ALEXANDER SPREMBERG
1950 Born Hamburg, Germany
1982 Arrived Australia
Lives and works in Perth, WA
Education/Teaching
2017 Doctor of Philosophy, Curtin University, Western Austraila
1994 – 2017 Lecturer in Painting, Central Institute of Technology
2003, 2007-2011 Guest lecturer, Curtin University of Technology
1995 – 1996 Lecturer in Painting, Edith Cowan University
1972 – 1978 Hochschule für bildende Künste, Hamburg, Germany
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Delirium, Artist in Residence, Spectrum Project Space, Edith Cowan University
2018 Liquid Geometries, Art Collective of WA, Perth
2017 Test Objects, Sydney Contemporary Installation, Sydney
2015 Liquid Systems: Grids that flow, Art Collective of WA, Perth
2011 Wrong Angles, PICA Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (cat.)
2009 Million Moments, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth
2008 Perceptual Objects, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne (cat.)
2006 Alex Spremberg: Paint Works, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne (cat.)
2005 Paint Works, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth (cat.)
2004 Alex Spremberg: paint and process, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne
2002 Gravity Works, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth (cat.)
2000 The Colour of Paint, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth
Making Hay, International Art Space, Kellerberrin
1999 Paintings, Annandale Galleries, Sydney
1996 Painting? Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth
1994 Painting 1976 – 1994, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, UWA (cat.)
Kunst und Form, Essen, Germany
1993 Support, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth
1992 High, Wide and Deep, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth
1991 Basic Tables, Deutscher Fine Art, Melbourne
1990 Recent Paintings, Gore Street Gallery, Melbourne
New Paintings, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth
1989 The Beach, Perth
Festival of Perth Exhibition, Delaney Galleries, Perth
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018 Here and Now 2018, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, UWA (cat.)
2017 Higher Degrees 17, John Curtin Gallery, Perth
2016 WA Focus TR + AS + JW, Art Gallery of WA (cat. on line)
Polygraphics: Walking the line, Gallery Central, Perth (cat.)
2015 Bank West Art Prize, Bank West Building, Perth (cat.)
2015 Art Collective at Vasse Felix, Vasse Felix Wineries, Margaret River (cat.)
2014 One Place after Another AC4CA, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (cat.)
Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award, Fremantle Arts Centre
Painting is dead – long live painting, Melody Smith Gallery, Perth
2013 Of Light – Reflections on colour, Banyule Award for works on paper, Melbourne (cat.)
Art Collective WA 2, WA Art Collective, Perth
The times they are a changing, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth
2012 Luminous World – Contemporary art from the Wesfarmers Collection, Art Gallery of WA (cat.)
Bankwest Contemporary Art Prize
Print Award 2012, Fremantle Arts Centre (cat.)
AC4CA at FABRIKculture, Hegenheim, France
AC4CA at Paris Concrete, Paris, France
PICA Salon, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Form, Process and Materiality, The Oats Factory, Perth
Farbe jetzt! Gesellschaft für Kunst und Gestaltung e. V. Bonn, Germany
2011 Konkret 2, Goddard de Fiddes, Perth
2010 The Navigators, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne
Slower – smaller – less, Galerie Stella A., Berlin, Germany
SNO 57, 5years, 50shows, 500artists, SNO Contemporary Art Projects, Sydney (cat.)
2009 Wir aber wollen uns erinnern 10 years Stella A., Galerie Stella A., Berlin, Germany
reductive, ACGA Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne (cat.)
Draw the Line: the Architecture of LAB, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
SNO 45, AC4CA at SNO Contemporary Art Projects, Sydney (cat.)
Yellow Vest Syndrome: recent west Australian art, Fremantle Art Centre, Fremantle (cat.)
2008 Kunst in Basel, Katharina Krohn Galerie, Basel, Switzerland
2007 Christmas Exhibition, Katharina Krohn Galerie, Basel, Switzerland
Salt Seller, Galerie Stella A., Berlin, Germany
Staffroom, Curtin University Art Department, Moores Building, Fremantle
2006 Regionale, Kunsthaus L6, Freiburg, Germany
AC4CA at g&A Studio, Sydney
2005 AC4CA at the Moores Building, Fremantle (cat.)
AC4CA at the SNO Group, Factory 11, Sydney
Shelf life, Galerie Dusseldorf, Festival of Perth
2004 BankWest Contemporary Art Prize, Perth Institute for Contemporary Art
Image of Longing, Galerie Beeld & Aambeeld, Qua-art, Enschede, Netherlands (cat.)
