35 Facts About Wendy Sharpe

Wendy Sharpe was born on 24 February 1960 in Sydney, Australia.

Wendy Sharpe is the only child of British parents; her father is the writer and historian Alan Sharpe.

Wendy Sharpe spent her early years in the Northern Beaches in Sydney, and from 1978 and 1979 she studied at Seaforth Technical College.

Wendy Sharpe received a Graduate Diploma of Professional Art from the City Art Institute in Sydney in 1984, and a master's degree from the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales in 1995.

Wendy Sharpe has created a number of temporary murals and major wall paintings in museums and galleries, such as; Maitland Regional Gallery, Mosman Art Gallery, Lake Macquarie Museum of Art and Culture and The Yellow House, Potts Point.

In 2020, Wendy Sharpe was commissioned by the Inner West Council's Perfect Match program, for their 100th mural.

Wendy Sharpe has created works through residencies with Circus Oz, Sydney Dance Company and Opera Australia and drawn burlesque performers and drag queens from the audience view and backstage.

Wendy Sharpe has drawn live on stage at various art spaces.

In 1999, Wendy Sharpe was appointed official war artist during the Australian military role in East Timor, commissioned by the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Wendy Sharpe was the first female artist to be appointed in this role since World War II.

Wendy Sharpe commenced duty in Darwin, where she attended briefing sessions and recorded the everyday activities of life in the barracks.

Wendy Sharpe spent three weeks sketching the local people and Australian peacekeepers, before returning to Sydney to complete major works based on her observations.

Wendy Sharpe has exhibited work regularly since the mid 1980s throughout Australia; in commercial galleries, state museums, regional galleries and art spaces.

Wendy Sharpe has had solo exhibitions in the UK, France, China, Germany.

Wendy Sharpe has travelled extensively, and has been a recipient of many international artist residencies.

Wendy Sharpe was awarded the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship in 1986, and a residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris in 1987.

In 2008, Wendy Sharpe was artist in residence at the Australian Embassy residence in Cairo, Egypt.

Wendy Sharpe was an official guest of the Australian Ambassador, Robert Bowker.

Wendy Sharpe has made two trips to Antarctica as an artist in residence.

Wendy Sharpe produced work to commemorate the centenary voyage of Australian explorer Douglas Mawson, in association with the Australian Antarctic Division.

In 2014, Wendy Sharpe had a residency at Obracadobra, in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The library acquired a collection of Wendy Sharpe's folding book works.

Wendy Sharpe has worked with a number of different philanthropic organisations, creating work for fundraising exhibitions and events.

Wendy Sharpe drew patients, students and staff of the Addis Adaba Fistula Hospital, Desta Mender Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre, and regional clinics.

Wendy Sharpe has appeared in numerous in Australian television programs, radio interviews, and podcasts.

In 2015, Wendy Sharpe drew 39 portraits of asylum seekers who shared their stories of survival and integration.

Wendy Sharpe's subjects talked to her about themselves, their homes, careers, where they came from and the families they've left behind.

Wendy Sharpe was appointed as a member of the council of the Australian War Memorial from 25 May 2005, and was reappointed twice until her retirement in 30 June 2013.

Between 2012 and 2013, Wendy Sharpe was on the ANZAC Centenary Advisory Arts Committee with the Australian Government.

In 2018, Wendy Sharpe was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

Wendy Sharpe was awarded Fellowship of the National Art School, Sydney.

Wendy Sharpe is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Art School, appointed in 2022.

Wendy Sharpe was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the visual arts, and to the community".

Wendy Sharpe has been a finalist eight times in the Archibald Prize, and 12 times for the Sulman Prize.

Wendy Sharpe's work is held in major collections throughout Australia in state galleries, regional galleries, and other institutions, such as:.