Mr Oliver Smith
BVA (SCA) BVA(Hons) MPhil (ANU)
Senior Lecturer, Visual Art
Undergraduate Coursework Coordinator
Member of the Charles Perkins Centre
A20 - John Woolley Building
The University of Sydney
Telephone | +61 2 9351 1070 |
Fax | +61 2 9351 1199 |
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Website |
Oliver Smith |
Biographical details
Oliver Smith began his tertiary studies in the Jewellery & Object Studio at SCA and completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1995. This was followed by a period of work experience – modelled on the traditional journeymanship – that saw him work for prominent silversmiths and metalworkers in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Germany and England.
Returning to formal study in the Gold & Silversmithing Workshop at the ANU School of Art, Oliver gained First Class Honours in 2000, and a Master of Philosophy on 2003. The recipient of numerous awards and with a growing research profile, he now combines a vigorous visual art practice with lecturing at SCA.
Research interests
Oliver Smith’s visual art practice draws on his background in silversmithing, his love of the ductile and malleable qualities of metal and his knowledge of the history of the silversmith’s craft. His work, ranging from sculptural object, through to image and installation, explores themes of non-human agency, the totemic and the numinous. Oliver’s current research examines the link between the tool and talisman and the role of material transformation and biomimicry in human creativity and culture.
Associations
Object: Australian Design Centre, Board of Directors
Awards and honours
2010 Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship
2010 Australia Council, Visual Arts Board, New Work Grant
2009 PYD Product of the Year, Stilla Carafe
2008 SCA Research Support Grant, Springboard
2007 IDEA 07 Awards, Home Beautiful Product of the Year - Winner Luxury Tabletop Category
2007 IDEA Awards Product of the Year, OSP Gen II
2006 Governor General’s Table Bells for Government House and Admiralty House, commissioned by the Australiana Fund
2005 Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Design Initiative: Maker to Manufacturer to Market
2004 Australia Council for the Arts, Craft-in-Site Grant
Selected grants
2005
- MMM (maker to manufacturer to market); Smith O; Australia Council/New work.
2004
- Craft-in-Site Grant; Smith O; Australia Council/Craft-in-Site.
2003
- ArtsACT Project; Smith O; ArtsACT/Project Funding.
2001
- Graduate Award; Smith O; The Australian National University School of Art/Graduate Award Scholarship.
Selected publications & creative works
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