Biography

Marina Strocchi was born in Melbourne in 1961 and spent her formative years exploring, studying and working within the realm of painting and printmaking. Moving to the Northern Territory in 1992, Strocchi established the Ikuntji Art Centre at Haasts Bluff and has been extensively involved in arts programs across Central Desert communities for three decades. In April, 2021 Strocchi returned to Melbourne to set up life in the Yarra Valley. Strocchi has exhibited her work widely in Australia and internationally. Her works are held in many public and private collections both nationally and internationally.

Education

2019
Continuing Education American Art Therapy Association
2006
Etching and lithography, Northern Editions, CDU, Darwin
1994/96
Pintupi/Luritja Language Course, IAD Alice Springs
1986
Certificat de Langue Française, Sorbonne University, Paris
1979-82
Batchelor of Art, Swinburne Institute of Technology, Melbourne

Collections

Artbank
Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Australian National Gallery
B.H.P. Billiton
Broken Hill Art Gallery
Charles Darwin University, Darwin
D.H.H.C.S., Canberra
Environment Australia, Canberra
La Trobe University, Melbourne
Macquarie Bank
Museums and Art Galleries of the NT Darwin
National Gallery of Victoria
Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle
Parliament House, Canberra
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
St John of God Hospital Collection, Perth
State Library of Victoria
Tennant Creek Art Gallery
The Toga Group, Darwin
Palacio do Governo (Government House), East Timor
(Gifted to Jose Ramos Horta by Vice Chancellor, Charles Darwin University)
Dennis Scholl Collection, Miami, USA
Private Collections in Australia, Europe and USA

Solo Exhibitions

2020
New York, New Work, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Linework, The Residency, Alice Springs
Draw the Line, Redot Fine Art Gallery, online
2019
Terra Firma II, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Still Life, Artists in Museums at The Residency, Alice Springs
Terra Firma, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Coastal, Artitja Fine Art, South Fremantle, W.A.
2017
Near the shore, The Residency, Alice Springs
2016
At Home, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Drawings from the studio, The Residency, Alice Springs
2015
Marina Strocchi - A survey 1991-2015, CDU Art Gallery, Darwin
Domesticity, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Marina Strocchi, Art Images, Adelaide
Marina Strocchi, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Marina Strocchi - North and South - A Survey 1992-2014
A Survey 1992-2014, Katherine, Tennant Creek,
(Artback NT Touring)
From the studio, The Residency, Alice Springs
Marina Strocchi - A Survey 1992-2014, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs - view online here
2014
Marina Strocchi, Art Images Gallery, Adelaide
2013
Marina Strocchi, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2012
The Nature of Things, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
2011
North and South, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Territoryscapes, Harvey Art Projects, Sun Valley, Idaho, U.S.A.
2011
New Works, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney
2010
Territoryscapes, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
2009
Recent Works, Gallery 139, Adelaide
Recent Paintings, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2008
Paintings, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney
Marina Strocchi, Chapman Gallery, Canberra
2007
Recent Paintings, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
New Paintings, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
2006
The North Country, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney
Top End Paintings, Raft Art Space, Darwin
2005
Paintings, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
New Paintings, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2004
Marina Strocchi, Raft Art Space, Darwin
Recent Works, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Marina Strocchi, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney
2003
Paintings, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
2002
Paintings, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs
2001
Paintings, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
1998
Landscapes, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
1995
Marina Strocchi, ROAR Studios (small room), Melbourne

