oil on canvas
2015 Mr. and Mrs. F van Oosterhazen
180cm x 120
Industrial enamel and ink on board
2014 A & A Art Gallery,
Subiaco, Perth, WA
2012 Arq Designs,
Subiaco, Perth, WA
Seven commissions for private clients
2011 P. and M. Roland
Waterman’s Beach, Western Australia
150cm x 60cm mixed media on board
140cm x 60cm mixed media on board
180cm x 70cm mixed media on board
2010 G. Wolsley
Hillarys, Western Australia
2m x 70cm mixed media on board
2009 Gallery 360
Subiaco, Western Australia
3 x mixed media on board
2009 Deborah H
Mandurah, Western Australia
1.5m x 70cm mixed media on board
2009 Nash Clavey Lawyers
Mandurah, Western Australia
3 x mixed media on canvas
2009 The Sebel Hotel, Mirvac Pty Ltd
Mandurah, WA
Mixed media painting, diptych for reception area 480cmx 120cm
2009 The Sebel Hotel, Mirvac Pty Ltd
Mandurah, Western Australia
116 mixed media paintings on board for each hotel room, and upstairs apartments
2008 Catherine Bastow
Mandurah, Western Australia
145cm x 175cm oil on canvas painting
2008 Hogg’s Breath Café
Rockingham, Western Australia
4 x mosaics
3 @ 2.4m x 1.2m
1 @ 5m x 2m
Oil on canvas
2006 Hogg’s Breath Café
Mandurah, Western Australia
3m x 1.5m oil on canvas
6 x panels @ 1m x 7m
2004 Dwellingup Gallery
Dwellingup, Western Australia
5 x commissioned paintings resulting from solo exhibition
2003 Ms Katherine Pascoe
Dwellingup, Western Australia
1.5m x 75cm oil on canvas
2003 Mandurah Christian Life Centre
Mandurah, Western Australia
Large mural
2003 G & P Payne
Pinjarra, Western Australia
1.5m x 1.5m oil on canvas
2002 P & S Ayres
Mandurah, Western Australia
1.3m x 1.3m acrylic on canvas
2002 M & M Stewart
Perth, Western Australia
1 x acrylic and ball clay painting
2001 Perth International Hotel, Perth, WA
Murals in foyer and bar area
1999 - 2001 Academy of Dance
Joondalup, Western Australia
Murals
1999 Joondalup City Church
Joondalup, Western Australia
5 x 1.8m x 1.8m mixed media on canvas
1998 Joondalup City Church
Joondalup, Western Australia
3 x 1m x 6m banners
1998 D & S Stewart
Perth, Western Australia
3 x 100cm x 100cm mixed media paintings
1994 - Present Amazing Murals
Mandurah, Western Australia
Proprietor
Mural and decorating service for private and commercial
1990 Zambezi River Steakhouse
Extensive murals
EXHIBITIONS
2024 QUIDDITY solo exhibition
Lost Eden Creative Space, Dwellingup WA
2024 Art Extraordinaire group exhibition
Catholic College, Bunbury, WA
2 x 93cm x 93cm mixed media paintings
2023 Plein Air Down Under group exhibition
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Mandurah WA
WINNER of Quick Draw competition
2023 High Resolution solo exhibition
Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park, Perth, WA
20 mixed media works on panel
2023 Art Extraordinaire group exhibition
Catholic College, Bunbury, WA
2 x 80cm x 80cm mixed media on panel
2023 Peel Open Studios, Gallery Zibah
Mandurah, WA
2022 Spirit of Landscape, group invitational
Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery, Mandurah, WA
2 x 100cm x 100cm mixed media on panel
2022 Art Extraordinaire, group exhibition
Catholic College, Bunbury, WA
3 x 60cm x 60cm mixed media on panel
2022 Belmont Art Award group exhibition
Glass House, Belmont, Perth, WA
100cm x 100cm mixed media on panel
2022 Peel Open Studio Exhibition
Painting 100cm x 100cm
2021 Gallows Gallery
Christmas Exhibition
6 paintings
2021 Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, WA
INNOVATION, solo exhibition
22 works on panel
2021 Belmont Art Award, Perth, WA
Group exhibition
1 work 100cm x 100cm, acrylic on panel
2021 Peel Open Studios, WA
Gallery Zibah, Mandurah, WA
2021 CASM, Mandurah, WA
Portrait Group exhibition
8 works, acrylic and oil on panel
2020 Lost Eden, Dwellingup, WA
AWAKENING, Solo exhibition
20 works on panel
2019 Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, WA
2 major works for invitational plein air exhibition
2200cm x 85cm, acrylic on board
2019 Plein Air Down Under, Mandurah, WA
WINNER of Quick Draw
45cm x 25cm, oil on canvas
2019 Vivid Art Gallery, Mandurah, WA
International Plein Air Festival
3 works oil on board, 40cm x 20cm
2019 Gallery Aura, Kojonup,WA
Feature artist for South West Art Trail
7 works, acrylic, oil on panel
