Ronald John Neal employs a classical technical style in combination with a contemporary situationist treatment of his subject matter, producing artworks imbued with a strikingly pensive sentimentality. Lauded for his exceptional talent since his first solo exhibition in 2002, Neal’s engaging compositions and exceptional painterly & drawing skills have seen him nominated for several awards and high profile exhibitions including: the Brett Whitely Travelling Art Scholarship (2000); the 32nd Alice Invitation Prize (2002); and the Archibald Salon Des Refuses Exhibition for his portrait of Ron Barassi (2005).

BORN 1969

STUDIES
Master of Fine Arts (by research), Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Vic.
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Vic.
The New York Studio School Drawing Marathon, Adelaide Centra School of Art.
1997-98 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Vic.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2009 Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2008 Back To Dullsville, Linton & Kay Gallery, Subiaco WA
2007 From The Waters Edge, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, NSW
Recent Works, Temple Gallery, Sorrento, Vic
2006 The Devil’s Garden Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, NSW
Recent Works, Temple Gallery, Sorrento, Vic
2005 West Of Dawn, Linton & Kay Gallery, S Subiaco WA
Recent Works, Temple Gallery, Sorrento, Vic
2004 The Journeyman Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, NSW.
2004 Peregrinator, Pollock Gallery, Richmond, Vic
2003 Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Seaforth, NSW.
Recent Works, Windows on Church Galleries, Richmond, Vic
2002 Headspace, Windows on Church Galleries, Richmond, Vic.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2005 Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Affordable Art Show, Melbourne and Sydney
A Portrait of Ron Barassi, Salon de Refuse 2005, Sydney, NSW
2004 Pollock Gallery, Affordable Art Show
2004 Temple Gallery, Sorrento Vic.
2002 32nd Alice Invitation Prize, Alice Spings, NT.
2001 South’ Deputy Premiere’s Office, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne,
South Side, Watch Tower Studio, South Melbourne Town Hall,
2000 Square, Gallery 101, Melbourne, Vic
ARTART, Monash Gallery, Clayton, Vic.
Finalist – ‘The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship 2000’.
Exhibition, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney, NSW.
1999 Stand 33, Gallery 101, Melbourne, Vic.
Review ’99’, Gallery 101, Melbourne, Vic.
The Lucato Peace Prize, Monash University, Faculty of Art and Design, Vic.
Panorama, Gallery 101, Melbourne
1998 Impact: Art for a World Identity, Monash Gallery, Clayton, Vic.
Graduate Exhibition, Monash University, Faculty of Art & Design,Vic.
The Lucato Peace Prize, Monash University, Faculty of Art and Design,Vic.
On the Line, Monash University, Faculty of Art & Design, Vic.
The New York Studio School Drawing Marathon Exhibition, Adelaide Central School of Art,SA
1997 The Lucato Peace Prize, Monash University, Faculty of Art and Design,Vic.
1996 Solo – ‘The Reconciliation (Mindscapes & Landscapes)’, Sir Reginald Ansett Hall, The Peninsula Church of England School, Mt Eliza,

AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

2009 Artist in Residence, Drawing Seminar, Toorak College, Mt. Eliza, Vic.
2006 Artist in Residence, Drawing Seminar, Toorak College, Mt. Eliza, Vic.
2005 Artist in Residence, St.Margeret’s School, Berwick, Vic.
2002 Artist in Residence, Year 12 art camp, Peninsula Church of England School, Glenmaggie Camp Facility, Gippsland, Vic.
Guest Artist, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale Glenmaggie Summer School.
2001 Artist in Residence, Year 11 & 12 art camp, Peninsula Church of England School, Glenmaggie Camp Facility, Gippsland, Vic.
2000 Finalist – The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship 2000.
M.G.S. Award: The Monash Graduate Scholarship, Monash University, Faculty of Art and Design, Vic.
1998 Open Day Painting Award, Monash University, Faculty of Art and Design,Vic.
1997 Award for Painting Excellence, Monash University, Faculty of Art & Design, Vic.
1996 Artist in Residence, Peninsula Church of England School, Glenmaggie Camp Facility, Gippsland, Vic.
Portrait commission for the Principal, Mr. Ray Hille, Peninsula Church of England School, Mt Eliza, Vic.
1995 Artist in Residence, Lane Cove Municipal Council, Lane Cove, NSW.
Artist in Residence, Manly Municipal Council, ‘The Roundhouse’ Mural Commission, Fairlight, NSW.
1992 Album Cover of the Year, Noisework’s ‘Love vs. Money’ LP, by A.M.I.A.

PUBLICATIONS

2004 Impress Interval – Art Review/Megan Sloley – Dec 24 Issue.
Manly Times, Front-page Feature. Mid Oct issue.
2003 The Age Review – Visual Art/Robert Nelson wed Aug 20, 2003.
SOUTH. Emerging artists on the south arts scene, 2001 Calendar Watch Tower
Studio, South Melb.
2000 ART GALLERY GUIDE, April 2000 ed. front cover, Mount Eagle Publications,
Heidelberg, Vic.
1999 SEARCH; Selected Work by Students from the Faculty of Art and Design,
catalogue, Monash University, Monash University Gallery.
1998 IMPACT: art for a world identity, catalogue, Monash University Faculty of Art &
Design, Monash University Gallery

Born in Beijing, China in 1953, Zhao emigrated to Australia in October 2001. He was a Professor at the Capital Normal University in Beijing. His work was seen in the All-China Teachers exhibition in 1987, The Great Wall exhibition in 1988 and the National Art Exhibition in 1992. He has had four solo shows in Rome, the most recent in 2000, and won the Campidolio Oro gold award in 1993 from the International Institute of Cultural Unity of Italy. In June 2001, he was the only Asian-Pacific artist represented in the first Men for Earth exhibition for the United Nations in Rome where he was awarded a silver medal. In 2003 he won People’s Choice for his portrait of Professor Stephen FitzGerald in the Archibald Prize.