STUDIO LA PRIMITIVE
ERIC & ROBYN WERKHOVEN
ROBYN STANTON WERKHOVEN BIOGRAPHY
1952 Born Penrith, NSW Australia
EDUCATION
1970- 72 Graphic Design Diploma, Randwick Technical College, Sydney
1969 Fine Art Course, Wollongong Technical College
1959- 68 SCEGGS Grammar School, Wollongong NSW
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024 Establishing Gresford Community Gallery with fellow artists.
2017-24 At present the artists Robyn and Eric Werkhoven are the subject of a documentary film being made on their art and life - ‘Eric & Robyn and the Mythical Beasts’ by film makers Nicky Elliott and Pete Delahunty.
2019 Designed layout of book “Poetry & Sculpture” by Eric Werkhoven.
2013 -2024 Editor & publisher of Studio La Primitive Arts Zine.
An independent Art and Literary online magazine. In 2017 it was selected by the NSW State Library to be preserved as a digital publication of lasting cultural value for long-term access by the Australian community.
2004- 2024 Writes CULTURE VULTURE - Artists interviews & art news Gresford Monthly News.
2017 Designed layout of book “Rhino Images in Art’ – by Lorraine Fildes.
2011 - 2018 Exhibition Curator. NAS Gallery and Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
2009 Exhibiting member – Portrait Artists Australia.
2012 - 16 Writes Art Column for Hunter Professional Arts Magazine.
2003 Established as co-director, Tighes Hill Art Gallery, Newcastle.
1990 Established Gresford Gallery and Studio, East Gresford, Hunter Valley.
1989 Established Studio La Primitive, with Eric Werkhoven in Newcastle.
1981 Overseas travel – Europe.
1978- 79 Art Brooches, Roxy Jewellery, Strand Arcade, Sydney.
1976- 77 Collaborated with Performance Artist Collin Chillcot,
Event & Performance Art, Wollongong & Sydney.
1975 Set up painting studio, Paddington, Sydney.
1972- 74 Opened business Armin Designs, silk screened clothing / textiles,
Wollongong, wholesale to selected boutiques, Sydney.
1971 Silk screen designs for textiles,'"Moon in the Window" Balmain, Sydney.
EXHIBITIONS
2023 MAD MOMENTS Studio La Primitive – Eric & Robyn Werkhoven, Art Systems Wickham Gallery, Newcastle.
2020 STOLE : the show, Timeless Textile Gallery, Newcastle.
RECENT WORK - Back to Back Gallery, Newcastle.
2019 Finalist Portia Geach Art prize – S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
Studio La Primitive – ‘Eric & Robyn and the Mythical Beasts’, Art Systems Wickham Gallery, Newcastle.
2018 Laman St. Art Prize Finalist
CONCERNING PEACE – curator / exhibitor, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland.
2017 Studio La Primitive – Comedy & Tragedy, recent work, Art Systems Wickham Gallery, Newcastle.
The Collector Exhibition, Newcastle University Gallery, Newcastle.
Small Postcard Exhibition, Maggie Springs Gallery, South Australia.
2016 THE HOSPITAL - drawings - Maitland Regionl Art Gallery, Maitland.
Fine Drawing Exhibition, Gallery 139, Hamilton, Newcastle.
2015 LAMAN STREET ART PRIZE - winner of 2D section. Back to Back Gallery, Cooks Hill Newcastle.
THE PIANOS BEEN DRINKING – group exhibition, Maitland Regional Art Gallery Maitland.
Studio La Primitive - E&R Werkhoven – Art Systems Wickham Gallery, Newcastle.
2014 PAA EXHIBITION - AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY, WASHINGTON DC. USA, selected by Embassy Cultural Attaché.
BLOOD – group exhibition Newcastle Art Space curator / exhibitor
ADORNMENT – group Exhibition Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle.
2013 PORTIA GEACH PORTRAIT PRIZE FINALIST – S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
NUDE & NAKED – ART PRIZE FINALIST, Manning River Regional Art Gallery, Taree NSW.
STUDIO LA PRIMITIVE – Art Systems Gallery Newcastle
ADORNMENT group exhibition – Newcastle Art Space Gallery, Newcastle.
MULTICULTURE AUSTRALIAN Exhibition – Sydney Parliament House.
NIGHTMARES EXHIBITION – Newcastle Art Space Gallery - Curator & exhibitor of group show.