Awards and Prizes

2020
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Alice Springs
2019
Awarded Arts NT Fellowship (New York studio)
2018
Finalist, Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown, NSW
The Shark Institute Visual Arts Residency, Kangaroo Valley, NSW
2017
Finalist, EMSLA Still Life Award, Wollongong, NSW
Finalist, Tattersall’s Club Landscape prize, Brisbane, Qld
2015
Finalist, Tattersall’s Club Landscape prize, Brisbane, Qld
2012
Highly commended, The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize
Finalist, Salon des Refusés
(the alternative Archibald and Wynne Prize)
S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs, NT
2011
Finalist, The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize,
Museum of South Australia
2010
Finalist, The Wynne, finalist, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, NT
2009
Winner, Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular, Qld
Category 1: Best acrylic/oil
Finalist, Togart Contemporary Art Award,
Parliament House, Darwin
2006
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Alice Springs, NT
Finalist, Togart Contemporary Art Award,
Parliament House, Darwin
2003
Winner, Broken Hill Art Award, winner, NSW
2004
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Alice Springs, NT
2001
Winner, CWA Tennant Creek Art Award, winner, NT
1999
Finalist, NT Art Award, Alice Springs
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Alice Springs
1996
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Alice Springs
1995
Finalist, NT Art Award, Alice Springs
Finalist, The Alice Prize, Alice Springs
1994
Finalist, NT Art Award, Alice Springs
1993
Finalist, NT Art Award, Alice Springs
Finalist, Festival d'Affiches de Chaumont, Paris, France
1992
Finalist, Festival d'Affiches de Chaumont, Paris, France

Group Exhibitions

2020
Storylines and Songlines, Justin Art House Museum, Melbourne
Works on paper, Australian Galleriles, online
2019
Papermade, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Of People and Place, Araluen art collection exhibition,
Alice Springs
2018
Presence: a dialogue in country, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
Spring 1883, Melbourne Art Fair, Jan Murphy Gallery
Royals at The Res, The Residency, Alice Springs
Celebrating the Year - Curator’s Choice,
Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2017
Dog Days, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Launch – Stockrooms, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Having a voice, The Residency, Alice Springs
Ritratti Thirty-one Italian artists from Victoria, The Italian Cultural Institute, Melbourne
2016
It’s a dog’s life…, curated by Chips Makinolty, Darwin
Black, White and Restive, Newcastle Art Gallery
Paintings and Prints, Studio Five online
Eclectica. WWS Foundation Art Show, Mittagong
20/20 A Sense of Place, Whistlewood Gallery, Shoreham
2015
Group show, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Studio Five Pop up, Alice Springs
2014
The Age, Australia Day 2014 Celebratory Exhibition
Curated by artist Leo Robba, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
One of Each, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Botanica, Godinymayin Yijard Rivers
Botanica 2, Chan Contemporary Art Space
Ross Park Fundraiser - Marina Strocchi and Wayne Eager, pop-up
2013
The Age, Australia Day 2013 Celebratory Exhibition
Curated by artist Leo Robba, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
Metropolis’ Contemporary Printmakers, Geelong
Got the Message? 50 Years of Political Posters, Art Gallery Ballarat
Homage to Roy Jackson, Martin Browne Gallery, Sydney
Iggy, Marina, Neridah and Patsy, Raft Artspace, Alice Springs
2012
Small Works, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
The SAM Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, The National Archives of Australia, Canberra
Deck the Walls, Northern Editions, Darwin
2011
Collective Passions: The Art of Festival Posters, National Film and Sound Archive
The Nature of Things, CDU Art Gallery, Darwin
2010
Breaking with Tradition: Cobra and Aboriginal art
Museum of Contemporary Aboriginal Art, Utrecht,
The Netherlands
Northern Impressions - A Celebration of Contemporary Printmaking, National Tour
2010
Going Places, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
In Print, Charles Darwin University Art Collection
Stockroom Show, Raft, Alice Springs
2009
Salon des Refusés (the alternative Archibald and Wynne Prize)
S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Paper Cuts 1, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
Prelude, Charles Darwin University, Darwin
For Pete’s Sake, Deutscher and Hackett, Charity, Melbourne
2008
Divas of the Desert, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
The Sum of Us, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney
The Other Thing - a survey show, CDU, Darwin
2007
Alice 5, A P Bond Art Dealer, Adelaide
Marina Strocchi and Wayne Eager,
Northern Editions, CDU, Darwin
Squared, Greenhill Galleries, Perth
Marina Strocchi and Wayne Eager, Etchings, Michael Reid, Sydney
Big Country, Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
2006
Art for Peace Counihan Gallery, Melbourne
The Sound of the Sky, MAGNT, Darwin
Divas of the Desert Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
CARE Art Auction, Christine Abrahams Gallery, Melbourne
The Artist, the Community and the Land Plimsoll Gallery, Hobart
2 x 1 Show, Nellie Castan Gallery
Small Works Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2005
Group Show Peter Walker Fine Art, Adelaide
10 Year Anniversary Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Divas of the Desert Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
Red Planet Revolution The Artery, Fitzroy
Small Works Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
New Gallery Stock ’05, Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
2004
Floranova Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
Isle of Refuge, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs
Windows on Australian Art - Kids on Track MAGNT, Darwin
Small Works Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2003
Red Spot Special Nellie Castan Gallery, Melbourne
Small Works Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Christmas Show Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
End of year show, Raft, Darwin
2002
Windows on Australian Art, Museum & Art Gallery of the NT
Two Painters Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
Small Works Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2001
Marina Strocchi, Wayne Eager, Penny Watson, Linden Eager, Watch This Space, Alice Springs
1999
Powerful Posters Australian National Tour 1999-2000
1996
Roar Miniatures Show, Roar Studios, Melbourne
1995
Marina Strocchi (small room), Tanya Hoddinott, Alana Kennedy, Pamela Hyett, Roar Studios, Melbourne
The Home Show, Watch this Space, Alice Springs
1994
Red Planet in Orbit National Gallery of Victoria
1990
Redletter 10 year Retrospective, Mechanics Institute, Brunswick

