Junko Go

born Japan, lives Melbourne

In a quest to find universal values, Junko Go’s paintings are not tied to a particular art movement. Instead, they possess a unique aesthetic encompassing elements of painting, drawing and storytelling that combine her Japanese heritage with an Australian perspective. An interest in dualism results in works that are simultaneously abstract and figurative, simple and complex.

Go’s paintings provide the opportunity to meander, search, rest, analyse; what at first glance appears a simple motif becomes a multifaceted story, woven over time by layers of paint and intertwining imagery.

Born near Kyoto in Japan, Go left Japan for New York, where she studied fine art, and came to Australia in 1992 where she continued her studies at the University of Tasmania. She is a full-time artist, working from her studio in Melbourne.

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CV

JUNKO GO
Born in Japan, arrived in Australia 1992, lives in Melbourne

QUALIFICATIONS
2006 – Bachelor of Contemporary Art, University of Tasmania, TAS
2001 – Diploma of Arts, Craft & Design, TAFE Launceston, TAS
1984-86 – Drawing study at Duchess Community College, NY, USA
1977 – Bachelor of English/American Literature, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 – 'Me and My Beautiful Ugly White', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2023 – 'Keep One Eye on the Times and One Eye on the Timeless', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2022 – 'all about… audaciously precarious', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2021 – 'Hello Darkness', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2020 – 'all about… black & white', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2019 – 'Down the Rabbit Hole', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2018 – 'all about… adam & eve', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2017 – 'Me and My Beautiful Ugly Cakes', Gallerysmith, VIC
2016 – 'all about… wild, gentle, happy, sad, crazy and sensible', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2015 – 'UnStill Life', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2014 – 'all about… piano man', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2013 – 'One+One', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2012 – 'all about… summer', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2012 – 'Another Kind of Fable', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2011 – 'a kind of fable', Harrison Galleries, Sydney, NSW
2010 – 'all about... animals', Handmark Gallery, Evandale, TAS
2010 – 'tea is for...', Harrison Galleries, Paddington, NSW
2009 – 'blue is for...', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2009 – 'all about... blooming', Gallery 101, Melbourne, VIC
2008 – 'all about... flowering', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2007 – 'all about... hungry', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2006 – 'all about... trees', Gallery 101, Melbourne, VIC
2005 – 'all about... happiness', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2005 – 'Me and My Ugly Mountain', Academy Gallery, Launceston, TAS
2003-1996 – numerous 'all about' solo exhibitions, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
1995 – 'Junko Jungle', Dalmeny Gallery, Evandale, TAS

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 – Sydney Contemporary, Gallerysmith, Carriageworks, NSW
2023 – 'XV: PAST PRESENT FUTURE', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2022 – 'FEMINAE - International Women's Day exhibition', online
2021 – '2020(REAR)VISION', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2021 – 'Walking Tall', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2020 – 'Spring Salon', Clarendon Arms, Evandale, TAS
2019 – 'Celebrating Our Landscape', Handmark Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2019 – 'Still Life Exhibition', Handmark Gallery, Evandale, TAS
2018 – 'Landscape Exhibition', Handmark Gallery, Hobart & Evandale, TAS
2017 – 'Hyper-Botanica', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2016 – 'Still Life Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2015 – 'Celebration of North (Tasmania)', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2015 – 'Still Life Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2015 – 'Tasmanian Landscape Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2014 – 'Still Life Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2014 – 'Celebration of North (Tasmania)', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2014 – 'Tasmanian Landscape Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2013 – 'Tasmanian Art Award 20th Anniversary Winners Exhibition', TAS
2013 – 'Celebration of North (Tasmania)', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2013 – 'Tasmanian Landscape Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2012 – 'Out of Darkness', Gallerysmith, Melbourne, VIC
2012 – 'Celebration of North (Tasmania)', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2012 – 'Tasmanian Landscape Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2012 – 'Celebration of North (Tasmania)', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2011 – 'Walk on the Wild Side', Harrison Galleries, Sydney, NSW
2011 – 'Celebration of North (Tasmania)', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2011 – 'Tasmanian Landscape Show', Handmark Gallery, TAS
2009 – 'UnStill Life', Burnie Regional Art Gallery, Burnie, TAS
2006 – 'Wallpaper', Carnegie Gallery, TAS and touring - Burnie Art Regional Gallery, TAS, QV Museum & Art Gallery, TAS, Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery, NSW
2004 – 'Devils and Angels', Academy Gallery, University of TAS, Launceston, TAS
2003 – 'Royal Launceston Art Prize', Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, TAS

AWARD AND PRIZE EXHIBITIONS
2019 – Finalist - 'John Glover Landscape Prize', TAS
2018 – Finalist - 'Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize', TAS
2018 – Mural commission - Contemporary Art Tasmania
2014 – Finalist - 'John Glover Landscape Prize', Evandale, TAS
2011 – Judge's Commendation - 'John Glover Landscape Prize', TAS
2009 – Finalist - 'John Glover Landscape Prize', Evandale, TAS
2008 – Finalist - 'John Glover Landscape Prize', Evandale, TAS
2006 – Finalist - 'John Glover Landscape Prize', Evandale, TAS
2006 – 'Tidal Devonport Art Award', TAS
2005 – Dean's Roll of Excellence - Faculty of Arts, University of TAS
2004 – Highly Commended - 'City of Burnie Art Award', Burnie, TAS
2004 – Dean's Roll of Excellence - Faculty of Arts, University of TAS
2003 – WINNER - 'Royal Launceston Art Prize', QVMAG, TAS
2002 – WINNER - 'Alfred Evershed Award', TAFE Tasmania, TAS
2002 – WINNER - 'Kym Clayton Art Award', TAFE Launceston, TAS
2002 – WINNER - 'Tasmanian Art Award', Eskleigh, TAS
2001 – WINNER - 'Tasmanian Art Award', Eskleigh, TAS

COLLECTIONS
Contemporary Art Tasmania
Artbank Australia
The Sebel Hotel Launceston
LaVida Restaurant, Noosa
Art for Public Building Scheme Tasmania, Royal Hobart Hospital
Novaro's Restaurant
Eskleigh Collection
Private Collections