Jane McKay is an Australian artist whose works have been exhibited nationally and internationally. She is also a published author and primary school teacher. Her first book ‘Tess and the Star Traveller’ was published in 2004. As a teacher, she has initiated the creation of stunning public art projects with local primary schools. She has been a panel member in a number of writer’s festivals and is judge and curator of the Shaun Tan art award.

In her art, the land is portrayed both as place and as life essence. Her paintings are an expression of the vast open spaces of the natural environment, with the distant horizon line conveying the great expanse of the landscape. As well, she adds small details mirroring the minutiae of the natural world.

Her paintings reflect our emotional response and connection to the land and capture elements of textural nuance and emotive verve. The pigment appears in layers as though the colour is woven into a dense surface plane of abstraction. Skilfully executed in style, structure, and perspective the paintings convey a sense of the transcendent, striving for meaning beyond the boundaries of logic.

GRANTS AND AWARDS

2005 Community and cultural development grant, Jolimont primary school, centenary art projects

2005 Artflight grant from ArtsWA for exhibition at BGH gallery, Los Angeles

2004 Highly commended, Victoria Park art award

2003 Artflight grant from ArtsWA for group exhibition at Span galleries, Melbourne

2002 Rosalie primary school, community and cultural development grant from the City of Subiaco

2000 Art on the move grant, Vivarts touring exhibition, 'away from home', throughout WA

COMMISSIONS AND PROJECTS

2005 Jolimont primary school, centenary art projects

2005 Curating and judging Shaun Tan art award

2004 Art from recycled materials, seven workshops for the City of Subiaco

2004 City of Cambridge, design of banner for council week

2004 Curating and judging Shaun Tan art award

2003 Short-listed for MetroRail Railway percent for art project, Perth

2003 Curating and judging Shaun Tan art award

2003 Artist in residence, August-September, Churchlands senior high school

2003 Co-ordination of City of Subiaco library - mural project painted by Shaun Tan, Perth

2002 Rosalie primary school, ‘under the sea’, mosaic project with year 5 students

2002 Co-ordination of City of Subiaco children’s library - mural project painted by children’s illustrator Shaun Tan, Perth

2002 Judge for the All Saints literature festival for the primary art category

2001 City of Subiaco library, commission for 'transitions', mosaic, 300 x 100 cm, Perth

1997 Double portrait - oil painting, private collector Sydney

1996 Portrait - pencil drawing, private collector Sydney

1996 Pastel drawing, private collector Sydney

COLLECTIONS
Austrade (Australian Trade Commission) Singapore
City of Subiaco
Voyager Estate Winery
Powell Management Services
Wilson & Atkinson Barristers and Solicitors
Chambers of Francis Burt
Real Asset Services
Moora Fine Art Society
Seaforth Print Collection - Sydney
Law School - Macquarie University
Private collectors in Australia, United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada, USA and Singapore

Rural trance

Symphony

Red wash

Harmony