Biography
Hendrik Forster graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1973 and established his studio in Melbourne the following year. He is a designer/maker of sculptural and functional objects. He has lectured at tertiary level for 4 years and been in professional practice for 35 years in which time his work has been collected nationally and internationally.
His work is represented in 10 public collections, among them the Powerhouse Museum, the Australian National Gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Galleries of South Australia and Western Australia. Among his clients are federal and state governments, corporations, public institutions, architects and private collectors.
Major commissions include Australia’s Royal Wedding Gift in 1981, tableware for The Lodge, table silver and a bronze-cast sundial for the New Parliament House, the prime minister’s gift to the Japanese Emperor and church silver for St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Sydney.
Download Hendrick Forster's CV
Training + experience
1990
Visiting lecturer, Curtin University, Perth, WA
1986
Visiting lecturer at five New Zealand Polytechs
1984
Visiting lecturer, Nelson Polytech, NZ
1983
Visiting lecturer, Launceston School of Art 1982 Visiting lecturer, Riverina College of Advanced Education
1981
Full-time lecturer in Gold and Silversmithing, 1983-5 RMIT, Melbourne
1973
Diploma of Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
Journeymanship, Guild of Gold and Silversmiths, Munich
Selected exhibitions
2012
Art Melbourne, ATG
Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale VIC – solo
2010
Domus ANITA TRAVERSO GALLERY Melbourne – solo
2007
Found + Fabricated - joint exhibition with Kerryn Forster ANITA TRAVERSO GALLERY Melbourne
The Only Constant - group exhibition ANITA TRAVERSO GALLERY Melbourne
2005
Gallery Gondwana - joint exhibition with Kerryn Forster, Alice Springs
2001
Anat Isman-Fänder Munich
1998
Metal & Stone Adelaide
Makers Mark Sydney and Melbourne
1989
Goldschmiedeatelier Birgit Forster, Munich
1988
Makers Mark Melbourne
Bonython-Meadmore Gallery, Sydney
1987
Goldschmiedeatelier Birgit Forster, Munich
Bonython Galleries, Adelaide
1986
Makers Mark Melbourne
1982
Makers Mark Melbourne
1980
Bonython Galleries, Adelaide
1979
Narek Galleries, Canberra
1978
Makers Mark Melbourne
1977
Makers Mark Melbourne
1975
Geometrics Melbourne
Distelfink Melbourne
1974
Craft Centre Melbourne
Publications + interviews
2000
Appearance & Reality by Stephen Hogbin
1999
Weekly Times Country
1996
Australian Gourmet Traveller
1990
New York Times
1989
Vogue Entertaining Craft Arts
Vogue Living
1984
Art Bulletin
1982
Art and Australia Business Review Weekly
Craft Victoria
Awards + grants
2011
Montalto Sculpture Award - finalist
2008
Montalto Sculpture award - finalist
2006
Most Outstanding, Sculpture@Nyerimilang
1995
Chairman, Arts Network East Gippsland (-2000)
Fellowship, Australia Council
1984
Organiser of the “4000 Years of Rings” exhibition
1982
Organiser of Hermann Jünger lecture and
exhibition tour.
1980
Professional Development Grant, Australia Council.
Commissions
2012
Penfolds Winery, The Helpman Awards
2002
Church silver for St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, Sydney
2001
BMW Wine Trophy
1999
James Cassius and Robert Helpman Awards
1998
The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph Trophy
1997
Premier’s Gold Trophy for Victorian Wine
1996
Design of First Class Inflight Holloware for Qantas
1995
Prime Minister’s gift to the Emperor of Japan
1989
Church silver for St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane
1988
Bronze-cast sundial for the New Parliament House,Canberra
1987
Table silver for the New Parliament House, Canberra
1983
Royal Presentation, City of Port Pirie, SA
1982
NSW State Gift to China
1981
NSW State Gift to Japan
Tableware for The Lodge, Canberra Australia’s Royal Wedding Gift
Collections
National Australia Bank
Australian National Gallery
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
Victorian State Collection, Melbourne
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
New Parliament House Collection, Canberra
Latrobe Valley Arts Centre, Morwell
Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale City of Hamilton Art Gallery
Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria
Jewish Museum of Australia, Melbourne
Price range
$3,000 - $20,000
ATG Exhibitions
A Shared Perspective at Gippsland Art Gallery (31 March to 20 May 2012)
Domus (8 September - 2 October 2010)
Found + Fabricated (10 October - 3 November 2007)