Naive Art :: Marie Jonsson Harrison Biography

Since 1989 Marie has had multiple shows in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan, Montreal, Canada, Denver, Colorado, USA Bruzaholm, Sweden.

Marie Jonsson-Harrison is an Australian Naive Artist, she was born in Sweden, but now lives in the South Australian’s mid north. She recently celebrated her 20th year as a full time artist, with a release of 18 giclee prints. Marie has enjoyed multiple shows around Australia, however it is in Japan and America that she has had her biggest successes to date with 8 solo shows each in Colorado and Nagoya.

Marie paints in a colorful, happy style often with humor and with a social comment about the human condition. Her artworks are quite tactile with little raised bits to touch.

She has also got several public sculptures to her name, the largest one spanning 44 meters across at the entrance of the mid north town of Balaklava called the Federation Gateway. It depicts a federation house with stories made from handmade ceramic and mosaic, telling some of the tales of the district over the last 100 years.

Marie has won several Art Competitions the most recent was the 1st prize in the Country Arts section of the Port Adelaide Rotary Show 2010. She has also been a finalist in the Fleurieu Biennale and The Waterhouse natural history Art Prize twice. Marie has also been the recipient of two SA Great awards for the arts in 2002 and 2007. In South Australia she is represented by the Greenhill Gallery. Her works are also featured in corporate collections, private collections and several art books worldwide.

2 SA Great Awards for Arts

EXHIBITIONS: MARIE JONSSON-HARRISON

1989. Annual Naive Art Exhibition, Gallery Art Naive, Melbourne.
1990. Contemporary Art Centre, Adelaide
1990. Festival of Arts (featured artist), Elder Fine art Gallery, Adelaide.
1990. Loreto college Exhibition (featured artist), Loreto College,
1990. Sport of Kings, Elder Fine Art Gallery, Adelaide.
1990. Annual Naive Exhibition, Gallery Art Naive, Melbourne.
1991. Winter Collectors Exhibition, Elder Fine Art gallery, Adelaide.
1991. Annual Naive Exhibition, Gallery Art Naive, Melbourne.
1991. Joint Exhibition, with Howard Steer, Gallery Art Naive,
1991. Sport Naive, Australian Naive Gallery, Sydney.
1991. Loreto College Exhibition, Loreto College, Adelaide.
1991. Christmas show, Gallery Art Naive, Melbourne.
1991. Adam & Eve Exhibition, Australian Naive Gallery, Sydney.
1992. State of the Art of the State, Festival Theatre, Adelaide
1992. Loreto College Exhibition, Loreto College, Adelaide.
1993. Greenaway Gallery, Adelaide
1993. Gallery Harvest, Nagoya, Japan
1994. Australian Naive Art Book Launch Exhibition, Barry Stern Gallery, Sydney.
1994. Gallery Gibraltar, Bowral, NSW.
1994. Australian Naive Art Book Launch Exhibition, Libby Edward’s Gallery,
1994. Gallery Harvest, Nagoya, Japan.
1995. Gallery Harvest, Nagoya, Japan.
1996. Newland Gallery, Adelaide.
1996. Gannon house Gallery, Sydney.
1996. Gallery Ikko, Nagoya, Japan.
1996. Burra Gallery, Burra, South Australia.
1996. Balaklava Court House Gallery, Balaklava, South Australia.
1996. Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne.
1996. Museum of Civilization, Canada.
1996. Art Images Naive Exhibition,
1996. Some Days are Diamonds, Adelaide.
1997. Port sea Summer Exhibition, Victoria.
1997. Woodstock Winery Exhibition, McLaren Flat, South Australia.
1997. Gallery Harvest, Nagoya Japan.
1997. Ninon Garu, Tokyo, Japan.
1997. Loreto College Exhibition, Loreto College, Adelaide.
1997. Art Gallery at Pine Hill Ranch, Denver Colorado, USA.
1998. Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf, South Australia.
1998. Queen Street Gallery, Sydney.
1998. Art Gallery at Pine hill Ranch, Colorado, USA.
1998. The Warehouse gallery, Parker, Colorado, USA
1998. Art Gallery at Pine Hill Ranch, Colorado, USA.
1998. Balaklava Court House Gallery, Balaklava, South Australia.
1998. Kensington Gallery, Adelaide.199B. Clare Valley Spring Fair Exhibition, South Australia.
1999. Parker Cultural Centre, Denver Colorado, USA.
1999. Verlie Just Town Gallery and Japan Room, Brisbane OLD.
2000. Australian Naive Gallery, Sydney2000. Verlie Just Town Gallery and Japan Room, Brisbane
2000. Nilsson Gallery, Bruzaholm, Sweden.
2001. Stanthorpe Art Gallery, Queensland
2002. Scotch College Exhibition, Scotch College
2002. Bruce Auction House.
2003. Art Domain, Adelaide SA.
2004. Greenhill Galleries Nth Adelaide
2004. Scotch College Exhibition, South Australia
2004. Greenhill Galleries, Solo Show, Nth Adelaide SA
2004. The Banque. Adelaide South Australia
2006. Solo Exhibition, Nagoya Japan.
2007. Solo Exhibition, Greenhill’s Galleries Nth Adelaide SA
2007. Solo. Exhibition, Print Bin, Hyde Park, Adelaide SA
2008. Canberra Steve Fox Gallery
2008. Newland Exhibition, Solo Show Adelaide
2008. Florey Foundation Exhibition Adelaide
2008. St Kevin’s College, Melbourne
2008. Scotch College Exhibition, Scotch College, Adelaide SA
2008. SALA Festival, White Cedars Cafe, Burra SA
2008. Clare SALA Festival, Seven Hill Winery, Clare SA
2009. Scotch College Adelaide
2009. Florey Foundation Exhibition.
2009 St Kevin’s College. Melbourne Vic
2009. Solo Show Ascot Gallery, Kadina SA
2009. Solo Show Greenhill Galleries Adelaide
2009. Post Cards Exhibition at the Bay, Glenelg South Australia
2009. Sala Festival. Penna Lane Winery.Clare Valley SA
2011.  Post Cards Exhibition at the Bay, Glenelg, South Australia