Konkret, Goddard de Fiddes, Perth
2003 Simple Art, Galerie Stella A., Berlin, Germany
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Art Award Exhibition, Church Gallery, Perth
2002 BankWest Contemporary Art Prize, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
in abstract, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of WA, Perth (cat.)
IASKA Out of Site, John Curtin Gallery, Perth and touring throughout Australia (cat.)
Material Colour – Painting + Phenomenology, Goddard de Fiddes Gallery, Perth
2001 BankWest Contemporary Art Prize, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art
gallery heimatlos at The Church Gallery, Perth
Art 01, Perth International Artfest
2001 Side by Side, Art Gallery of Western Australia
Redlands Westpac Art Prize 2000, NSW
Nackte Erscheinung, Galerie Stella A., Berlin, Germany
The Colour of Water, Galerie Düsseldorf, Perth International Festival of the Arts
1999 Drawings and Marquettes, Mandurah, WA
1997 Galerie Dusseldorf – 21 Years Anniversary
Artist in Residence, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA
1993 The Margaret Stewart Endowment: Part 2, National Gallery of Victoria
1992 Artist’s Choice, Greenhill Galleries, Perth, WA
1991 Customs House Show III, Fremantle, WA
1990 October, The Beach, Fremantle, WA
Here and Now, Art Gallery of Western Australia
Art Dock, Exhibition of Contemporary Australian Art, Noumea, New Caledonia
1989 Gotham Goes Shopping, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA
Pilasters, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA
1987 Triptychs, Praxis, Fremantle, WA
Collections
National Gallery of Australia; National Gallery of Victoria; Art Gallery of Western Australia; Art Gallery of South Australia; Artbank; University of Western Australia; Curtin University; Edith Cowan University; Murdoch University, Central Institute of Technology, WA; Holmes à Court; Wesfarmers; Bank-West; Royal Perth Hospital; King Edward Memorial Hospital; Perth Dental Hospital; KPMG Bishops See Art Perth; City of Fremantle; Legal Aid Victoria; Little Collection – Little Creatures Brewing; DaimlerChrysler Contemporary, Berlin. Private collections in Australia and Germany
Collaborations
2002 – current Australian Centre for Concrete Art (AC4CA)
2008 – 2010 Third Week (Feedback)
2000 – 2002 gallery heimatlos
1997 – 1998 Terminus
1989 – 1992 Paint Kaput
Grants, Awards and Residencies
2020 Artist in Residence, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, Australia
2019 Artist in Residence, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
2012 Creative Development Grant for AC4CA at FabrikCulture, France, DCA
2007 Creative Development Fellowship Grant, ArtsWA
2006 International Artists Exchange Program, Basel, Switzerland
2005 New Work Grant, WA Department of Culture and the Arts
2005 Artitude Prize Telethon Speech + hearing
2004 BankWest Contemporary Art Prize (1st Prize)
2004 New Work Grant, Australia Council for the Arts
2004 Project Grant, ArtsWA, Department of Culture and the Arts
2002 People’s Choice Award, BankWest Contemporary Art Prize
2000 International Art Space Kellerberin, Residency
2000 New Work Grant, Australia Council for the Arts
1997 Project Grant, ArtsWA, Ministry for Culture and The Arts
1991 Creative Development Grant, WA Department for the Arts
Public Projects
2018 PICA ramp mural, Perth, in collaboration with AC4CA
2017 Historic Heart, East End Perth Revitalisation Public Art Project
2013 Colour Collective, Public Artwork for Narrogin Senior High School, Narrogin
2011 Design of Wrap for Toyota Rukus, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
2008 Design for façade of Heidelberg House, Osborne Park
2006 Henry St. Wall mural, Fremantle, in collaboration with AC4CA
2005 Artwork for the Challenger Tafe Maritime Centre, Fremantle Campus
2003 The Rage in Placid Lake, a film by Tony McNamara
2003 Design of re-painting Queensgate Carpark, Fremantle, in collaboration with AC4CA
2001 Five Entrance artworks for Armadale Health Centre, in collaboration with L. Hankel
Selected Bibliography
Auty, G; Older and wiser, The Weekend Australian, 1 May 1999
Barrett-Lennard, J; in abstract, exhibition catalogue, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Uni. of WA, 2002
