Nancy Wilmot Borlase b. 1914 Taihape, New Zealand

Also known as Nancy Borlase
  • Artist (Sculptor) , (Painter)
New Zealand-born Nancy Wilmot Borlase arrived in Sydney in 1937, studying sculpture under Lyndon Dadswell under space restrictions in her small bed-sit forced a change to painting. Increasingly inspired by the Abstract Expressionist movements in Europe and New York, Borlase won the Portia Geach Memorial Prize in 2000 for her portrait of Marie and Vida Breckenridge.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1995
Name
Nancy Wilmot Borlase
Also known as Nancy Borlase
Birth date
24 March 1914
Birth place
Taihape, New Zealand
Death date
2006
Death place
Sydney, NSW
Gender
Female
Roles
  • Artist (Sculptor)
  • Artist (Painter)
Other Occupation
  • Art critic
  • Journalist
  • House cleaner
  • Life model
  • Waitress
  • Fortune teller
  • Lamp-shade maker
Arrival
  • 1937 (Arrived in Sydney, NSW)
Active Period
  • c.1931- c.2000
Cultural Heritage
  • New Zealand
Languages
  • English
Training
  • c.1939- George Bell School, Melbourne, VIC
  • East Sydney Technical College, Darlinghurst, NSW
  • Canterbury College of Art, Christchurch, NZ
  • c.1931- Christchurch School of Art, Christchurch, NZ
Is Indigenous
No
Initial Record Data Source
  • Heritage with additions

painter, was born on 24 March 1914 in Taihape, North Island, New Zealand, youngest of the three daughters of Edward Norris Borlase, manager of Raunui Station near Mount Ruapehu, and Bessie, née Morecroft.

This entry is a stub. You can help DAAO by submitting a biography.

Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1995
Last updated:
1992
associate of
Lyndon Dadswell
Artist (Sculptor)
associate of
Frank Charles Medworth
1892
Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator), Artist (Printmaker), Artist (Painter)
associate of
Grace Crowley
1890
Artist (Painter)
associate of
Helen Dora Lempriere
1907
Artist (Draughtsman), Artist (Printmaker), Artist (Sculptor), Artist (Painter)
associate of
George Bell
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Rah Fizelle
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Rita Angus
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Francis Shurrock
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
John Moorehouse
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
child of
Edward Norris Borlase
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
child of
née Morecroft Bessie Borlase
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
spouse of
Laurie Short
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
parent of
Susannah Short
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Contemporary Art Society
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
The Sisters: Marie and Vida Breckenridge
Date
2000
Drift
Date
1961
Collections
Nancy Borlanse Retrospective
1994
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Newcastle Region Art Gallery, Newcastle, NSW
(solo exhibition)
1960
Exhibition (exhibited at)
Macquarie Galleries, Sydney, NSW
Recognitions
Portia Geach Memorial Award
2000
Award
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
1987
Award
Berrima Art Prize
1967
Award
Mosman Art Prize
1961
Award
Citations:
  • Brown, Malcolm, (2006), 'A palette of art and politics : Nancy Borlase, 1914-2006', (Place: Sydney Morning Herald, 09-15, p 18)
  • Saines, Deborah Durie, (1993), Interview with the artist, Unknown
  • Smee, Sebastian, (2000), Borlase pays homage to The Sisters even death can't separate, (Place: Sydney Morning Herald, 10-13)
  • Docking, Gil & Wrobel, Elinor, (1994), Nancy Borlase Retrospective, (Place: Newcastle Regional Art Gallery catalogue, Newcastle, NSW)
  • McCulloch, Alan/ McCulloch, Susan, (1994), The Encyclopedia of Australian Art, (Place: St Leonards, NSW)
  • Gardiner, Sue (curator), (2001), Leaping Boundaries: A century of New Zealand Artists in Australia, (Place: Mosman Art Gallery catalogue, Mosman, NSW)
  • France, Christine, (1991), New Directions 1952-1962, (Place: Lewers Bequest catalogue, Penrith, NSW)
See also:
  • Heritage: section 2, plate 90