Commisions

2013
Michelle de Kretser “Questions of Travel”
Paperback cover - winner of the 2013 - Miles Franklin award
2011
Alice Springs Desert festival artist – poster, t-shirt, postcard
2008
Michelle de Kretser “The Lost Dog” paperback cover
2001
Environment Australia, Old Parliament House, Canberra
1993
Painting for ACF Habitat article
DHHCS Canberra boardroom painting
1992
Melbourne Municipal Community Plant Trees
Painting for ACF Habitat cover

Published writing

2015
Marina Strocchi – A Survey
Essays by Sioux Garside, Sasha Grishin, Georges Petitjean,
John Kean (assisted by Arts NT)
Contributor - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
In the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, NGV
2009
Starting the unstoppable: Women’s painting at Haasts Bluff and Kintore with Zara Stanhope, Australian Aboriginal Art, Issue 1
2008
Daisy Napaltjarri Jugadai obituary, Art and Australia, Vol 46, No.1
Before Painting: Kintore Batiks, Across the Desert, NGV
2007
Long Tom Tjapanangka obituary, Art and Australia, Vol 44, No.3
2006
Minyma Tjukurrpa: Kintore/Haasts Bluff Canvas Project Dancing women to famous painters Artlink Volume 26 No 4
1999
Ikuntji Tjuta Touring Catalogue and Education Kit
1995
Ikuntji Paintings from Haasts Bluff 1992-94
Marina Strocchi, I.A.D. Press (reprinted 2001)
Kintore/Haasts Bluff Minyma Tjukurrpa Canvas Project
Exhibition Brochure

Papers

2015
Family Connections - Moving backwards into the future
Indigenous art course - NGV Ian Potter
2011
Look Both Ways, The Lyceum Club, Melbourne
2008
Before Painting: Kintore Batiks NGV Symposium
Across the Desert: Aboriginal Batik from Central Australia
2004
Bright Colours in the Desert
NGV Public Programs for Colour Power Exhibition
1998
Buying the Dreaming
The 6th Contemporary Art Fair, Melbourne