2012 PORTIA GEACH TRAVELLING EXHIBITION at Tweed River Regional Art Gallery, Murwillumbah.
LAUNCH OF PORTRAIT ARTISTS AUSTRALIA BOOK AND EXHIBITION – Art House Hotel, Sydney.
CAPRICE III EXHIBITION –collaborative work with Eric Werkhoven – Kaleidoscope Gallery, Waterloo Sydney.
A FINE LINE BETWEEN PLEASURE & PAIN Exhibition – Newcastle Art Space Gallery- curate and exhibiting.
CELEBRATING INNOVATORS EXHIBITION – Portrait Artist Australia Federal Parliament House ACT.
2011 BLAKE ART PRIZE – DIRECTORS CUT EXHIBITION (online).
MAITLAND ART PRIZE – MINIATURE EXHIBITION, Maitland NSW.
THE FACE OF AUSTRALIA - Portrait Artists Australia, Parliament House, Sydney.
STUDIO LA PRIMITIVE – CAPRICE “a holy tirade of the heart uncovered” collaborative works with artist Eric Werkhoven, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland NSW.
PORTIA GEACH AWARD FOR PORTRAITURE – FINALIST - S. H. Ervin Gallery - Sydney.
PREPARATION FOR THE FINAL JOURNEY, curator & exhibiting - Newcastle Art Space Gallery, Newcastle.
2010 FACE OFF – Portrait Artists Australia, MLC Gallery, Sydney.
STUDIO LA PRIMITIVE – CAPRICE II, SOAG Gallery, Newcastle.
T – SHIRT CULT Fashion/Art Exhibition Basel Switzerland.
BLAKE ART PRIZE – DIRECTORS CUT EXHIBITION (online).
THE ARTISTS MUSE – Portrait Artists Australia, Arthouse Hotel, Sydney.
Christmas Exhibition, SOAG Gallery, Newcastle.
Christmas Exhibition Gallery 41, Woolloomooloo, Sydney.
2009 OPENING EXHIBITION SOAG GALLERY, Tighes Hill, Newcastle.
MAITLAND ART PRIZE EXHIBITION Miniature painting – Highly Recommended.
STUDIO LA PRIMITIVE – CAPRICE I, recent collaborative works by Eric & Robyn Werkhoven,
celebrating 30 year artistic relationship, SOAG Gallery, Newcastle.
MUSWELLBROOK ART PRIZE Exhibition, Muswellbrook Regional Art Gallery.
2008 COUNTRY ENERGY LANDSCAPE PRIZE FINALIST, The Gunnery Gallery, Sydney.
FROM NOW TO MAO EXHIBITION, Armory Gallery, Olympic Park, Sydney.
CELEBRITY PORTRAITS EXHIBITION – National Trust Portrait Project - Brough House, Maitland NSW.
2007 COUNTRY ENERGY LANDSCAPE PRIZE FINALIST , Dubbo Regional Art Gallery NSW.
CELEBRITY PORTRAITS – National Trust Portrait Project, Maitland.
2006 PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION FINALIST - S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
ECLECTIC EXHIBITION , Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle.
2005 WEARABLE ART EXHIBITION, Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle.
MUSWELLBROOK ART PRIZE Exhibition, Muswellbrook Regional Gallery.
STUDIO LA PRIMITIVE, collaborative paintings with artist Eric Werkhoven - Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle.
2004 WASTE AS ART, Honeysuckle, Newcastle.
FIGURES, FACES AND LANDSCAPES, Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle.
PUB CULTURE, selected exhibition, Maitland Regional Art Gallery NSW.
Established CULTURE VULTURE Art News & Interviews – Article for monthly Gresford News, Hunter Valley NSW.
PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
2003 THE WANDERING, selective exhibition, Maitland, City Art Gallery, NSW.
WASTE AS ART, Newcastle Regional Museum.
OPENING EXHIBITION TIGHES HILL GALLERY Co - director , Tighes Hill, Newcastle.
ESSENCE OF CHANGE, opening exhibition Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
ECLECTIC EXHIBITION, Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle.
2002 SHOP FRONT ART, Red Light Studio, Beaumont St, Hamilton, Newcastle.
WASTE AS ART, Lake Macquarie Council Chambers Foyer.
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE, Maitland City Gallery, Maitland.
MUSWELLBROOK ART PRIZE Exhibition, Muswellbrook Regional Gallery.
2001 SCULPTURE OF THE MONTH – MAY, Maitland City Art Gallery grounds.
NATURAL FORCES EXHIBITION, Newcastle Art Space Gallery, Newcastle.
