Biography
Richard Knafelc is a contemporary painter living and working in Melbourne. In 2017 Richard completed a Master of Fine Art, with Distinction, at RMIT University in Melbourne.
Solo exhibition highlights include: You are my sunshine in 2023 and Exuberances in 2022, both at Rubicon ARI, Presences at Gallerysmith Project Space in 2019, Visions Before Midnight at Rubicon ARI in 2018, Stardust at Gallerysmith Project Space in 2016 and Transformations at Red Gallery in Melbourne in 2014. Richard has participated in several group exhibitions including the Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés in Sydney in 2018 and 2013. He has completed several portrait and landscape commissions and has works in private collections in Australia and the United States.
Richard was a finalist in the 2014 Sulman Prize, the John Leslie Art Prize in 2024, 2020 and 2016, the 2015 Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize, the Gold Coast Art Prize in 2014 and 2013, the 2013 City of Whyalla Art Prize, and the 2011 Prometheus Visual Arts Award. He was a semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2015 and 2012.
Before devoting himself to painting, Richard was a consultant psychiatrist specializing in psychogeriatrics. He is also a keen amateur oboist and plays regularly with a number of musicians around Melbourne.
CV
Richard KNAFELC Curriculum Vitae
Solo Exhibitions:
2023 You are my sunshine, Rubicon ARI, North Melbourne (upcoming: 22 March).
2022 Exuberances, Rubicon ARI, North Melbourne.
2019 Presences, Gallerysmith Project Space, North Melbourne.
2018 Visions before midnight, Rubicon ARI, North Melbourne.
2016 Stardust, Gallerysmith Project Space, North Melbourne.
2014 Transformations, Red Gallery, North Fitzroy, Melbourne.
2011 Legacy, Carbon Black Gallery, Prahran, Melbourne.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2024 John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria.
2020 John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria.
2019 Friends and Family, Daine Singer, Melbourne.
2019 Hall & Wilcox Art Prize Exhibition, Melbourne.
2018 Subterranean, The Dirty Dozen, Campbell Arcade, Melbourne.
2018 Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
2017 Master of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition, RMIT, Melbourne.
2016 John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria.
2015 Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize, Bayside Arts and Cultural Centre, Brighton, Melbourne.
2014 Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.
2014 Gold Coast Art Prize, The Arts Centre, Gold Coast.
2013 Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
2013 Gold Coast Art Prize, The Arts Centre, Gold Coast.
2013 City of Whyalla Art Prize, Whyalla, South Australia.
2013 Black Swan Portraiture Prize Salon des Refusés, Brookfield Place, Perth.
2012 Hidden Faces Exhibition: 2015 Victorian Salon des Refusés, Hilton South Wharf, Melbourne.
2011 Prometheus Visual Arts Award Exhibition, Merrimac, Queensland.
2010 A.M.E. Bale Scholarship and Art Prize Exhibition, Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Melbourne.
Awards, Grants, and Residencies:
2020 John Leslie Art Prize, Finalist.
2019 Hall & Wilcox Art Prize, Finalist.
2018 Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
2017 Residency in Berlin.
2016 John Leslie Art Prize, Finalist.
2016 RMIT University Grant to attend RMIT - Lasalle College Postgraduate Research Symposium, Singapore
2015 Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize, Finalist.
2015 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Semi-finalist.
2014 Sulman Prize, Finalist.
2014 Gold Coast Art Prize, Finalist.
2013 Archibald Prize Salon des Refusés, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
2013 City of Whyalla Art Prize, Finalist.
2013 Gold Coast Art Prize, Finalist.
2012 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Semi-finalist.
2011 Prometheus Visual Arts Award, Finalist.
2010 A.M.E. Bale Art Prize – oils/ acrylic, Finalist.
Selected Education:
2017 Master of Fine Art with Distinction, RMIT University, Melbourne.
Collections:
Works held in private collections in Australia.
Commissions:
Several portraits for private collections.
Bibliography & Media:
Dredge, Rhonda (2022). Local galleries make their mark. North West City News, Issue 21, November.
Mathews, Erin (2020). Creativity in a global pandemic. Catalogue Essay for John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria.
Master of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition (2017). Ex Catalogue, RMIT, Melbourne.
Gregg, Simon (2016). Catalogue Essay for John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria.
Crawford, Ashley (2016). Catalogue Essay for Stardust solo exhibition, Gallerysmith Project Space, Melbourne.
Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize (2015). Ex Catalogue, The Gallery at Bayside Arts and Cultural Centre, Brighton, Melbourne.
Hanson, Juliette (2014). Catalogue Essay for Transformations solo exhibition, Red Gallery, North Fitzroy, Melbourne.
Gold Coast Art Prize (2013). Ex Catalogue, The Arts Centre, Gold Coast.
Prometheus Visual Arts Award (2011). Ex Catalogue, Prometheus Foundation, Merrimac, Queensland.
McCulloch, Helen, ed. (2011). Profile: Richard Knafelc, Art Almanac, p.184, August.