The Artist - Peter Day

Peter Day

Peter Day has been making art professionally for over 45 years. His personal works have been shown in over thirty solo shows and grace many public and private collections in Australia and overseas, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth Bank, five universities, and a few regional galleries. Peter’s academic qualifications include a Diploma of Industrial Design, a Graduate Diploma in Professional Art Studies and an M.A. in Community and Public Art.

As the Artistic Director of the award-winning Peter Day – Environmental Art+Design, he utilises his design and artistic expertise to create murals, sculptures, ceramics, mosaics, playgrounds and urban design projects. Specialising in site-specific public art, he has created over 200 works in Australia and overseas.

Peter has made a special study of Keim Mineral Silicate (dry fresco) paint technology, which will last many decades in extreme weather conditions. This technology is used in both his public and private art. Peter’s paintings capitalise on the soft velvety matt surface and earthy colour scheme characteristic of the inorganic pigments and the potassium silicate binder. A Churchill Fellow, he has won many art awards and Australia Council grants and has also been appointed to a wide range of Artist-in-Residencies including Vence in the South of France, Australia Council Studio in New York, Geelong Grammar School and Bundanon. He has taught and guest lectured at most universities in NSW, consulted and/or contracted to all three levels of Government in Australia and has worked with the United Nations. Some of his more notable public works of art include:

Five Sculptural Projects on the North Bank of Parramatta River.
The two largest murals in the Southern Hemisphere – King George V Activity Centre, the Rocks Sydney (the largest community mural) and Gift Given for Sydney City Council (Designed by Bronwen Bancroft) Tempe, NSW.
Three works for the Department of Foreign Affairs. Two paintings for the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and one in Mexico ‘Mexico y Australia a Juntos’ Mural at the residence of the Australian Ambassador to Mexico.
‘Rixon Hill Folly’ environmental sculpture, an ancient ruined castle of mud-brick and stone and the ‘Between 2 Rivers Project’, for Campbelltown City Council.
‘Frontispiece’ laser cut and rolled corten and stainless steel, 10 panels 2400mm x 1200mm located over the 23m façade of the Chester Hill Library and Knowledge Centre – depicting the short history of writing for Bankstown City Council.
‘Greetings’ bronze, marble and concrete, tableau of three pieces reflecting diverse community welcoming rituals, Stockland Merrylands.

Peter’s personal art practice enables him to express and explore his thoughts and feelings on landscape, the environment, culture and society. His personal art ensures that he does not impose his personal vision on the community/public art that he creates.