Artists

Michael Ciavarella

Bio  /  CV

Michael Ciavarella was born in Victoria, but now resides in the Sunshine Coast. Ciavarella's aim as a minimalist artist is to inspire dialogue between the viewer and the artwork itself; evoking a sense of introspection and invite individual understandings and interpretations of the work.

"I believe that through the reduction of visual elements, we can glimpse the profound beauty that resides within the minimal, and in doing so, find a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us."

Career History
• 2020 – present Pottery Workshop Classes, Butter Factory Art Centre, Cooroy
• 2019 – Artwork Installation, Butter Factory Art Centre, Cooroy
• 2010 – present Workshop Facilitator, Matchbox Show Project, Noosa and Caloundra Regional Gallery, Cooroy Butter Factory, Sunshine Coast TAFE, Incinerator Art Centre, Moonee Ponds Victoria
• 2005 – 2009 Workshop Facilitator, Woodford Paving Project, Woodford Festival
• 1995 – 2015 Arts Teacher, Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE, Noosa Arts Centre

Education
• 2012 Certificate IV, Workplace Training & Assessment, TAFE Sunshine Coast
• 1989 – 1992 Bachelor of Arts (Ceramics), La Trobe University, Victoria

Exhibitions
• 2023 The Cooroy Butter Factory, Cooroy
• 2022 The G Contemporary, Noosa
• 2022 EDIT-ism, Outer Space, Brisbane
• 2022 Artist in Session, Studio 26, Peregian Beach
• 2021 Floating Land, Boreen Point
• 2019 Wan’din’in Gallery, Eumundi
• 2017 Berkelouw Café, Eumundi
• 2016 ‘The Iron Cage Project’ Eumundi
• 2016 Quixotica Gallery, Cooroy
• 2014 Makers Gallery, Brisbane
• 2010 ‘Up in Smoke’, The Gallery Eumundi, Eumundi
• 2006 Fusions Art Gallery, Brisbane
• 1998 Northcote Pottery, Melbourne
• 1997 Tate Gallery, Noosa
• 1993 Who Art Gallery, Shepparton
• 1992 Bendigo College Gallery, Bendigo 

Grants
• 2016 RADF Projects (Iron Cage Project with Zoe Martin)
• 2011 Arts Queensland (Exhibition/Workshops Wide Bay Regional Galleries)
• 2011 RADF Projects (Exhibition/Workshops Noosa Regional Gallery)
• 1999 RADF Funding (Blackall Workshop Queensland)
• 1998 RADF Funding (Barcaldine Workshop Queensland) 

Awards
• 1997 Winner, Churchie Emerging Artist
• 1994 Special Commendation, Churchie Emerging Artist
• 1992 Student Award National Art & Design, Melbourne 

Projects & Public Art Commissions
• 2021 The Matchbox Show, Creative Director, Shepparton Art Festival, Shepparton, Victoria
• 2011 ‘Incinerator Art Centre’ Moonee Ponds, Melbourne
• 2011 ‘RADF Show Case’ Nambour
• 2011 ‘Up in Smoke’ Matchbox Exhibition Noosa Regional Gallery
• 2010 Matchbox Exhibition
• 2006 Well Project for Pottery Village, Rajasthan, India
• 2001 Public Art, Duporth Avenue, Maroochydore, QLD
• 1998 Tamba Kiln Building Workshop, Collaboration with Japanese Master
• 1998 Public Art, Co-ordination/TAFE Liaison of Cooroy Streetscape Project 

Work