2019 Berry Art, online gallery
Artist of the Month
2019 Vivid Art Gallery
Plein Air Group Exhibition
6 works, oil on panel
Mandurah, WA
2018 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery
1 work 120cm x 80cm, mixed media on panel
2018 Plein Air Group Exhibition
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery
Mandurah, WA
2018 Forest Heritage Centre, Dwellingup, WA
Solo exhibition
19 Works, acrylic and oil on panel
2018 Boranup Gallery
Artist in residence, Art Trail
Margaret River, WA
2017 A&A Art Display
4/30 Ardross Street, Applecross, WA
Group exhibition
2017 Plein Air Group Exhibition
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Mandurah, WA
3 works, oil on board
2017 Plein Air Competition,
Crab Fest, Mandurah, WA
2017 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, WA
Group exhibition
140cm x 110cm
Marri wood panels, wood stain, metal, oil on panel
2016 Cossack Art Award
Group exhibition
1 work 140cm x 110cm ink on panel
Roebourne, WA
2016 Boranup Gallery, Margaret River
Artist in residence
12 works, oil on canvas
2016 Mandjar Art Award
Group exhibition
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery WA
Group Exhibition
2016 Plein Air Competition
Crab Fest, Mandurah, WA
Group Exhibition
2016 Edenvale House
PLEIN AIR ADVENTURES
Pinjarra, WA
Group Exhibition
2015 Cossack Art Award, Roebourne, WA
Group exhibition
1 work 140cm x 100cm, ink on panel
2015 Plein Air Competition
Group Exhibition
Mandjar Square, Mandurah WA
2015 Crab Fest, Mandurah, WA
Group Exhibition
2015 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, WA
Group Exhibition
1 work 120cm x 100cm, acrylic on panel
2015 A&A Gallery
THE BEAUTY OF NATURE
Claremont, Perth, WA
Group Exhibition
5 works, mixed media on canvas
2015 A&A Gallery, Subiaco, Perth, WA
WIND BENEATH MY WINGS
Solo Exhibition
15 works
2015 Boranup Gallery
Margaret River, WA
Artist-in-Residence
2014 Cossack Art Award, Roebourne, WA
Group exhibition
140cm x 120cm, mixed media on board
2014 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery,
Mandurah, WA
Group Exhibition
2014 Plein Air Competition
Mandurah, WA
Group Exhibition
2014 Boranup Gallery
Margaret River, WA
Artist-in-Residence
April
2014 Studio 281
CREATIVE EMOTIVE
Maylands, Perth, WA
Group Exhibition
2014 INQB8 Contemporary Art Space, Mandurah, WA
FOUND – ONCE I WAS LOST
Solo exhibition, 23 works
2013 Plein Air Competition
WINNER, Quick draw competition
Mandurah, WA
Group Exhibition
2013 Melbourne Art Fair
Royal Exhibition Centre
Group Exhibition
August
2013 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery
Group Exhibition
2013 Gallery 281
IMPETUOUS
Maylands, Perth
Solo Exhibition
June to July
2013 Boranup Art Gallery
Margaret River, Western Australia
Artist-In-Residence
2012
Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery
Group Exhibition
2012
Boranup Art Gallery
Margaret River, Western Australia
Solo exhibition
2011 INQB8 Contemporary Art Space
HEAVY METAL
Mandurah, Western Australia
Solo exhibition
2011 100th Gallery
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Invitational group exhibition
2011 Kulcha Multicultural Centre
SONG OF ZAMBEZI
Fremantle, Western Australia
Solo exhibition
2011 INCUB8 Contemporary Art Space
Mandurah, Western Australia
Invitational group exhibition
2011 Arq Design Gallery
NO LIMITS
Subiaco, Western Australia
Solo exhibition
2011 Melbourne Art Fair
Melbourne,Victoria, Australia
Group exhibition
2011 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Western Australia
Group exhibition
2011 Boranup Art Gallery
BREAKTHROUGH
Margaret River, Western Australia
Solo exhibition
2010 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Western Australia
Group exhibition
2009 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Western Australia
Group exhibition
2007 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Western Australia
Joint exhibition
2007 Arc Design and Architecture
Osborne Park, Western Australia
Solo exhibition
2006 Stafford Studios
Cottesloe, Western Australia
MOTIVATION
Solo exhibition
2006 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Western Australia
Joint exhibition
2005 Mandurah Art Gallery
