. . . . the artist world leaders follow
Sharon Davson ADFA DipT
Sharon Davson's innovative contribution to art, peace, the environment and the well-being of others spans over three decades and crosses all walks of life.
with Reflections in the Northern
Territory Art Gallery & Museum, Darwin NT
photo by Terry Barker
By 1990, and only 36 years old, her art was represented in over 40 public art gallery, city or university collections including the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory; and over 60 corporate collections in Australia, the USA, Japan and New Zealand.
Davson's first solo retrospective exhibition was at the invitation of the Manning Regional Art Gallery in Taree, NSW in 1990. She was only 36 years old. The exhibition titled Transitionsincluded art works from 1973 to 1990.
From 1999 to 2002, With Gratitude For The Light, consisting of 63 of her most significant art works from 1972 to 1999 toured. It was shown in 14 public regional art galleries. Works were borrowed from Australian and New Zealand public, corporate and private collections.
At the Gatton Shire Davson Art Gallery with
former Councillor Gwen Crozier and former
Mayor Bernie Sutton, Christine Young,
Win Davson MBE and Sharon Davson on
the right (with her art in the background.)
photo by Terry Barker
In 2000, With Gratitude For The Light, the dynamic and powerful major retrospective exhibition of Sharon's art, was the opening exhibition for the new Gatton Shire Davson Art Gallery. The gallery, in the town of her birth, had been named by the council to recognise her achievements and the cultural contribution of her family to the Lockyer District.
In 2008, the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, QLD, again honoured Sharon Davson with another retrospective exhibition of her art, Davson ~ World Leaders & Enlightenment 1973 to 2007. This exhibition is to be shown as the opening exhibition of the new Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre in Sharon's hometown of Gatton in Queensland in August 2009.
Sharon Davson has been described as a Personal Globalist. She is a great example of a person who takes positive action to improve the condition of others. Davson has been an active participant in community organisations for most of her life. In 1990, she started Artists For Life to assist endangered species awareness, and, in the year 2000, 48 Hours To World Peace.
with singing legend Neil Diamond
photo by Graham Ramsay
Over 300 world-renowned cultural, entertainment or sporting leaders have supported her work including; Sir Edmund Hillary, Neil Diamond, Paul Newman, Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Joan Sutherland, Sir Nigel Mansell, Mario Andretti, Pete Sampras, Linda Evangelista, Pat Farmer MP, Layne Beachley, Cathy Freeman, Andre Agassi, Bon Jovi.
Sharon Davson was born in Gatton in 1954 to Win and Maurice Davson. She attended primary and high school there and was active in school life, local church and other groups especially Mercury Theatre
& Mercury Children's & Youth Theatre which were founded by her mother Mrs Win Davson MBE FTCL AASA.
Sharon's activities in Gatton, first with Gatton Mercury Theatre & Mercury Children's & Youth Theatre, then Australia Theatre Week & Arts Festival and later including the Win Davson Art Gallery & Museum, laid many of the foundations for her life of community participation.
Sharon in centre with her mother Win
and sister Christine Davson
Sharon started acting from an early age competently handling dozens of theatrical roles, including some early television and a concert tour of New Zealand. Irrespective of where in Australia she was living, she became, and remains, the backstop volunteer for all possible activities in these not-for-profit theatre and arts organisations. Since 2007, she has also held the position of Honorary President.
In 1972, she gained her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
1972-74, Sharon Davson studied Fine Art full-time
at the Queensland College of Art, Brisbane. During this time, she founded and was President of the College Of Art Student Union for two years, and started and managed her first art gallery - the TAG Gallery in Toowong.
While a student, Davson advocated for environmental and heritage causes.
Her advocacy has persisted to the present day.
In 1975, she gained her Diploma of Teaching at the Kelvin Grove College of Advanced Education.
From 1976-1980, Sharon lived on an acreage at Lowood. She taught in high schools,
the Queensland College of Art and Adult Education, and she was active in arts-based activities locally and elsewhere.
with Sam outside her bus in 1981
In late 1980, she sold her property and set out on a solo journey across much of Australia with her dog, horse and motorbike in an old ex-government bus. Through this her professional freelance art career evolved.
Her journeys were funded entirely through her own efforts; from savings, sales of art and advertising space on the bus, promoting sponsor products and by writing articles for magazines.
Her solo exhibition in 1982 in Sydney sold out. A one-hour documentary was filmed about Sharon, her art and ventures in 1983.
Since 1984, well over two decades, much of her art has been pre-sold to local and international corporations and collectors. Her art has been honoured through major survey exhibitions in public galleries and is sought after for investment portfolios.
Sharon's work, life and benevolence have been an inspiration to many. She is an internationally successful and inspirational artist, writer, art consultant, fashion designer and moving keynote speaker. For charitable groups she is a tireless worker, fundraiser and donor, an advocate for peace, our Earth and all its disadvantaged. Her initiatives have raised very significant funds for numerous charities in Australia and overseas.
For Sharon Davson, career highlights include her art and world peace flag in the collection of the Hikaru Memorial Museum in Takayama, Japan.
www.davsonart.com
