Artist Bio

About Me.

My Name is Paul Fontanini and I am a Sculptor and Artist Blacksmith born in Manjimup in the Southwest of Western Australia in 1976 and also where I am now based.

I studied Art and Design at Bunbury TAFE from 1992-1994 and a Diploma of Fine Art at the Western Australian School of Art and Design 1995-1996

I work with a variety of materials and techniques including metal, both forged and fabricated, from new and recycled material. I also use wood, cast aluminium, resin and recycled HDPE plastic in my works.

I take inspiration from nature and organic forms and often like to contrast textures between natural and smooth machined, polished metal.

My latest series of works titled "Casting with Nature"  are exploring the use of nature itself as a mould to cast molten metals into. 

 

Awards

2019

Sculpture in the Vines Pemberton - Farmlink Award

2021

Sculpture by the Bay Small Sculpture Prize Dunsborough - Overall Winner

Sculpture in the Vines Pemberton - Overall Winner

Pemberton Art Prize - Phil and Wendy French Award

Pemberton Arts Group Spring Exhibition -Phil and Wendy French Award

Castaways Small Sculpture Prize Rockingham - People's Choice Award

2022

Pemberton Art Prize - OPS/Quantum Pacific Holdings Art Prize

Pemberton Arts Group Spring Exhibition Mona & Torsten Ketelson Art Prize

Pemberton Arts Group Spring Exhibition Open Acquisitive Winner

2023

Pemberton Art Prize - Rygold Nominees Prize

Jury Art Prize Port Hedland - Jury Prize Peoples Choice

Ludlow Art Prize - Highly Commended

2024

Sculpture by The Bay - Private Properties Award for Storytelling

Pemberton Art Prize - Rygold Nominees Prize

 Jury Art Prize Port Hedland - Jury Prize, People's Choice

Pemberton Arts Group Spring Exhibition - Mona and Torsten Ketelson Art Prize

Castaways Rockingham - People's Choice Prize, Main Exhibition

2025

Pemberton Art Prize - Pemberton General Store Prize

Pemberton Arts Group Spring Exhibition - Mona and Torsten Ketelson Art Prize