Employment

2020
Painting workshops at Hidden Valley for Tangentyere Artists
Painting workshops at Yarrenty Arltere Artists
2019
Painting workshops at Hidden Valley for Tangentyere
2018
Painting workshop at the Aralya painting camp for Ninuku Arts, Pipalyatjara
2014
Painting workshop at Papunya Tjupi Arts, Papunya
2013
Painting workshop at Warlayirti Artists, Balgo
2012
Painting workshop at Ikuntji Arts, Haasts Bluff
2011
Painting workshops at Iwantja Art Centre, Indulkana, S.A.
Yuelumu, N.T. and Coober Pedy, S.A.
2010
Co-curated Tjukurpa Pulkatjara exhibition with Wayne Eager
(a benchmark exhibition from the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara lands), held at the South Australian Museum
Painting workshop at Oak Valley, S.A.
2009
Painting workshop at Ninuku Arts, Kalka, S.A.
2006
Painting workshop at Warlukurlangu Artists, Yuendumu
Painting workshop at Irrunytju Artists, Wingellina
Travelled - Italy, Paris, Bern, Czech Republic
2004
Painting workshop at Warlukurlangu Artists, Yuendumu
2003
Lecturer Art & Craft Batchelor Institute, Alice Springs
Painting workshops at Titjikala, Amata, Yuendumu
2002
Lecturer Art & Craft Batchelor Institute, Alice Springs
Curated Kuka Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
2001
Lecturer Art & Craft Batchelor Institute, Alice Springs
Painting workshops Tennant Creek, Yuendumu
Curated A Bird in the Hand Gallery Gondwana, Alice Springs
2000
Tutored Art & Craft Batchelor Institute, Alice Springs
Public Programs for Ikuntji Tjuta Touring exhibition
1999
Field Officer, Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd
Tutored Art & Craft Batchelor Institute, Alice Springs
Launched Ikuntji Tjuta Touring exhibition
Public Programs for Ikuntji Tjuta Touring exhibition
(Campbelltown, Mosman, Adelaide, Broken Hill, Moree Plains, Logan, Gladstone, Alice Springs, Hervey Bay)
1998
Curated Ikuntji Tjuta Touring 1999-2000 exhibition in conjunction with Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery,
Funded by Visions, Australia Council (Education Kit) and Gordon Darling (Exhibition catalogue)
Travelled - Paris, Italy and Switzerland
1992-97
Founding coordinator of the Ikuntji Art Centre
Managed and promoted the artists,
Curated commercial exhibitions around Australia,
Placed work in public and private collections
1995
Curated Kintore/Haasts Bluff Minyma Tjukurrpa
Canvas Project (An exhibition at Tandanya, Adelaide.
Travelled with 14 women to Adelaide for the opening
Convened second painting workshop for Kintore/Haasts Bluff Minyma Tjukurrpa Canvas Project at Haasts Bluff
(resulting in 40 works on linen and paper)
1994
Convened first painting workshop for Kintore/Haasts Bluff
Minyma Tjukurrpa Canvas Project at Kintore (5 large works were painted)
1992
Established the Ikuntji Art Centre at Haasts Bluff (August)
DEET Skillshare screen printing tutor
Artist in community painting project CAST
1990- 91
Artist in community painting project
Anti Cancer Council – produced 4 posters
Artist in community (Australia Council) CERES booklet project
Small screen print business - designing and printing t towels
1990
Travelled - India
1988 - 89
Artist in residence - Australia Council
Redletter screen print poster workshop
1988
Artist in residence Melbourne Moomba Festival
Designed and screen printed 300 banners
1987
Art Supervisor at Kew Cottages
Screen printing and painting workshops with clients
1985 - 87
Travelled - Europe with extended stays in Florence, Paris and Mexico (via New York)
1984
Graphic Designer Sharon Kolski Graphics
Graphic Designer Caulfield Council
1983
Freelance Graphic Designer and photographer
Clients: Tempo Magazine
The Journey a film by Peter Watkins
In the Ghetto Nick Cave record cover
From Her to Eternity Nick Cave album cover
The Moodists The Moodists' album cover
1982
Study Tour of Japan with Swinburne University
Travelled - Hong Kong and Manila

