Mela Cooke

Building on top of her experience as a physiotherapist, giving Mela a deep appreciation of the human body and its dimensions. Cooke's sculptures aim to encourage the viewer to reflect on the historical perspective of the object, giving thought to emotionals and disposition of the subject matter (people or animals) - ultimately, leaving the person with the knowledge that there is beauty in the world.

Art Work

Polka Dot Dive

Size: 28 x 23

The Conversation

Size: 38H 37D 21W

+ 38H 26D 46W

Big Sister

Summer Days

The Aviator and his flying machine

A measure of trust

Swim Squad

Size: 38H 30D 20W + 26H 25D 13W

He said, she said

Size: 70H 24D 40W+ 75H 30D 35W

Early Mornings

Size: 68H 37D 33W + 66H 37D 33W

The Swim Squad

Size: 38H 30D 20W + 26H 25D 13W

Timeout

Size: 75 H 30D 35W

Late Afternoon

Size: 30H 16D 46W

Mela Cooke's Biography

Awards

1999 Winner Comerford Stone Sculpting Award.
1997-2003 Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition, prizes in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003.
2000-2017 Sculptors Qld Exhibition, prizes in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005,2009, 2012, 2016, 2017,2018, 2019.
2010, Livelife Villages Exhibition Sculpture 1st prize
2011, Livelife Villages Exhibition Sculpture 2nd prize
2011 Nundah village Art Exhibition 1st prize sculpture,
2012 Nundah Art Exhibition 2nd prize sculpture
2012 Nudgee College Art Festival 1st prize sculpture
2013 Nundah Art Exhibition Sculpture 2 nd prize
2013 Nudgee College Art Festival 2nd prize sculpture
2014 Nundah Art Exhibition Sculpture 2 nd prize sculpture
2014 Royal Qld Exhibition 1 st prize Sculpture
2016 Royal Qld Exhibition Highly Commended
2015 Sculptor for the Maryborough(Q’ld) Sculpture Trail, six bronzes.
2016 Sculptor of seven life-size bronzes for Maryborough’s Sculpture Trail
2016 Sculpture on the Edge’ SpicersTamarind 2016 Highly Commended
2017 Sculptor of eleven bronze sculptures for Maryborough Sculpture Trail
2017 Sculptor for life-size Mother Dingo & Pups at Hervey Bay Qld
2017 Girt By Sea Outdoor Sculpture Award, Redland Bay 1 st prize
2017 Royal Qld Exhibition 1 st prize & Highly Commended Sculpture
2017 Royal Qld Exhibition Grand Champion Sculptor
2018 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula, Vic
2018 Winner of the Family Choice Award Montalto Sculpture Prize Vic
2018 Winner Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition
2018 Winner of the ‘Volunteers Choice’ Award Stanthorpe Art Prize
2018 Finalist Artentwine Sculpture Biennial Tas
2018 Royal Qld Exhibition 2 nd prize Indoor Sculpture
2018 Royal Qld Exhibition 1 st prize Outdoor Sculpture
2018 Winner Wynnum Manly Yacht Club Sculpture Exhibition
2018 Winner People’s Choice Sculptors Qld Annual Exhibition
2019 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic
2019 Brookfield Sculpture Exhibition 2nd prize
2019 Winner George Verine Memorial Prize, Sculptors Qld Annual Exhibition
2019 Winner 3D Award Somerset Bendigo Bank Art Award
2019 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Outdoor Sculpture
2019 Royal Qld Exhibition 2nd prize Representational Sculpture
2020 Finalist Montalto Sculpture Prize, Mornington Peninsula Vic Feb

Public Sculptures

Eighteen sculptures in the streets of Maryborough, Qld
Sculptures ‘Dingo Family’ and ‘Platypus’ in forecourt of Hervey Bay Cultural Centre, Qld

Exhibitions

Group exhibitions 1992 to 2020 in Brisbane and Melbourne, London 2003.
Solo exhibition Brisbane 2002, Sydney 2016, Sorrento Vic 2020
2018 Exhibition ‘Wild Forms’, Urban Paradise Gallery Brisbane.
2019 Sculptors Exposed Pine Rivers Art Gallery
2019 Qseven Sorrento, Vic
2020 Manyung Gallery Sorrento ‘Women in Action’ solo exhibition
2020 Northshore ‘Sculpture By The River’, Brisbane

Collections

private collections in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, France, USA, UK, Belgium, HK, Shanghai.

Art Education

Brisbane Institute of Art (studying sculptures) with Frank Lambert 1991-1993
Private classes with Frank Lambert 1993 - 2014
Marble sculpting with Graham Radcliffe 1998-2000
Marble sculpting with Italian sculptor Giovanni Balderi 2000

President of Sculptors: Qld 2015,2016

Vice President Sculptors: Qld 2017,2018,2019,2020