Frank
Malerba is an Australian based artist who is part of a new wave of Pop-Realism,
Described as Pop-Erotica, his sexy urban art has attracted a new generation
of art collectors.
Malerba has a vigorous and unique drawing style. He uses sensual flowing
lines to depict the female form, combined with text to create dynamic,
figurative paintings, sculptures and photography.Recognizable at a glance,
his bold modern imagery of women beautifully captures the many fleeting
moods of his models.
Forthright and expressive, his portrayal
of women can only be described as sensual. Using text as design and sensuous
imagery together, Malerba sees his urban style as a snapshot of today’s
women, on the edge of today’s culture. Text becomes texture in his
work, often creating the whole background or at the very least influencing
one’s perception of a painting. Much like a 3D image, his line drawings
merge and emerge from and through each other and the words.The selection
of text in his paintings such as Explore, Free, Sweet, Attitude, Cool
and Fuck is key to evoking the assortment of moods and meanings found
in his paintings.
Frank's distinctive style has been commissioned and used for corporate
logos, publications, business cards and wine labels. His work is featured
in many private collections in Australia, Italy, Hong Kong, Tokyo and
the UK.
Malerba exhibits with Jackman Gallery in St, Kilda, Australia.
Frank says "When you create something you’re really happy with,
it throws out a challenge to better it with the next work. The reward
for me is that art bestows an almost ethereal gift – the total freedom
to be yourself.”
SOLO
EXHIBITIONS
2007 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2006 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2005 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2004 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2004 Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2003 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2002 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2001 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2000 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1999 Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2007 Sculpture 19 Robin Gibson Gallery Sydney , Australia
2006 Sculpture 18, Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2006 Directors Choice, Christopher Rimmer Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2005 Discovery Art Show, Gasworks Art Park. Melbourne, Australia
2005 Willoughby Art Prize, Sydney, Australia
2005 Artists for Kids Trust, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2004 Paper Show, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2004 Cromwells Art Prize, Touring Exhibition, Sydney, Melbourne, Washington
2004 Artists for Kids Trust, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2003 Blue Show, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2003 Urban Life, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2003 Artists for Kids Trust, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2002 R-Rated Show, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2002 Red Show, Jackman Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2002 Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2002 Gadfly Gallery, Perth, Australia
2000 Southside Arts, Treasury Place, Melbourne, Australia
AWARDS
2008 Winner of Contempora
Public Choice Award
2008 Finalist, Stanthorpe Art Prize
2008 Sculpture, at Heritage, Victoria
2008 Sculpture Biennial, Wangaratta, Victoria
2008 Finalist, Contempora II Sculpture Prize, Melbourne, Australia
2007 Finalist, Prometheus Visual Arts Award, Gold Coast, Australia
2007 Finalist, Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition, Yarra Valley, Australia
2007Finalist, Swell Festival of Sculpture, Currumbin, Queensland
2007 Finalist, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, Australia
2006 Finalist, Robert Jacks Drawing Prize
2006 Finalist, Nude Show, Andrew Crawford Gallery, Sydney
2006 Finalist, Toorak Village Festival of Sculpture, Melbourne, Australia
2006 Finalist, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney, Australia
2006 Finalist, Contempora 2 Sculpture Prize, Melbourne, Australia
2005 Finalist, Cromwells Art Prize, Sydney, Australia
2005 Finalist, Willoughby Art Prize, Sydney, Australia
2004 Finalist, Cromwells Art Prize, Sydney, Australia
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2008 Inside Out Magazine, March/April Edition
2004 Black & White Magazine, No 63, page 6 Home Beautiful, May Edition
2003 The Age, Diary, Domain Section, November Herald Sun, Arts & Entertainment,
page 91, February 14 Variety, The Childrens Charity, Cover, September
18
2002 Herald Sun, Review, Arts & Entertainment, page 90, September
2
The Australian Financial Review, Arts, page 63, October 10 Jeff Makin
'Culture Differences', Herald Sun, October 14 (Inside) Interior Review,
No 22, page 40-41
2001 The Age, Good Weekend Magazine, page 11,October 6, The Emerald Hill
Times, Metro Review, page 11, October 3, Antiques & Art, page 78,
November Ð March Ferntree Gully Art Society, 'The Hut' Collection
and Publication, A History of the Ferntree Gully Arts Society
OTHER
Woongara Winery, Wine Label Design, Victoria, Australia, 2006
Ugly Sister, Design of Restaurant Interior, Melbourne, Australia, 2005
Fashion Exposed Poster, Melbourne Australia, 2004
MDA, Television Drama Series, works featured in television sets, Australia
Broadcasting Commission, Melbourne, Australia, 2004
Secret Life of Us, Television Drama Series, works featured in television
sets, Channel 9, Melbourne, Australia, 2004
Tolarno Boutique Hotel Brochure, works featured in penthouse, St. Kilda,
Melbourne Australia, since 2004
Getaway, Lifestyle Television Series, Tolarno Boutique Hotel, Channel
9, Melbourne, Australia, 2004
Stingers, Television Drama Series, works featured in television sets,
Channel 9, Melbourne, Australia, 2003
'Conversation in a Brothel', play directed by Lill Legard, work featured
in stage set, Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia, 2003