2000 6 ARTISTS, Gibson Street Gallery, Newcastle.
TOWARDS THE THIRD MILLENIUM, Maitland City Art Gallery, Maitland.
RECENT WORKS with artist Diana Middleby, Lindsay Street Gallery, Newcastle.
1999 HOUSE OF ART, with artists Eric Werkhoven and Monique Werkhoven.
Maitland City Council Chambers Foyer Gallery, Maitland NSW.
COSMIC ATHLETES, solo exhibition, Lindsay Street Gallery, Newastle.
1998 FANTASTICATION, with artists Eric Werkhoven and Monique Werkhoven - John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle.
ART AND SOUL, Australians’ for Native Title and Reconciliation, Maitland.
PORTIA GEACH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR PORTRAITURE EXHIBITION - S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney.
1997 TYRELL’S TRIUMPH – ANOTHER DIMENSION EXHIBITION - Maitland City Art Gallery, Maitland.
HUNTER PRIDE, Newcastle Regional Museum, Newcastle.
FAREWELL TO HONGKONG, Lindsay Street Gallery, Newcastle.
PRIMAVERA, LINDSAY Street Gallery, Newcastle.
1996 ARTISTIC RELATIONSHIPS, selective exhibition, Maitland City Art Gallery.
COLOUR IN SPACE II, with artist Suzie Lim, John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle.
1995 COLOUR IN SPACE I, with artist Suzie Lim, John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle.
WOMENS’ DAY EXHIBITION, Maitland Town Hall, Maitland.
INTERIOR INSTALLATIONS, collaborative works with artist Eric Werkhoven - Different Image Gallery, Maitland
1994 8TH FESTIVAL OF VISUAL ARTS, Maitland City Art Gallery, Maitland.
LA PRIMITIVE DESIGN, with artist Eric Werkhoven, Different Image Gallery, - Maitland NSW.
GIBSON STREET GALLERY OPENING GROUP EXHIBITION , Newcastle.
1993 LITTLE WORKS, 249 Gallery Newcastle.
LA PRIMITIVE DESIGN, with artist Eric Werkhoven, Back to Back Gallery, Newcastle.
1992 TWO FOR DINNER EXHIBITION, Back to Back Gallery, Newcastle.
ID Exhibition, Contemporary Gallery, Newcastle.
1991 WAR PAINT, Contemporary Gallery, Newcastle.
SPARE RIB, Contemporary Gallery, Newcastle.
LITTLE WORKS, Contemporary Gallery, Newcastle.
1990 5 ARTISTS, Contemporary Gallery, Newcastle.
EROTIC HAZE, solo exhibition, Contemporary Gallery, Newcastle.
1989 WOMENS’ DAY EXHIBITION, Tikat Gallery, Newcastle.
PUBLICATIONS
Hunter Life Style Magazine article by Ken Rubeli Spring issue 202.
Portrait Artists Australia Book – ten years published 2012.
URL LINKS – INTERVIEWS.
Eric & Robyn and the Mythical Beasts – Film by Nicky Elliott an Pete Delahunty.
A risk-ready artist couple, who face more barriers than most, turn danger and tragedy upside down when they tap into the absurdities of life. LINK:
Eric & Robyn and the Mythical Beasts Trailer on Vimeo
https://www.facebook.com/ericandrobynfilm/videos/801746150159556
"Heavy Freedom" - The De Factos - OFFICIAL VIDEO
A song inspired by the art of Robyn & Eric Werkhoven and Studio La Primitive.
Lead vocal Donna Cavanough Music and lyrics, instruments, recording & Ableton Live production by John O'Brien BVs Donna and John Music video by John O'Brien, featuring Robyn & Eric creating works together, with photos of their art by Robyn, Eric and Tayo Werkhoven and John O'Brien.
There's an article about the song and video in Robyn's online art magazine which you can link to here ...
https://issuu.com/robynwerkhoven/docs...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGiLBkAmTdI
ARTQUILL Blog – article 2020. ERIC & ROBYN AND THE MYTHICAL BEASTS.
https://artquill.blogspot.com/search?q=studio+la+primitive
Stole: the show at Timeless Textiles, Newcastle 2022.
STOLE: the show - Exhibition interview with Robyn Werkhoven over 4,000 views.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3466281463432849
Seigar award winning Spanish photographer - Blog:
https://popsonality.blogspot.com/2022/06/studio-la-primitive-eric-and-robyn.html
LilY in a box © · Auction T-Shirt-Cult · Basel, 17.06.10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaC0cXczchs
