SIMON OBARZANEK

Selected Biography

Simon Obarzanek was born in Israel in 1968 and currently lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. Studying a Bachelor of Photography in 1989 from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, his first solo show Simon Obarzanek 96-02 was in 2002 at Max Bernstein Gallery, Melbourne.

Simon has held a series of solo shows including: Untitled Movement, Turner Galleries, Perth (2010) Simon Obarzanek, Monash Gallery of Art, Victoria (2008); 10pm-1am, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne (2007); 80 faces, Karen Woodbury Gallery, Melbourne (2006); 80/137 Faces (2006), Centre for Contemporary Photography (2006) and Portraits, Max Bernstein Gallery, Melbourne (2005).

Simon has also exhibited in numerous group shows including, Order and disorder Archives and photography, National Gallery of Victoria: International, Melbourne (2008 - 09); Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photographic Prize 2007, Gold Coast City Gallery, Queensland (2009 & 2007); Karen Woodbury Gallery at Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne (2008); William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Victoria (2006&2007); DLAP: City of Darebin La Trobe University Acquisitive Art Prize, Bundoora Homestead, Victoria (2007); National Photography Prize, Albury Regional Gallery, NSW (2007); City of Hobart Art Prize 07, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart (2007); Innovators, Linden - Centre for Contemporary Arts, Melbourne (2007); Conrad Jupiters Art Prize, Gold Coast City Gallery, Gold Coast (2006); Light Sensitive, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (2006); City of Perth Photo Media Award, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth (2006); Schweppes Photographic Portrait Prize 2005, National Portrait Gallery, London (2005); The Citigroup Private Bank Australian Photographic Portrait Prize 2005, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (2005); Commonwealth Place Contemporary Australian Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra (2003); A Room with a View, Mike Weiss Gallery, New York (1999).

Simon was selected for the Turner Galleries Artists in Residence Program, Perth (2010) and was awarded a New Work Grant by the Visual Arts/Craft Board of the Australia Council in 2009. He was also he winner of the Second Melbourne Airport Innovators Award (2008) at Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, St Kilda. In 2005 Simon received a High Commendation for The Citigroup Private Bank Australian Photographic Portrait Prize 2005, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney and his work was also acquired at the Conrad Jupiters Art Prize (2006) Gold Coast City Gallery, Gold Coast.

Simon's work is held in major public galleries including the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Artbank and the Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Gold Coast.

Full CV

Essay by Natalie King 2008