Artist's Statement

Based on the landscape, and a strong sense of colour and design I react to what feels right as I create my work.
Born on a sheep property I’ve grown up with wool and so it is not surprising that felting is the process I use to create my vessels.

Once I was introduced to felt I was captivated by its tactile qualities, rich range of colours and the magical meshing of fibres which can then be manipulated into forms and shapes to create vessels. Felt is a non-woven cloth produced by matting, condensing and pressing woollen fibres. I use felt as it’s an ecological, sustainable textile.

Vessels are a very early utilitarian art form. I regard my felted vessels as a pure art because they lack any utilitarian function. I create them because I enjoy them visually and at the same time know that they are part of a long history of development.

Education   
2017–02 Various textile workshops
1988–86 Fashion Design Course, East Sydney and TAFE College, NSW

Solo Exhibitions
2016: Denise Lithgow Textile Artist – ArtEst, Leichhardt, NSW
2016: Coast and Beyond – The Design Gallery, Terrigal, NSW
2014: Travelling West–From the Ocean to the Desert-Muswellbrook Regional Art Centre, NSW


Group Exhibitions (selected)
2017       Stitched up  –  untethered fibre artists, The Lock-Up, Newcastle, NSW
2017       ebb and flow – untethered, Muswellbrook regional Gallery, NSW
2017       ebb and flow – untethered, Belconnen Art Centre, ACT
2017       8th International Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Mini Textile Art, Ukraine
2017       Finalist Harbour Sculpture Prize, Woolwich, NSW
2016       Hunters and Gatherers – Red Poles Gallery, McLaren Vale, SA
2016       Finalist Hornsby Sculpture Prize – Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, NSW
2016       Finalist Greenways Sculpture Prize – ArtEst Gallery, Leichhardt, Seaview Gallery
2016       ebb and flow – untethered, Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, NSW
2016       Finalist Buda Contemporary Textile – Castlemaine, Vic
2016       Landscapes – Ways of Seeing – Pandora Gallery, Coolah, NSW
2015       Finalist Hornsby Sculpture Prize – Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, NSW
2015       Out of Hand – untethered, Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, NSW
2015       From the Ocean to the Desert – Red Poles Gallery, McLaren Vale, SA
2015       The Two of Us – Breathing Colours Gallery, Balmain, NSW
2015       Finalist, Sculptures in the Garden – Rosby Winery, Mudgee, NSW
2015       Finalist, Harbour Sculpture Prize – Woolwich, NSW
2015       Coastal Watch Peter Griffen & Denise Lithgow – Curve Gallery, Newcastle, NSW
2015       Sheepshape – Craft NSW Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2014       The Red & The Black International – World of Threads Festival, Ontario, Canada,
2014       The Figure, Flowers & Felted Vessels – 2-person exhibition, Painters Gallery, NSW
2014       Hunters Hill Art Prize and Tumut Art Prize, NSW
2013       Collectors Choice – Artsite Gallery, Camperdown and
                             I Love Glebe – Gallery Red, NSW
2013       Finalist Outback Open Art Prize – Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2013       Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize – Hunters Hill,
             NSW & Royal Sydney Arts and Crafts
2012       Variegated Threads – International, World of Threads Festival Ontario, Canada
2012       Finalist Broken Hill Regional Gallery Art Prize – Broken Hill, NSW
2012       Finalist Petite miniature Textiles – Wangaratta Art Gallery, VIC
2012       A Retrospective – 2-person exhibition, Grenfell Regional Gallery, NSW
2012       Artist-in-residency Alerayc, France

Awards, Prizes, Grants (selected)
2017       Textures of One –winner Major Prize sponsored Dean Mobbs Gallery, Blayney
2016       Buda Contemporary Textile – Highly Commended, Castlemaine, Vic
2016       HeArt of Annandale, Future – winner Sculpture Prize
2016       Art Unlimited – Highly Commended, Dunedoo, NSW
2015       Hornsby Sculpture Prize – Judges Highly commended, Hornsby, NSW
2015       Textures of One’ Fibre Arts Prize, Blayney Council, NSW
2014       ATASDA NSW Grant, Hornsby Sculptural Prize,
             Wallarobba Arts & Cultural Centre
2013       Tumut Art Society Fire Art, Fibre Section, 2nd prize
2009       Brisbane Textile Art Festival, Brisbane, Art to Wear, recycled Bliss Dress 1st prize

Publications (selected)
2016       World Wide Colours of Felt, Textile – Link,
Ellen Bakker Netherlands +Assorted pub.

Commissions & Collections (selected)
Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre & Max Watters Collection, Ambrosia Medical, Sydney