Sydney-born Stephen Phibbs is a visual artist residing in the Northern Rivers region. From 2002 his art practice evolved through seeing the landscape through a multi-dimensional approach. He says “these works are about the metaphysical and physical elements of a site. The relationships and juxtapositions discovered in these chance objects signify multiple options of interpretation, creating simultaneous perspectives depending on the viewer”.
In 2007 he was selected to participate in the ABC documentary series “Painting Australia”, alongside multi award winning artist Jenny Sages. This aired multiple times nationally and in South-east Asia and the U.K., resulting in representation with the leading Australian gallery, Art Galleries Schubert ,Main beach Queensland.
In 2008 -2011 he exhibited in over 18 group exhibitions from Queensland to Victoria.
From 13th April to 22nd May 2011, Phibbs held a solo exhibition of paintings depicting the iconic Queensland shipwreck “Cherry venture” at Caloundra Regional Gallery, with over 4000 people attending over the 5 week period.
‘The creative act is an experimental journey where expectations change and discoveries become the catalyst to move beyond what is already known. The energising and challenging nature of developing ideas and processes is a motivating force. Through creativity, I seek a unification of Art and Life that hopefully will result in works of relevance and interest. ‘.
Education
2012 National Art School, Sydney
1996 -1997 Southern Cross University, Lismore
1995 -1996 Lismore Art School, Lismore
Solo Exhibitions
2014 Retrospective exhibition, Lone Goat Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2013 Royal national park series Berkelouws, Sydney, NSW
2007 The Year of Living Dangerously, Newtown Fine Art Traders, Sydney
2006 Recent Works, Cape Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2003 Chance Objects, Cape Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2001 Other Frontiers, Istral Gallery, Woollahra, Sydney, NSW
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Gallery one group exhibition, Southport, Queensland
2020 Lethbridge gallery landscape prize, Brisbane,Queensland
2021 Gallery one group exhibition, Southport, Queensland
2019 Gallery one group exhibition, Southport, Queensland
2018 Pack gallery group exhibition, Bangalow, NSW
2018 39th Annual Rotary invitational art prize, Brisbane.
2017 Retrospect group exhibition, Byron bay, NSW
2016 Gallery one group exhibition, Southport, Queensland
2015 Brisbane art prize, lightbox gallery, fortitude valley, Queensland
2015 Retrospect group exhibition, Byron bay, NSW
2015 Gallery one group exhibition, southport , Queensland.
2014 Re-opening exhibition, Retrospect Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2014 Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney NSW
2014 35th Annual Rotary Invitational Art Prize, Brisbane, Queensland
2013 Manyung Gallery, Sorrento, Victoria
2013 Gallery One, Southport, Queensland
2013 Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, U.S.A. (conjunction with Manyung Galleries)
2012 33rd Annual Rotary Invitational Art Prize, Brisbane, Queensland
2011 Petite Traveau, Retrospect Galleries, Broadbeach, Queensland
2011 Surf Culture Now, Retrospect Galleries, Byron Bay, NSW
2011 32nd Annual Rotary Invitational Art Prize, Brisbane, Queensland
2011 Opening of Retrospect Gallery, Broadbeach, Queensland
2010 Manyung Gallery, Sorrento, Victoria
2010 “You Are Here” Contemporary Landscape, Retrospect Gallery, Byron
2010 Manyung Gallery, Mt. Eliza, Victoria
2009 In Retrospect Book Launch and summer exhibition, Retrospect
2009 “Day of the Dead” Retrospect Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2009 “Urban Revolution” Retrospect Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2009 Manyung Gallery, Mt. Eliza, Victoria
