sculptor, was born in Melbourne. Her formal art training began in 1942 at Swinburne Institute of Technology, but illness combined with a long convalescence interrupted her studies. These were gradually resumed and after two years of painting at Swinburne Redpath enrolled in sculpture at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (1949-51). Her studies were largely self directed as she found no contemporary sculpture of interest to her in Australia. While still a student she was invited to become a member of the Victorian Sculptors’ Society, where she exhibited regularly, contributing to their activities as a council member and, later, as vice-chairman until her resignation.

Redpath was a founding member of Group Four in 1953, and in 1960 of Centre Five. She was the only sculptor in these organisations without overseas exposure, but with savings from two years of teaching, sales and commissions, her opportunity for extensive travel in Europe came in 1956. In Italy she studied at the Universita per Stranieri, Perugia. Later, when based in Rome, she cast two bronzetti, her interest in the potential of bronze as a medium having been aroused in Melbourne.

On her return to Australia in 1958, Redpath won the commission for a mural based on Milton’s Areopagitica for the Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne. It was executed as a wood carving, but by 1961 she had won the Mildara (later Mildura) Prize for Sculpture with a work in plaster designed for bronze casting. In the same year she was awarded the Italian Government Travelling Scholarship. At Milan in 1962 Redpath pursued further studies at the Academia di Belle Arti di Brera, gaining foundry experience. Two large sculptures and twelve bronzetti were cast there and formed the basis of her Gallery A exhibition in Melbourne the following year. One of the sculptures gained Redpath her second Mildura Prize for Sculpture in 1964. In 1966 she won the Transfield Prize for Sculpture.

Commissions undertaken by Redpath include: Treasury Fountain (1965-69) for the Secretariat Building and Extended Column (1972-75) for the School of Music, Canberra; Sculpture Column (1969-72) for the Reserve Bank of Australia, Brisbane; and Bronze Reliefs (1964) for BP Australia, the Victorian Coat of Arms for the Arts Centre of Victoria (1968), Facade Relief (1970-72) for the Victorian College of Pharmacy, the Sydney Rubbo Memorial Capital (1970-73) at the University of Melbourne and Paesaggio Cariatide (1980-85) for the State Bank of Victoria, Melbourne.

Since her first trip Redpath has regularly travelled between Italy and Australia, living and working in both countries. In 1972-74 she was awarded a Fellowship in the Creative Arts, Australian National University, Canberra. Then she worked out of her Milan studio (1974-85) before returning to develop her existing studio and production base in Melbourne.

She is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, the state galleries of Victoria, NSW and WA, in regional and institutional holdings and in private collections in Australia, Italy, UK and USA. In 1970 Norma Redpath was awarded the OBE for her contributions to sculpture.

Writers:

Kirby, Sandy

Date written:

1995

Last updated:

2011