2011  Mondial d’art Naif Festival, Katowice, Poland

2011  Sala Festival, White Cedars Cafe, Burra,SA

2011 Sala Festival, Waverley Homestead, Willunga, SA

2011 Sala Festival Award Finalists, Keith Murdock House, Adelaide, SA

AWARDS

1988. Katherine Show, Acrylic Section, 2nd prize.
1988. Katherine Show, Fabric Paint Section, 1st Prize.
1990. Port Art Show, Highly Commended (one of six) Judge, Kym Bonython.
1991. Port Art Show, 2nd Prize, Judge, David Dallwitz.
1997. Balco Art Award, 1st Prize and District Prize, Balaklava, South Australia.
1998. Balco Art Award, District Prize, Balaklava, South Australia.
1999. Port Art Show, 2nd Prize, Country Section, Judge, Kym Bonython.
1999. Balco Art Award, District Prize, Balaklava, South Australia.
2000. Elders Stock Journal Art Award, Royal Adelaide Show.
2000. Finalist Fleurieu Biennale.
2000. Balco Art Award, Country Prize, Balaklava, South Australia.
2002. SA Great Award, For the Arts. South Australia.
2003. Naive Award, Clare Rotary Show, Judge, Russell Starke.
2003. Christianity, an Australian Dimension, Highly Commended, judge, Archbishop Ian George
2004. Naive Award, Clare Rotary Show, judge; Paul Greenaway.
2005. Balco Art Show, Highly Commended
2005. Finalist, the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize.
2005. Highly Commended, Clare Rotary Art Show.
2007. 1^st Prize Clare Rotary Art Show
2007. Finalist, Waterhouse; Adelaide Museum
2007. SA Great Award for the Arts Regional
2009. Post cards at the bay, one of 5 prizes
2009. Port Adelaide Rotary Show 2^nd Prize Country Section
2010. First Prize Country Section, Port Adelaide Rotary Show
2011 . Post Cards at the Bay, one of 5 prizes

2011  Top Ten Finalist In the Advertiser Business SA Contemporary Art Prize

PUBLICATIONS

Art link Covers, Front and Back, Summer Edition, 92/93.
Australian Naive Art, Sandra Warner, Craftsman House Publishers.
Art Images 2 by Neville Drury, Craftsman House Publishers
Front Cover, Adelaide review, October 96 Issue.
Port Adelaide, Enfield Council, pottering at the Port post Card
John Shearer Greeting Card
Front Cover of Grape growers and Wine Makers Magazine
Centenary of federation Book 2001
Art Smart by Lou Chamberlain, McGraw-Hill Publishers
Fridge Magnets, Enfield Council, Adelaide.
Adam & Steve, Hendrickson Publications, Peabody Massachusetts USA
Who’s Who South Australia; 2007
Who’s Who? Australia, National 2008.
Who’s who? (Women) 2008
2009. Bay Discovery Centre Post Card
2 Greeting cards, for Care Cards Australia
Who’s Who of Australian Women 2009
Who’s Who of Australian Women 2010
Who’s Who of Australian Women 2011

2011 Bay Discovery Centre Post Card

COMMISSIONS

Mount Lofty House, Mount Lofty, South Australia.
John Shearer Ltd, Australia.
Wilson’s Vineyard, 2 Wine Labels, Riesling & Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wine label, Port Adelaide Centenary Committee.
Penna Lane Winery. Clare South Australia.
Balaklava Library 2003
Airedale Primary School 2005
Wakefield Regional Council 2001, 2008
plus many private commissions

COLLECTIONS

SA Country Arts Trust.
Government House Adelaide, South Australia.
Stanhope Art Gallery, Queensland.
Scotch College, Adelaide SA
Adelaide Airport

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Australia, America. Japan. Europe. Scandinavia.

GRANTS

1999. South Australian Country Arts Trust, Arts SA, Australia Council (for public sculptures)
2000. Centenary of Federation, Grant, (for public sculptures)

PUBLIC SCULPTURES

2001. Centenary of Federation Sculpture, Balaklava, South Australia, 44 Meters long.
2003. Water Feature, Balaklava Library Balaklava, South Australia
2003. Des Ross Memorial Artwork, Balaklava, South Australia.
2005. Airedale Primary School, Port Pirie South Australia.
2008. Public benches, Wakefield Council, Balaklava Youth Week, Balaklava SA