Barrett-Lennard, J; Looking to Basics: Reductive Painting in the Here & Now, Fremantle Arts
Behn,M; Doepping,D; Stella A., catalogue, 12 Jahre
Besacier, H; One Place after Another AC4CA, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014
Blond, S; Car parks come to life, The West Australian Weekend extra, December 2003
Blond, S; Perceptual Objects, exhibition catalogue, K. Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne 2008
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, February 16, 1989
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, 19 August 1989
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, 5 May 1990
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, 23 May 1992
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, 2 November 1992
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, 10 July 1993
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, 18 June 1994
Bromfield, D; On Show, The West Australian, 2 November 1996
Bromfield, D; Laid on to good effect, The West Australian, 9 December 2000
Crawford, A; Paint Works, exhibition catalogue, Gal. Dusseldorf 2005, K. Woodbury Gal. 2006
Ferlin, F; Hegenheim Le mouvement AC4CA a la FabrikCulture, L’Alsace Saint Louis, 10. Sept. 2012
Gaynor, A; Western review, July 1994
Goddard, J; One Place after Another AC4CA, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014
Herold, T; Langsamer, kleiner, weniger, Berliner Zeitung, 30. March 2010
Legge, J; Art in review, Insite 3, summer 04/05
Marcon, M; Painterly Investigations, Praxis M, No 23, July, 1989
Marcon, M; Alexander Spremberg, Art Monthly, June 1990
Marcon, M; Alex Spremberg, Art & Text, No 46, September 1993
Marcon, M; Alex Spremberg: painting 1976-1994, Art and Australia, Autumn Issue 1989, vol. 26 no. 3
Marcon, M; IASKA Out of Site, exhibition catalogue, International Art Space, Kellerberrin, 2002
Morrison, L; Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award, 2014; Imprint Vol. 50 No. 1, 2015
Mougel, G; De l’espace au concret, Hegenheim, Exposition a la Fabrikculture… DNA, 5. Sept. 2012
Mougel, G; L’experience unique du regard, Hegenheim La Fabrikculture, DNA, 9. Sept. 2012
McGrath, J; Gallery Heimaltos, Xpress Magazine, October 2001
McNamara, P; Towards emotive clarification, Praxis M, no. 25, December 1989
Moore, M; The Queensgate Car Park, Artlink, vol. 24 no. 1, April 2004
Nicholls, A; An artrageous renaissance, SHOUT, December 2002
Peake, C; Interview on Artperth.com (http://artperth.com/interviews/sprembergalex/index.html)
Purvis, A; Alex Spremberg: Wrong Angles, Art and Australia Vol. 49/3, 2012
Robb, L; Wrong Angles catalogue, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2011
Robb, L; One Place after Another AC4CA, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014
Rule, D; Reductive, The Age, 21. Nov. 2009
Schwartz, N; Wallpaper, Artlink, Vol. 30, No. 3, September 2010
Snell, T; After hibernation, a big yawn, The Australian, 1 March 1989
Snell, T; Work that turns the glass on itself, The Australian, 31 August 1989
Snell, T; European influence stretches our view, The Australian, 21 May 1992
Snell, T; Fascination of watching paint dry, The Australian, 11 December 2000
Snell, T; Perceptual encounters, The Weekend Australian, 7-8 September 2002
Snell, T; Urban windows of opportunity, Weekend Australian, January 10-11, 2004
Snell, T; Alex Spremberg: Paint-Works, Artlink, vol. 25 no. 4, December 2005
Spencer, R; Prize focus on double dissolution, The West Australian, 11 December 2004
Spencer, R; Hard but flair, The West Australian, 26 November 2005
Spencer, R; Yellow; the creative colour, Yellow Vest Syndrome, exhibition catalogue, Jan.- March 2009
Spencer, R; Becomings; exhibition essay, The Oats Factory, July 2012
Stringer, J; Artist-in-residence, publication produced with Richard Woldendorp
Stringer, J; Paint Works, exhibition catalogue, Gal. Dusseldorf 2005, K. Woodbury Gal. 2006 V. Schoenebeck, G; Farbe Jetzt! Bonner Generalanzeiger, 26. January 2012
Vickers, K; Yellow Vest Fever: digging and dealing, Art Monthly, Issue 223 Sept. 2009
Weston, N; Abstracting the essence of art, The West Australian, 21 September 2002
Weston, N; Whimsy gets under the skin, The West Australian, 30 November 2002
Wilson, L; WA Focus: TR + AS + JW, Art Gallery of WA, The West Australian, 18. March 2016