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, Western Australia
THE THIRD OEUVRE
Solo exhibition
2005 Mandjar Art Award
Mandurah, Western Australia
Group exhibition
2005 Mandurah Gates Resort
Mandurah, WA
Solo Exhibition
2004 Mandurah Arts Council
Mandurah, Western Australia
Group exhibition
2004 Dwellingup Gallery
Dwellingup, Western Australia
EMERGENCE
Solo exhibition
2003 Dwellingup Gallery
Dwellingup, Western Australia
Group exhibition
2003 Two Rivers – Publication
Mandurah, Western Australia
Reproduction of my work in print
2002 Profile Art Gallery
Mandurah, Western Australia
Group exhibition
1997 Wanneroo Art Society
Hillarys, Western Australia
Group exhibition
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
2023 Art2Life Academy
Online art development
Nicholas Wilton, Instructor, CA, USA
2022 Art2LifeSpark online
Nicholas Wilton, Instructor, CA, USA
2022 Starts online
Judy Woods, Instructor, NZ
2021 Maylands Boat Yard Workshop, Perth WA
Leon Holmes, Instructor
Plein Air workshop
2020 SPARKArt2Life art course online
Nicholas Wilton, Instructor, CA, USA
2019 Art2Life online art course online
Nicholas Wilton, Instructor, CA, USA
2018 Plein Air Masterclass, 12 months
Leon Holmes, Instructor
Mandurah, WA
2014 - 2015 Landmark International
Landmark Forum plus
Advanced Communications Course
Perth, WA
2001 - 2003 Bachelor of Arts Degree – Visual Arts
Edith Cowan University, Perth
1994 Advanced Certificate - Marbling
Painters & Plumbers Association, Perth
1994 Certificate in Private Business
N.E.I.S. Joondalup, Perth
1990 Preliminary Certificate of Art & Design
TAFE Carine, Perth
1975 Certificate of Secretarial Studies
Polytechnic Harare, Zimbabwe
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Leon Holmes
Leon Holmes Fine Art
Mobile: 0401034674
Email: leon@leonholmesart.com.au
James Walker
Curator and Arts Facilitator,
Mandurah Alcoa Art Gallery, WA
Mobile: 0408894973
Email: james.walker@mpac.com.au
Lynette Millar
Rockingham Well Ministries, Rockingham WA
Facilitator
Mobile: 0412408041
Email: rockinghamwell@gmail.com
my design process
Nature - my inspiration for creation
On my many walks and bike rides along the estuary, my mind is frequently drawn away into the creative processes of how best to interpret the plethora of images which present themselves to me.
A bore water blasted concrete pathway under my feet pitted with rusty oranges and tones of mottled grey, the rhythmic lines of tidal silt abandoned on the shore by a receding river or the dancing light sparkling on the estuary waters at sunset are just some inspirational themes for the making of art.
Design
I could describe my art practice as process driven, to a certain degree. My fascination with texture and surface technique is tireless. By utilizing certain materials which repel one another, wonderful organic nuances are created, thus triggering off more endless possibilities to the making of art.
My enthusiasm is difficult to contain when I discover a twisted chunk of discarded washing machine and how rust has bled into the white metal. A beautiful process of decay.
Research
My mind races back to my studio where overstuffed shelves of tubs, tins, and bottles of paint-like materials implore to be spilled, poured, dripped and splattered onto an available surface. I begin the creative process of determining which of these materials would best describe the beautiful patinas of the surface which nature manifests itself to the observant artist.
Playing with bitumen, tree resins, shellac, industrial enamels, oxides, automotive glazes, found pieces of metal, copper wire, and wood stain holds far more appeal for me than normal store bought paint.
Create
I make my paintings on a large workbench outside my studio in a sheltered lean-to, off the wall of a large shed in my back yard. That’s where I’m most happy, where the local, green parrots come regularly for their handful of almonds, and I can watch, and listen to, the chatter and calls of the birds who’ve made their homes in the tall trees on the property.
Being out in the fresh air gives me a great sense of peace and restfulness, maximising productivity.
Winter pushes me into the studio where the creative process continues and where I utilise a large easle.