Selected Publications

2020
Kieran Finanne, Desert art centres adapt to the pandemic, Artlink
Kirene Finnane, What we see in our country, Yarrenyty Arltere 20 years on, Alice Springs News
2019
Taking a line for a walk, Art Monthly, April
Bec Bowman, Women Painters of the Desert, Artbeat on RTRFM Radio, 8 March - listen here
Sarah McNeill “Salute to art from the Red Centre”,
Fremantle Post, 2 March
2018
The last of the 'big story' painters: The arts centre fostering the next generation of Indigenous artists, ABC Goldfields,
12 November
2015
Marina Strocchi – A Survey 1994 – 2014, Artlink, Issue 35:2, June
Kieran Finnane, Artist found voice in “melting pot” of the Centre, Alice Springs News, 2 March
Artist couple Marina Strocchi and Wayne Eager exhibit at historic house in Alice Springs,
ABC Alice Springs online, Emma Sleath, 2 July - view written article here and listen to audio interview here
2013
Anita Angel, Looking at art - Charles Darwin University Art Collection
The Saturday Age Australia Day Celebratory
Exhibition wrap around, front page, 26 January
Nicolas Rothwell, Meeting of Many Norths in the Northern Territory, The Australian, 7 February
2012
Daena Murray, Hot Springs, MAGNT
2011
Khadija La, “Breaking with Tradition”, Artlink Volume 31, #2
2010
Georges Petijean, “Los van Traditie”, Cobra en Aboriginal kunst, AAMU Snoeck
2009
Miriam Cosic “Fabric of the desert revealed in new creative form”, The Australian, 5 January
John McDonald “When losers are winners”, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March
Nicolas Rothwell, “Bridge between two worlds”, The Australian, April 18-19
Margie West, Strings through the heart: the proliferation of coiling across Australia, Craft Australia
2008
Art Collector , Australia's most collectable artists, Issue 43
Sasha Grishin , A culture absorbed by osmosis, The Canberra Times, December 12
Vivien Johnson, The Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists, IAD Press
2007
John McDonald, Studio Australian Painters on the nature of Creativity, R. Ian Lloyd Productions
Art Collector, Australia's most collectable artists, Issue 39
Jane Hampton, Smart Art, Art Collector, Issue 41
TOGA Contemporary Art Exhibition Catalogue
2006
Daena Murray, History in the making, Art Monthly, #195 November
Art Collector, Australia's most collectable artists, Issue 35
TOGA Contemporary Art Exhibition Catalogue
Nicolas Rothwell, Decade of sunshine and tears, The Australian, November 28
Daena Murray, The Sound of the Sky MAGNT Exhibition catalogue
The Sound of the Sky Charles Darwin University Press
2005
Alison Barclay, How Daisy blossomed for Strocchi, Herald Sun, January 26, 2005, Fran Atkinson
Desert Dreams The Age, June 18
Westpac Insight cover, Issue 1
Jan Murphy Gallery, 2005 -10 years catalogue 2005
Resident Magazine, Resident Artists Issue 1 May-Oct
John McDonald, Future Dreaming Qantas, December
Erica Izett, Sitting down with Indigenous artists,
Artlink Vol 25 #2
2004
Susan Rothnie, New Works by Marina Strocchi Art Collector,
Issue 27
Vogue Living, Events
2003
Christine Clare Robertson, Raising the Rafter,
Australian Art Review #1
Jeff Makin Critic's Choice, Herald Sun, April
2002
Ken McGregor, William Creek and Beyond Craftsman House
Kieran Finnane, Large Format to catalogue bush,
Alice Springs News
Centralian Advocate, Marina finds use for clutter in art April 24
Kieran Finnane , Baskets and Boats Alice Springs News,
November 27
2001
Jeff Makin Critic's Choice, Herald Sun, May
Tennant and Weekly Times, Tennant Triptych wins at award,
August 10
Tennant Telegraph, Tennant theme for art winner August 10
The Gulf and Barkly News, CWA Art Award August 10
1999
Powerful Posters, National Touring Catalogue
1998
Anna King Murdoch, Pictures of hope from the desert, The Age,
February 17
1993
Rencontres Internationals des arts, graphique de Chaumont, Exhibition catalogue