About

Recent winner of the prestigious Rick Amor Self Portrait Prize, Montsalvat, Michelle Zuccolo has been a finalist in the British Portrait Award, London, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Award, 2020 Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize and Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize. Her drawings have been included in the Rick Amor Drawing Award, the 7^th Drawing Biennale, Drill Hall, ANU, Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing and Mornington Peninsula Spring Drawing Festivals.

As a recipient of the Italian Services Institute International Fellowship in 2013, Zuccolo conducted research in Italy and Austria, studying a range of traditional and contemporary Italian art forms with a private Art Academy in Florence. She became immersed in the subtle colour palette employed by Della Francesca and Botticelli. Through private tours extended to her by curators in the Morandi Museum, Bologna and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Zuccolo focussed on the potential, simplicity and complexities of Still life. Through her practice she navigates the past and present and transforms this into a new frame work. This includes her European heritage, and cross over from rural life to city dwelling. The inclusion of taxidermy animals facilitates her concerns on erosion of the environment and depletion of native wildlife due to the introduction of new species into Australia. Continuing the potential of Still life, the past is transformed and becomes a preserved memory documenting evolution.

Awards and Prizes

Self Portrait Prize, Drawing America, New York, 2022, (Third Prize), Judge: David Kassan

Local Art Prize Winner, Bayside City Council Gallery, 2020

Rick Amor Self Portrait Prize, Montsalvat, Eltham, 2019, Winner

Italian Services Institute International Fellowship, 2013

Australia Council for the Arts, Desiderius Orban Youth Award, 1987

Solo Exhibitions

2021 The Encounter, Bayside Gallery, Brighton

2016 From Flesh and Bone, Federation University, Ballarat

2006 Solo Exhibition, Post Office Gallery, University of Ballarat, Ballarat

Semi-finalist

Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, 2021

The British Portrait Award, London Portrait Gallery, London, 2019

Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney, 2018

Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Sydney, 2016

Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Sydney, 2015

Finalist and group Exhibitions

KAAF Art Prize, The Korea-Australian Arts Foundation, Korean Cultural Centre Gallery, Sydney, 2025

Past and Present, Bayside Arts & Cultural Centre, Brighton, 2025

Salon des refuses, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2025

The Gallipoli Art Prize, The Rocks, Sydney, 2025

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2024

Len Fox Painting Award, Castlemaine Art Museum, Castlemaine, 2024

Rick Amor Drawing Award, Mc Clelland Gallery, Langwarren, 2024

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2023

Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize, Bayside Arts & Cultural Centre, Brighton, 2023

Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, 2022

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2022

Kedumba Drawing Award, 2022, Kedumba Gallery, Blue Mountains Grammar School, Wentworth Falls, NSW

Gallipoli Art Prize, Gallipoli Memorial Club, Sydney, 2021

SBS Portrait Award, Mornington, 2021

Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore, 2020

Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize, Bayside Arts & Cultural Centre, Brighton, 2020

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2020

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2019

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2018

Bayside Acquisitive Art Prize, Bayside Arts & Cultural Centre, Brighton, 2018

The Flanagan Art Prize, St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, 2017

ARC Yinnar Drawing Prize, Yinnar, Victoria, 2016

Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney, 2016

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2014

ARC Yinnar Drawing Prize, Yinnar, Victoria, 2014

Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney, 2013

Portia Geach Memorial Award, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2013

St Patrick’s College Art Exhibition, St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, 2013

Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, S. H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 2011

The Flanagan Art Prize, St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, 2011

Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney, 2009

Williamstown Contemporary Art Prize, Williamstown, Victoria, 2009

Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney, 2008

The Flanagan Art Prize, St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, 2008

Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney, 2007
Honourable Mention by judge, Aida Tomescu

Castlemaine State Festival Dominique Segan Drawing Prize, Castlemaine, Victoria, 2007

Williamstown Festival Contemporary Art Prize, Williamstown, Victoria, 2007

Spring Festival of Drawing, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington, 1989

Education and Qualifications

Workshop Presenter, TTA (Professional Development for Australian Teachers, Cambridge Education), 2013

International Baccalaureate Teacher Training (IB Diploma Certificate), 2011

Master of Arts, (Visual Arts part-time by research), University of Ballarat. Completed 2007

Diploma of Education, Melbourne College of Advanced Education. Completed 1985

Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art, majoring in Drawing), Victoria College of Art and Design. Completed 1983