Phillipa Butters

Phillipa Butters

Artist Statement for Liminal Moments
The quality of liminality refers to ambiguity, a sense of the unknown, an in-between state or threshold that opens the way to something new. This quality is central to my artmaking process. An initial response to person or place, transitions into a stage of relationship with self, the canvas and the creative process where a sense of ambiguity or ‘I don’t know where this painting is going’ occurs. Staying with and wondering about possibilities, playing with happenstance, noticing, responding to and being immersed in the moment is all part of the process. At some point you arrive on the other side … to something new, often unexpected, with a sense of resolution.

Biography
Phillipa Butters practices as both an artist and art therapist whose own artwork has emerged from an exploration of both the figure and landscape with a playful through to a sometimes intense experimental process, creating works with a sense of person or place often organic and abstracted. For the past 20 years, she has worked exclusively with drawing and painting working intuitively and dynamically with acrylics and mixed media on paper, canvas or board. There is a sense of entering into a relationship with the unknown, in a mindful process of observation, mark making, layering and scraping back with line, shape, texture, space and colour, finding and losing elements until a sense of balance, resolution and meaning is found. With a love of art and the process of painting, Phillipa has enjoyed a fruitful artistic career and has been a finalist in numerous Art Prizes.

Duo Exhibition
2021 Liminal Moments, (with Paul Williams), Thienny Lee Gallery, Sydney.
2019 Edge of the Id, (with Paul Williams), Thienny Lee Gallery, Sydney.
2018 Otherness (with Paul Williams), Thienny Lee Gallery, Sydney.

Group Exhibitions
2020 Twelve Artists, Paintings and Sculptures, The Creative Space, North Curl Curl.
2020 ‘Take 6’ for IWD, Thienny Lee Gallery, Sydney
2017 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Ravenswood School For Girls, Gordon, Sydney
2016 Hunters Hill Art Exhibition Finalist Exhibition, Hunters Hill, Sydney
2016 Little Things Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Saint Cloche Gallery, Paddington, Sydney
2015 One Thing Leads to Another, Ewart Gallery – Workshop Art Centre, Willoughby, Sydney
2009 Big Paintings- Small Paintings, Ewart Gallery – Workshop Art Centre, Willoughby, Sydney
2009 Big Wednesday, Ewart Gallery – Workshop Art Centre, Willoughby, Sydney
2008 1200K West Fowlers Gap – student group exhibition, COFA Space Gallery, Sydney
2007 8 Artists, Gallery 307, Northbridge, Sydney
2006 The Big Picture, Recent works (3 artists), Gallery 307, Northbridge, Sydney
2005 Found, Ewart Gallery – Workshop Art Centre, Willoughby, Sydney
2005 Colours, Recent Works (3 artists), Gallery 307, Northbridge, Sydney

Art Prizes
2017 Ewart Art Prize – Finalist
2017 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize – Finalist.
2016 Little Things Art Prize – Finalist
2016 Hunters Hill Art Prize – Finalist

Education
1979 – 1981 Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney
1981 – 1983 Bachelor of Social Studies, University of Sydney
1990 – 1993 Ceramics – Certificate course, Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE
1990 – 1992 Drawing – Certificate course, TAFE NSW
2001 – 2003 Sculpture – Tom Bass Sculpture School
2007 – 2010 Graduate Diploma in Art – Major in Painting, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales.
2010 – 2014 Master of Art Therapy, University of Western Sydney.
2000 – Current – Ongoing art classes at Willoughby Art Centre

Other Work experience
Phillipa has worked as a social worker, volunteer and later as an Art Therapist for over 30 years within the welfare, education and health sectors both government and non-government in local, state and national organisations.