Dr Edna Broad

Edna is an accomplished Tasmanian artist who received her PhD in Fine Arts at UTas in 2005.
She has been a long-standing member of Launceston Art Society and is currently holding an executive role as Secretary of LAS.
The theme of Edna’s work has always been the environment - animals and birds, the landscape - urban and natural and expressed through a variety of media and applications.
For several years she painted abstracts in oils and streetscapes in ink and watercolour and exhibited locally.
When Edna came from Melbourne with her family, to settle in Tasmania in 1970, she began painting landscape in the mining towns of Rossarden and Storeys Creek.
After moving to St. Helens, her first painting lessons began with Leo Cook. She exhibited work in the gallery there, which later became known as the Parnella Gallery.
From the East Coast, Edna moved to Launceston in 1976, she joined the Launceston Art Society and began work at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) until 1993.
 Curriculum Vitae:
Throughout the years 1979-1981, I undertook evening classes in printmaking and drawing at TAFE Launceston and also a Commercial Art Diploma by correspondence.
In 1983 and again in 1986, a group of seven LAS members exhibited at Ritchies Mill in ‘Showcase 7’.
Including myself, the participating artists were Tim Fox, Beth Faulkner, Richard Klekociuk, Paul Becker, Rae Saxon and Hilda Kolkert.
During the years 1985-1998, I was an active member of the Tasmania Abstract and Contemporary Artists (TACA) and exhibited around Tasmania.
In 1993 I enrolled in a Fine Arts Degree at the University of Tasmania and in
  • 1996 Gained Honours degree
  • 2000 Gained Masters Degree
  • 2001 Awarded Australian Post Graduate Scholarship by Research at Utas
  • 2005 Graduated PhD UTas
 
During my study period at the University of Tasmania, I was a Student Forum Coordinator, Gallery Director and Acting Gallery Director 2001-2002 and Curator.
From 2005-2020 I worked from a shared space at the Tin Shed Studios, Russell Street, Invermay as a Painter and a Ceramicist.
I have had 28 solo exhibitions across a time span of 35 years:
  • Rialto Gallery Burnie
  • Decibell’s Gallery Launceston
  • Furneaux Gallery Flinders Island,
  • Queen Victoria Museum Launceston
  • Nisart Gallery Launceston
  • Gallery Two Launceston
  • Poimena Gallery LCG Mowbray
  • University Gallery Newnham and Inveresk
  • Burnie Regional Gallery
  • Arts Alive Artspace ARTrium Gallery LGH
  • Sawtooth ARI Launceston
  • Stillwater Gallery Launceston
  • Blenheim Gallery Windsor Complex
  • Penguin Creek Gallery
  • Scottsdale Gallery
  • Many other galleries around Tasmania, interstate - Queensland, NSW and Kalgoorlie
  • Overseas with travelling exhibitions to Hawaii and Kuala Lumpar
 The emergence of the Snakepit Artist Cooperative gallery in Benders Lane, Launceston in the early 1990’s was for some years the focus of many exciting exhibitions. I had two solo exhibitions there one of which I consider was my best show - ‘Birds of a Feather’ in 1995. This exhibition consisted of multiple media work ranging from handmade paper, textile, mixed media, print, jewellery, painting, collage and ceramic.

The QVMAG acquired two of my monoprints from this exhibition, one of which is currently included in a survey exhibition of 200 years of women’s work ‘Herself’ at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.
I have received recognition in many exhibitions including:
  • Finalist in the National Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition 2021
  • The Glover Prize 2019, 2009, 2006
  • Tasmanian Women’s Art Prize 2019
  • ANL Maritime Exhibition, Melbourne 2015, 2013, 2012
  • Tasmanian Design Show 2007
I have been represented by Gallery Two Launceston, at the Fourth (1994) and Sixth (1998) Australian Art Fair Exhibition Building, Melbourne and at the Tasmanian Lifestyle Exhibition Osaka, Japan in 1997.
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Over time I have been an:
  • Exhibition Judge
  • Exhibition Opening Speaker
  • Art Reviewer for the Examiner Escape editorial
  • Post Graduate Assessor for Honours
  • Masters and PhD students at Utas
  • Volunteer QVMAG Gallery Guide
 
While working at the Launceston General Hospital, I was Secretary of the Visual Arts Committee that oversaw the selection of artwork for the Launceston General Hospital’s art collection during the early construction of the building in Charles Street.
During my time at the Tin Shed Studios, the Northern Potters Inc had its home there and I was for a time Secretary and Newsletter Editor.