2009 FEVA exhibition/auction, Robert Bleakley auctioneer,Bangalow, NSW
2009 “Marine Visions” Retrospect Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2009 “Trinity” Art Piece Gallery, Mullumbimby, NSW
2009 “Celebrate” Art Piece Gallery, Mullumbimby, NSW
2008 Manyung Gallery, Mt. Eliza, Victoria
2008 Art Piece Gallery, Mullumbimby, NSW
2008 Cape Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2008 ‘Over Land and Sea” Art Piece Gallery, Mullumbimby, NSW
2008 Macquarie Bank Invitational Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2008 Manyung Gallery, Mt. Eliza, Victoria
2007 ‘Words Colour My World” Cape Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2007 FEVA exhibition/auction, Robert Bleakley auctioneer, Bangalow NSW
2007 Australian PGA Invitational Exhibition, Royal Pines, Queensland
2007 Salt Invitational Exhibition, Salt, Kingscliff, NSW
2006 FEVA exhibition/auction, Robert Bleakley auctioneer, Bangalow NSW
2006 Emerging Artists Touring Exhibition, Regional Galleries, NSW
2005 Lotus Gallery, Surfers Paradise, Queensland
2004 Lotus Gallery, Surfers Paradise, Queensland
2002 “20,000 Strokes Under the Sea” Tub Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
Media
2014 Bay FM radio interview with Michael Schubert (podcast) August 21
2014 Byron Echo, August 15: opening of Alive and Kicking exhibition
Lone Goat Gallery, Byron Bay
2014 Byron Shire News, August 15: opening of Alive and Kicking
Lone Goat Gallery, Byron Bay
2012 ABC Television, April12: Painting Australia documentary with
Jenny Sages (repeat)
2011 Sunshine Coast Daily Newspaper, April 16: Painting Survey of the
Shipwreck Cherry Venture opening at Caloundra Regional Gallery
2011 Art Guide Australia, April edition: Painting Survey of the
Shipwreck Cherry Venture opening at Caloundra Regional Gallery
2011 Channel 7 News, Queensland, April 18: Painting Survey of the
Shipwreck Cherry Venture opening at Caloundra Regional Gallery
2011 Coast and Country magazine, Summer Edition – Artist Profile
2012 ABC Television, September12: Painting Australia documentary with
Jenny Sages (repeat)
2010 Mornington Peninsular, newspaper, June: exhibition opening
2010 Port Phillip Radio, June: Interview for opening at Manyung Galleries
2009 Echo Newspaper, Byron Shire, September: Tax Break For Art
Investors
2009 Australian Art Collector, July: New Artists, Schubert Contemporary
2008 Northern Star newspaper, June: Stephen Phibbs Recent Work
2008 Byron Shire Echo newspaper, June: Interview with Mandy Nolan
2008 ABC Radio, June: Interview with Vicky Kerrigan
2007 The Sydney Morning Herald, Spectrum, October 13: Year of Living
Dangerously – solo exhibition opening
2007 Art Almanac, October: Year of Living Dangerously – solo exhibition
opening, Newtown Fine Art Traders, Sydney
2007 North Coast Arts, Autumn edition: Back Cover
2007 ABC Television, April17: Painting Australia documentary
with Jenny Sages
2007 Northern Star, April 14: Painting Second Nature interview
2007 Northern Star, April 7: The ABC of Painting – interview with
Nerida Blok
2007 North Coast Arts Quarterly, Autumn: Masterclass ABC Television
2006 Gold Coast Bulletin, September 8: Salt Invitational Group Exhibition
2006 Northern Rivers Art magazine, Autumn: Back Cover Lismore Pie cart
2006 Northern Star, May 10: Emerging artists of N.S.W Touring exhibition
2006 Byron Shire Echo, March 18: Recent Work – solo exhibition opening
2006 Northern Star, March 20: Recent Work – solo exhibition opening
2003 Byron Shire Echo, April 10: Chance Objects – solo exhibition opening
2002 Byron Shire Echo, December 4 “20,000 Strokes Under the Sea”
2001 Sydney Morning Herald, August 22 “Other Frontiers” solo exhibition
Brigid Delaney ‘Spotlight’