BORN 1950 Harrow, England

Graham Fransella studied at the Bradford School of Art, Yorkshire. He came to Australia in 1975. Graham Fransella lives and works in Melbourne and is represented by galleries across Australia.

Graham Fransella’s work is represented in many public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Queensland Art Gallery, Parliament House, Print Council of Australia and Artbank.

Graham Fransella is represented in many private collections in Australia, Europe and the USA, including Saatchi and Saatchi, London.

1970         Travelled to Europe, visiting France, Italy, Greece and Spain

1970-73Attended Bradford Art School, Yorkshire under Ian Colverson

1972         Awarded Bradford College Travelling Scholarship.  Travelled to Europe visiting Munich Olympic Games and Isle of Wight Rock Festival. Represented in 2nd International Print Biennale, Bradford, UK

1974         First visit to Australia travelling through Malaysia en route. Stayed for 6 months in Melbourne. Returned to England and taught at Bradford Art School

1975         Returned to Australia

1976         Assisted Bea Maddock to print etchings whilst she was Artist-in-Residence at ANU, Canberra

1977         Appointed as Printmaking Technician at Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne

1978         First one person show at Stuart Gerstman Gallery, Melbourne

1979         Visited England and France

1981         Exhibition at Stuart Gerstman Galleries of small scale etchings. Work purchased by National Gallery, Canberra. Appointed lecturer at Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne

1983         First exhibition at Macquarie Galleries, Sydney. Commenced first ‘Parrot’ Series of etchings Who Shot the Parrot?. Visited Italy, France and UK

1985         Exhibited at Gerstman Abdullah Fine Arts International, Cologne, West Germany. Awarded the Maitland Art Prize for etching Man with Case

1986        Worked for 6 months at John Walker’s studio in London. Also visited Italy and France. Exhibited at Los Angeles Arts Fair. Commenced printing with Michel Szczepanski

1989        First exhibition in London at Rebecca Hossack Gallery. Travelled to London and France

1992        Awarded Australian Council Grant. Awarded Mitchelton Print Prize. Worked at Australian Print Workshop on large scale prints and a set of  erotic etchings

1996        Travelled to England and Paris with son Eric

1997        Travelled to Red Centre visiting Aboriginal  communities and viewing indigenous paintings

1999        Moved to studio in Brooklyn, Melbourne

2000        Resigned lecturing position to concentrate full time on own work. Travelled in light aircraft to Northern Territory and Western Australian visiting Bungle Bungles, Lake Eyre and Coober Pedy

2001       Travelled along the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley visiting aboriginal art sites

2002       Travelled to Arnhamland to see aboriginal rock art sites and dwelling sites

2004       Travelled to London, Paris and Southern Spain

2006       Travelled to New York

2007       Awarded Wynne Trustees Watercolour Prize

2009       Winner of the Wynee Trustees Watercolour Prize. Travelled to Tuscany and London. Finalist Dobell Prize, Gallery of NSW

2011       Winner of the Wynee Trustees Watercolour Prize. Travelled to Sicily, France and London

2012       Finalist, Wynee Trustees Landscape Prize

2013       Finalist, Fleurieu Art Prize, South Australia

Awards

2011       Winner of the Wynne Trustees Watercolour Prize, AGNSW

2009       Winner of the Wynne Trustees Watercolour Prize, AGNSW

2007       Winner of the Wynne Trustees Watercolour Prize, AGNSW

2006       Winner of the Wynne Trustees Watercolour Prize, AGNSW

2000       Winner of the Wynne Trustees Watercolour Prize, AGNSW

1992        Australia Council Grant

Michelton Print Prize

1985       Maitland Art Prize

1972       Bradford School of Art, Travelling Scholarship

COLLECTIONS

Art Bank O.T.C Australia

Art TrustOve Arup & Partners

Arthur Anderson & C0., MelbournePacific Brands

Australian Art Investment TrustParliament House

Australian National Gallery, CanberraPrint Council of Australia

Australian Print Workshop,Queensland State Gallery

Ballarat City Art GalleryQueensland University of Technology

Bristol-Myers Squibb AustraliaSAATCHI & SAATCHI, London

Corrs Chambers WestgarthSouthcorp Holdings

Crown CasinoSparke Helmore

Deakin University, MelbourneSteel Case Australia P/L

Facioni NomineesThe Toronto Dominion Bank

Footscray College of TAFEUniversity of Southern Queensland

Geelong Art GalleryVEI Superannuation

George Patterson BatesVictorian Workcover Authority

GLAXO AustraliaWarnambool City Art Gallery

JawcambWaverley City Council, Melbourne

MainpointWollongong City Gallery

Maunsells Australia P/LNational Gallery of Victoria

PUBLICATION

Graham Fransella, Graham Fransella figures & landscapes: paintings and prints, 1984 – 2002.  Ed. Jenny Zimmer. South Yarra, Vic. Macmillan, c200