Winner of the 2016 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA).
Awarded by Ken Done AM
Grafton Regional Gallery.
Adam Cusack is an artist whose Adam Cusack is an artist whose practice traverses multiple media including drawing, painting, installation and sculpture. His work explores ideas of authenticity and identity in popular culture. Using a process of conceptual development, photography then drawing or painting to realise the artwork, Adam is interested in showing real things in provocative ways; assembling unrelated objects together to bring about relationships that challenge the perception of the original items. His creative approach honours the traditional picture plane utilising simple methods of applying charcoal or pigment on a prepared surface.
‘The act of making something ‘look real’ is not what’s necessarily important to the work. However, I have found that spending time on rendering the subject gives value to the idea, which in turn allows the audience to consider its ‘unrealism’ and engage with my practice’
adam cusack
in plain sight 2016 charcoal on paper 1000x1140mm
Winner – 2016 Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award
awards and art prizes
2020.
Finalist – Paul Guest Drawing Prize. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic.
2019.
Finalist – Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA). Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton NSW.
Finalist – Paul Guest Drawing Prize. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic.
2018.
Finalist – The 65th Blake Prize. Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC), Casula NSW.
Finalist – Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing. ‘The Croydon’ Centre for Art, Design & Technology, Croydon NSW.
2017.
Finalist – Montalto Sculpture Prize. Montalto Sculpture Park, Red Hill Vic.
2016.
Winner – Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA). Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton NSW.
Finalist – Incinerator Art Award. Incinerator Gallery, Moonee Ponds Vic.
Finalist – Paul Guest Drawing Prize. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic.
2014.
Finalist – Paul Guest Drawing Prize. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic.
2011.
Finalist – Lethbridge 10,000. Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane Qld.
biography
Born. 1971. Cairns, Australia
Lives and works in Macedon Ranges, Vic.
exhibitions
2020.
Art in the Vines – The Renaissance – Group Show. Hanging Rock Winery, The Hanging Rock Winery, Newham Vic
Paul Guest Drawing Prize – Group Show. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic
Summer Salon – Group Show. cusack&CUSACK Gallery, Kyneton Vic.
2018.
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA) – Group Show. Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton NSW.
Paul Guest Drawing Prize – Group Show. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic
The 65th Blake Prize – Group Exhibition. Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC), Casula NSW.
Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing – Group Show. ‘The Croydon’ Centre for Art, Design & Tech Croydon NSW.
Sideshow – Solo Exhibition. The Stockroom, Kyneton Vic.
Mixed Tape – Group Show. The Stockroom, Kyneton Vic.
2017.
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA) – Group Show. Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Coffs Harbour NSW.
Group Show. – M Contemporary, Woollahra, NSW.
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA) – Group Show. Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland Qld.
Iconoclasts – Group Touring Show. Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville Qld.
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA) – Group Show. Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Bundaberg Qld.
Iconoclasts – Group Touring Show. KICK Arts Contemporary Arts, Cairns Qld.
Montalto Sculpture Prize – Group Show. Montalto Sculpture Park, Red Hill Vic.
Mixed Tape – Group Show. The Stockroom, Kyneton Vic.2016.
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA) – Group Show. Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton NSW.
Incinerator Art Award – Group Show. Incinerator Gallery, Moonee Ponds Vic.
Paul Guest Drawing Prize – Group Show. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic.
Group Show – M Contemporary, Sydney NSW.
2015.
Wordsmith – Solo Exhibition. The Stockroom, Kyneton Vic.
Pop-up – Group Show. M Contemporary, Perth WA.
Mythology of My Land – Group Show. M Contemporary, Woollahra NSW.
Memories in Motion – Group Show. M Contemporary, Woollahra NSW.
2014.
Paul Guest Drawing Prize – Group Show. Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Vic. 2014.
Knock Knock Contemporary – Group Show. Tanks Art Centre, Cairns Qld.
The Flight Collective – Solo Exhibition. The Stockroom, Kyneton Vic.
2013.
Diamonds in a Paintbox – Group Show. The Art Cabriolet, Luminare, South Melbourne Vic.
Studio 9 and The Art Cabriolet – Group Show. Kingston Art Gallery, Kingston Vic.
Knock Knock Contemporary – Group Show. Sub 150 Gallery, Cairns Qld.
‘Robots vs Art’ A play by Travis Cotton – Group Show (on set). La Mama Theatre, Carlton Vic.
2009.
Melbourne Affordable Art Show – Solo Exhibition. Melbourne Exhibition Buildings, Carlton Vic.
2007.
Group Show. Lethbridge Gallery – Melbourne Exhibition Buildings, Carlton Vic.
2006.
Thought Paroxysms – Solo Exhibition. Catanach’s Gallery, Malvern Vic.
2005.
Thought Paroxysms – Solo Exhibition. Cobalt Gallery, South Yarra Vic.
2004.
Cobalt Gallery Opening – Group Show. Cobalt Gallery, South Yarra Vic.
Group Show – Lethbridge Gallery – Melbourne Exhibition Buildings, Carlton Vic.
Abused Child Trust Art Exhibition – Group Show. Waterfront Place, Brisbane Qld.
Thought Paroxysms – Solo Exhibition. Doggett Street Studios – Brisbane Qld.
1992.
Works On Paper – Solo Exhibition. Hilton International, Cairns Qld.
1991.
Queensland College of Art Graduating Exhibition – Group Show. Griffith University, Brisbane Qld.
1989.
Thought Paroxysms – Group Show. Shonelle Gallery, Brisbane Qld.
1988.
C.A.D. Graduating Exhibition – Group Show. Cairns Qld.
1987.
C.A.D. Works on paper – Group Show. Cairns Qld.