About

Tracey in her studio

Tracey Harvey – Biography

Practicing professional artist, based in Perth, Western Australia.

Tracey is known as an artist with a social conscience and for her vibrant paintings, which involve a complexity of built up layers, strong colour, and texture. She has exhibited internationally since 2008, is the recipient of several awards, and her paintings are held in numerous private collections in Australia, Singapore, Italy, France, UK and USA.

Inspiration

“My great source of inspiration is the wide and colourful Australian landscape, as well as the small details of texture, shape and colour that exist around us, but are rarely noticed. Since 2013, I’ve focused on abstract painting and bodies of work that are further inspired by my travels and interest in medical science.

As a qualified physiotherapist I have always had a passion for the intersection of art, science and health, as well as exploring the world through travel, photography and meeting a diversity of people. I don’t believe in painting just for art’s sake or my own, I am an artist with a social conscience. My works draw on my aim to raise awareness of the frailty of the human condition and sales support charitable organisations (Heart Foundation, The Hunger Project & Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation).”

Technique & Medium

“I love oils for their buttery fluidity and intensity of colour, and acrylics for the expressive speed they permit. People choose my work because they enjoy, not only the evocative aesthetics, but my use of the brush and palette, which is quite vigorous and expressive. This allows me to extract as much movement of the medium as possible.”

Recent Work

I’m currently working towards my second solo exhibition, which will be held in November 2019 at Kidogo Arthouse in Fremantle. My first solo show, Little Pieces of Me, opened in February 2018 at Gallows Gallery, Perth and raised support for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bones). I also exhibit regularly with Abstract Angels, most recently at the Moore’s Building in Fremantle in ‘Journey of the Heart‘, and was selected by Agora Gallery as one of eight artists to show in their stand at Artexpo New York in April 2017.

Commissions

As well as exhibiting in galleries, Tracey is frequently commissioned to create paintings for specific interior locations, both private and public, and is sought after by interior designers and stylists to add her paintings to their sets.

Background

Tracey Harvey grew up in Narrogin, a regional town in south-west Western Australia, and attained degrees in Science and Physiotherapy from University of Western Australia and Curtin University. From 1989-1993, Tracey lived both interstate and overseas, including Melbourne, Cairo, Singapore and Hong Kong.

In Singapore, where she trained under British artist James Holdsworth, her works in oils were first exhibited at The Holdsworth Gallery and Studio in 2008. On returning to Perth, Tracey honed her painting skills with Jane McKay and at the Claremont School of Art.

Tracey currently lives and works in Perth, Western Australia.