Richard Klekociuk

Group Exhibitions:

The Tasmanian Independent Artists’ Group.
The Tasmanian Abstract & Contemporary Artists’ Group.
Showcase Seven.
The Art Society of Tasmania.
The Max Fry Art Exhibition.
Gallery Two Launceston.
The Tasmanian Pastel Society.
The Launceston Art Society.
Artisan Gallery.
Annual Eskleigh Art Awards.
The North East Arts & Crafts Association.
Past & Present Art Teachers of Scottsdale High School.
Scottsdale Art & Framing Gallery.
The DAG Launceston.
The Burnie Coastal Arts Group
Rotary Art, Launceston.
Red Q Art Auction.
City of Burnie Tasmanian Art Exhibition.
Wrest Point Art Award.

Work on display at:

Villarett Gallery, Moltema.
Scottsdale Art & Framing Gallery, Scottsdale.
Summerdale Medical Centre, Launceston.
The Launceston General Hospital.
Trinity Uniting Church, Launceston.
Website: http://www.artkleko.com
Artblog: http://artkleko.wordpress.com
Photoblog: http:artklekosphotoblog.blogspot.com

Recent Highlights:
Featured in “Australian Artist Magazine”, March, 2012.
Featured in “Artist’s Palette Magazine”, April, 2011.
Highly Commended, Eskleigh Art Award, 2011.
Won, Hertiage Section, Meandering 2010 Art Exhibition.
Won, Drawing Prize, ArtEx 2010, Ulverstone.
Won, City of Burnie Art Prize, 2010.
Selected for the 2011 Capital Chemist Calendar, 2010.
Published in “The Best of Artists” (series) in the US, 2010.
Won, LAS Annual Acquisitive Art Award, 2010.
Finalist, Wrest Point Art Award, 2010.
Judges’ Commendation, LAS Annual Art Award, 2009.
Won, Drawing Prize, ArtEx 2009, Ulverstone.
Won, Artery Award, TasArt 2009, Burnie.
Finalist, The Glover Prize, 2009.
Finalist, Wrest Point Art Award, 2009.
Feature Artist, “From My Perspective” On-line Magazine Nov, 2008.
Won, Art Professionals’ Prize, Royal Hobart Show, 2008.
Won, Pastel Prize, TasArt 2008.
Listed in “Who’s Who Tasmania” 2008.
Won, Holy Trinity Religious Art Prize, 2008.
Selected for 2009 Capital Chemist Calendar, 2008
Finalist, Wrest Point Art Award, 2008.
Won, Drawing Prize, Royal Hobart Show, 2007.
Won, Pastel Prize, Tasmanian Art Award, Burnie, 2007.
Won, The Capital Chemist Art Award, 2006.
Selected for 2007 Capital Chemist Calendar, 2006.
Highly Commended, Holy Trinity Religious Art Prize, 2006.
Runner-Up, Drawing Prize, Royal Hobart Show, 2006
Highly Commended, Tasmanian Art Award, Burnie, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Won, Pastel Prize, Tasmanian Art Award, Burnie, 2001, 2003
Won, Dry Media Prize, Royal Hobart Show, 2002.

Richard has been exhibiting his artwork since 1976 and has worked with a number of mediums, coloured pencil being his favourite.
He is a qualified art teacher and is currently the art critic for The Examiner newspaper.
Richard has gained a number of awards, highlights being a Glover Finalist in 2009 and winning the City of Burnie Art Prize in 2010.

Curriculum Vitae Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia in 1950, I developed a passion for drawing from my father.

I graduated from the Tasmanian School of Art in 1971 as an Art Teacher and worked in seven Government schools before retiring in December of 2005 to pursue a greater focus on my art.

I began exhibiting in 1976 with the Tasmanian Independent Artists’ Group.

Besides many solo exhibitions, I was a member of the former Tasmanian Abstract and Contemporary Artists’ group (vice-President).

Drawing, whether in pastel (oil and chalk) or pencil (greyscale and colour) has always been the mainstay of my visual expression. Over the past ten years I have focussed on coloured pencils, some with a chalky finish and others displaying wax-like qualities. I work on a variety of papers and pastel boards, preferring a coloured surface.

My artwork has always been about the Tasmanian landscape. My most recent work is a complex mix of Christian symbolism, shadows and macro studies, often from forest floors. Some pieces are direct social commentaries while others celebrate design in nature with at times a surreal element.

Exhibitions:

2010 – “The Truth About Coloured Pencils” – Lady Franklin Gallery, Hobart.
2009/10 – “Another Slice”, Banjo’s Bakery, Kings Meadows.
2009 – Recent Drawings, Scottsdale Art & Framing Gallery, Scottsdale.
2009 – “Bread”, Café Eleven, Launceston
2008 – The Java Bar, Launceston.
2008 – Café Eleven, Launceston.
2007 – The DAG, Launceston.
2007 – Café Eleven, Launceston.
2006 – Precision Jewellers, Launceston.
2000 – Trinity Uniting Church, Launceston.
1998 -  Scot’s Uniting Church, Hobart.
1998 – Gallery Two Launceston.
1997 – The Rialto Gallery, Burnie.
1996 – Gallery Two Launceston.
1995 – Lady Jane Franklin Gallery, Hobart.
1992 - The Artist’s Studio, Launceston.
1988 – Gallery Two Launceston.
1986 – The Liffey Gallery, Carrick.
1984 – The Village Gallery, Carrick.
1983 – The Rutherglen Gallery, Hadspen.
1982 – The Colonial Gallery, Evandale.
1980 – Clayton’s Coffee Shop, Launceston.
1976 – The Aristocrat Restaurant, Launceston.

Memberships:
Launceston Art Society. 
Australian Coloured Pencil Artists’ Group.
United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society.
Colored Pencil Society of America.
The Centre for Fine Art Photography.