Francis Giacco (b. 1955)

Biography

1955 Born Sydney
1973-76 B.Sc. (Architecture) UNSW
1976-80 Studied painting under Brian Dunlop and David Wilson
1989-89 Studied art at Hochschule Fur Angewandte Kunst in Vienna, under Professor Maria Lassing and Professor Fruhner
1989-89 Travelled extensively, studying art in Europe, especially Italy
1988-90 Travelled and studied in USA and Europe

Awards

1994  Winner, Archibald Portrait Prize, AGNSW with Homage to John Reichard
1996  Winner, Mosman Art Prize with Polyptch
2000  Winner, Hills Grammar Art Prize, Four Worlds

Solo Exhibitions

1980  Prouds Gallery, Sydney
1984, 85  Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney
1995, 97  Phillip Bacon Gallery, Brisbane
1996  Olsen Carr Art Dealer, Sydney
2002  Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney
2005  Eva Breuer Art Dealer, Sydney

Group Exhibitions

1977 Macquarie Galleries, Sydney
1978 380A Gallery, Sydney
1986 Australian Galleries, Melbourne
1987 Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney
1999 Opera Australia Vintage Wine and Gourmet Week Auction
2001 Portraits 2001, An Australian Odyssey with Gosia Dobrowlska
2002 Portrait Artists Australia Exhibition
2002 Opera Australia Vintage Wine and Gourmet Auction
2003 Portrait Artists Australia Inaugural Exhibition

Competitions – finalist

1991 Blake Prize, Finalist with Temptation of Eve
1991 Archibald Salon des Refusés, Finalist with Saint Agatha
1992 Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Finalist with Teresa Haremza
1993 Archibald Prize, Finalist with Lee-Lin Chin
1994 Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Finalist with Lee-Lin Chin
1995 Mary MacKillop, Finalist with Polyptch
1996 Archibald Prize, Finalist with Family Portrait
1997 Archibald Salon des Refusés, People’s Choice with Gosia Dobrowska
2001 Kings School Art Prize, Finalist with Life’s Journey
2001 Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Finalist with Vedova Bianca
2002 Toowoomba Biennale Acquisitive Award, Finalist with Evening Song
2003 Hills Grammar Art Prize, Finalist with Evening Light
2004 Competition celebrating the Anniversary of the High Court of Australia
2005 Westpac Art Award, Finalist

Commissions

Mural for Hindley International Hotel, Adelaide
Painting Series, Sanctuary Cove Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland
Portrait of Reverend Clyde Paton, Principle of St Andrews College, Sydney University
Portrait of Prof. George Smith, Professor of Law, Columbia University, Washington DC
Portrait of John Laws
Portrait of Anna Waldman, Arts Council
Portrait of Lee-Lin Chin, SBS Newsreader
Portrait of Mr and Mrs Harper, Allen, Allen and Hemsley
Portrait of Teresa Haremza, Internationally renowned singer/actor
Portrait of Professor Salsbury, Sydney University
Portrait of Professor Druttman, first female Judge in Israel
Portrait of Gosia Dobrowolska, Internationally renowned actor
Portrait of Sir Anthony Mason, Chancellor, University of New South Wales
Portrait of Shirley Sinclair, wife of NSW Governor
Painting of Sebel Town Hall House, Mirvac
Portrait of R. Penprase, Civic Theatre Townsville

Collections

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
Art Bank
Commonwealth Bank
Columbia University, Washington DC, USA
Sydney University
University of New South Wales
including numerous private collections

Competitions Judged

Drummoyne Municipal Art Award 1996
BDO Portrait Prize 1994
Kiama Art Prize 1993
Bernie Art Prize, Tasmania 1997

Teaching Experience

Taught Graphic Communication, NSW University
Taught Art, 3-Arts Make-up School
Charles Sturt University, Summer School
Julian Ashton Art School

Events

Dante Alighieri Society, Lecture 1994
Awarded Italo-Australian Achievement Award, 1994
Inaugural Archibald Prize Lunch, Inter Continental, 1994
Portrait Auction, Shepherd Centre 1994
NSW Art Gallery Pub N Art Tour 2002