Shelley O'Keefe | 'I am not an object'

Artist Statement

Art reflects the cultural norms in society today.

As an artist, my works reflect issues and attitudes manifest in this century that affect women and their position in society as well as the current geopolitical events which impact on our lives and that of future generations.

My hope is that my art can evoke a response that allows us to want to live in a more tolerant, fair and equitable society

Artist Bio

Shelley O’Keefe CV 2025 (an abridged edition)

EDUCATION

1976: Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts), University of Sydney

1978: Diploma of Education, Sydney Teachers College

1989: Masters in Adult Education, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

RECENT EXHIBITIONS - brief summary

2024 Christmas Group Show, Red Gallery end of year exhibition

2024 ‘Articulate Turns  Fourteen’, group show, Articulate Project Space, Sydney

2024 ‘You Look Good. On Paper.’ Red Gallery group exhibition

2024 ‘Women in Art’ exhibition promoted by Nambucca Women’s Business

2022 ‘Women Protest’ Red Gallery,(Gallery 4)Fitzroy, Victoria

2022 ‘Misconceptions Reset’, Collective Four, Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney

‘2022 ‘Northern Exposure 7’. Showcasing Mid North Coast Artists, Glasshouse Port      Macquarie Regional Gallery

2022 ‘Misconceptions’, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale 

2021 ‘Metamorphosis’ Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney, on-line exhibition, 19 August – 10 October, 2021 

https://www.gallerylanecove.com.au/metamorphosis-virtual-exhibition

2019 ‘Field of Vision’, Tapir Gallery, Berlin 

2018 ‘Everything Flows’, Tapir Gallery, Berlin

RESIDENCIES 

2020 Gallery Lane Cove residency

2019 TAKT Berlin residency, 2018 TAKT Berlin residency

ARTIST GROUPS 

TAKT Alumni, Shelley is currently part of the Sydney based group VOX 421 and the Bellingen based art group, Collective Four

She is a volunteer curator for the Art Space Gallery in Urunga, NSW, and for the past 10 years was a board member on Arts Mid North Coast  (for regional development of the arts)

Videos

2021 September: Gallery Lane Cove zoom session Artist discussion and demonstration. https://youtu.be/p8ote5d-Xiw 

Demonstration on Mixed Media -https://youtu.be/1CNyDr2tUYw