Video footage working edit by Digital Storytellers
I have a great love for art and design.
Beginning my professional career as creative director of ooi.com.au, a design company I own with my husband Theo, I also had the opportunity to exhibit paintings and prints at various Melbourne galleries.
Exploring various themes, I love to use different mediums. I initially begin by sketching before progressing ideas in acrylics, oils, various printmaking methods, and sometimes egg tempera.
Through whimsical characters, building facades and/or streetscapes, my subjects reflect my cultural heritage (Australian Greek Cypriot), travel, and personal life experiences – one of which is living with invisible illness.
In 2016, to better manage my ongoing health issue, I made a sea change, moving from Collingwood, Melbourne, to Queenscliff, on the Bellarine Peninsula. I landed myself in a co-director position at Queenscliff Gallery, which I own and run with my husband, Theo.
As a gallerist, I get to apply my love for the arts and my design experience more broadly by curating exhibitions and managing Queenscliff Gallery’s brand and identity. With the establishment of Queenscliff Gallery I now have more time for art and am enjoying exploring new directions in my art that bundle my life’s experience.
My work is available on this website, at Queenscliff Gallery and at The Convent, Daylesford.
Soula Mantalvanos CV
Represented at Convent Daylesford, and Queenscliff Gallery
Artist, Creative Director
2016 – Founder, My Health Story
2015 – Director Queenscliff Gallery
1997 – Creative Director graphic design company, ooi
Solo exhibitions
Dec 2024, Queenscliff Gallery
Mar 2023 Here and There, Queenscliff Gallery
Jun 2015 Form. Solo exhibition of prints at Port Jackson Press
Mar 2015 Intermission. An exhibition of self-portraits at Penny Contemporary Tasmania
Jul 2014 Dreamscape, a collaboration with Ellie Malin for the Gertrude Street Projection Festival 2014
Feb 2014 One night launch in collaboration with Aesop. A Moment in Gertrude
Oct 2012 French facades and portrait paintings and prints. The Convent, Daylesford
Oct 6 – 19 2008 Delightful. Gasworks Arts Park. Albert Park.
Oct 2007 – Jan 2008 Winter Light 2. French facades and prints. The Convent, Daylesford.
Aug 2006 Winter Light. French facades. BSG. Fitzroy.
Oct 2006 Nudes. BSG. Fitzroy.
Group exhibitions
2022 Vestibule Collection, Queenscliff Gallery
2021 Vestibule collection, Queenscliff Gallery
2019-2020 Wonderment, Queenscliff Gallery
2019 Splendacious, Rona Green print exchange
2018 – Lustre group exhibition
2016 – Group exhibitions Queenscliff Gallery
Apr 2017 Artist in residence, Streeton Prints, Queenscliff Gallery
Mar 2017 PCA Print Exchange, 101 Collins, Melbourne
Feb 2017 Editions #2, Penny Contemporary, Hobart Tasmania
2016 Group exhibitions QG
2015 Nov Magical, Rona Green print exchange, Neospace Collingwood
Oct 2015 Carnival Art Show and exhibition at Geelong College
Feb 2015 Editions group show at Tacit Contemporary Art Gallery
Feb 2015 Editions #1 Group show at Penny Contemporary Tasmania
Jun 2014 13 Melbourne Printmakers. Rathdowne Galleries/Joshua McClelland Print Room.
May-Jun 2014 Antipodean Palette exhibition. The Greek Australian Cultural League of Melbourne
May 2013 Borough of Queenscliffe 150th Anniversary Art Award, Queenscliffe
Apr 2013 Exquisite Palette Show. St. Luke Artists Colourmen, Collingwood
Jun 2013 Antipodean Palette exhibition. The Greek Australian Cultural League of Melbourne
Oct 2013 The Convent, Daylesford – French facades painted on panel and prints
Dec 2012 Alice Bale Art Award 2012. Glen Eira City Council
Sep 2012 French facades, portraits and prints. The Convent, Daylesford
Aug 2009 Corangamarah Art Prize – conceit’ 09. Otway Winery and Brewery, Barongarook
Mar 2009 Williamstown Festival Contemporary Art Prize. Substation Newport
Dec 2008 Alice Bale Art Award finalist in the medium of oil/acrylic
Commissions & prizes
Oct 2014 Semi-finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
Jul 2014 The Hurting Strings – An Artist’s Story of Pain documentary by Peter Lamont
Dec 2013 Self published Art & Chronic Pain – A Self Portrait
Oct 2013 Semi finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, painting
May 2013 Borough of Queenscliffe 150th Anniversary Art Award, Queenscliffe
April 2013 Exquisite Palette Show Winner. St. Luke Artists Colourmen, Collingwood
Dec 1 – 16 2012 Alice Bale Art Award 2012. Glen Eira City Council
2010 Mural of St.George at the Hellenic Republic. East Brunswick
2009 Nude portraits for Madam Sou Sou’s Restaurant. Fitzroy
Aug 2009 Corangamarah Art Prize – conceit’ 09. Otway Winery and Brewery, Barongarook
Mar 2009 Williamstown Festival Contemporary Art Prize finalist
Dec 2008 Alice Bale Art Award finalist in the medium of oil/acrylic
May 2008 Commissioned to draw Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s The Banquet of Cleopatra for a kitchen splash back
Education
2016 – 2017 Byzantine Iconography, Drypoint on Copper, Life Drawing, and Monotype workshops, with Anna Prifti, Joel Wolter, Michelle Zuccolo, Anita Iacovella at QG&W
2010-2011 Mentoring and study with Jeff Makin
2010 Life drawing and art mentoring with Jeff Makin
2007 Etching 2, Australian Print Workshop with Warren Cooke
2006 Etching course, Firestation with Deborah Williams
2006 Monotype course, Australian Print Workshop with Martin King
1993 Bachelor of Arts degree, graphic design, Swinburne University
1988 Certificate in Art and Design, Box Hill Institute of TAFE
1987 T12 Graphic Design, Box Hill Technical College
1986 T11 Fine art, Box Hill Technical College