Jo Bertini
Born 1964, Sydney, Australia
Lives & Works – Sydney (Eora) & New Mexico, USA
Jo Bertini’s paintings traverse well-worn landscapes in an exploration of the true nature of wilderness. Drawing from the traditions of artists on scientific and ecological survey expeditions into the most remote and inaccessible regions, Bertini celebrates her long and intimate engagement with the desert. Her work bears witness to natural and human histories of nomadism observing the seasonal rhythm of landscapes and the people connected to them. With loose yet refined brushwork, Bertini depicts the fragile beauty of the world's remote desert landscapes connecting to what is seen and felt within. An innate longing that she expresses through her visceral, emotive paintings that serve as an act of devotion to the natural world.
An award winning painter, educator and writer, she has thirty years of experience as a professional exhibiting artist. Her works are held in the collections of Artbank, National Museum of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery. Bertini has been a finalist in numerous art prizes, including the Portia Geach Memorial Award (2024, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004), Wynne Prize (2015), Tattersalls Art Prize (2019, 2015, 2014), Calleen Art Award (2014, 2013), Fisher's Ghost Award (2023), Mosman Art Prize (2023, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001) and Sulman Prize (2011, 2010).
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30 Years of Arthouse Gallery
7 - 21 December 2024Over the past three decades, Arthouse Gallery has distinguished itself as one of Australia's leading contemporary art galleries. Currently representing over forty artists, the gallery celebrates its 30th anniversary this...Read more -
Jo Bertini
Elsewhere 17 October - 9 November 2024The poetic paintings of Jo Bertini are an ode to the wild. Having inhabited diverse desert landscapes for decades, Bertini contemplates and celebrates the personal and anthropological profundity of remote...Read more -
Arthouse Group Show
Summer – Part 1 9 - 27 January 2024Arthouse Gallery is delighted to begin 2024 with 'Summer' featuring a selection of new and exciting works from our stable of artists. This coming year features solo shows by newly–represented,...Read more -
Off–Site Exhibition
George Place 19 December 2023 - 29 February 2024George Place is an outstanding office precinct in the thriving hub of Sydney’s CBD. George Place hosts a series of inclusive events and activities to enhance the workday experience for...Read more
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Arthouse Group Show
Present Tense 15 June - 1 July 2023 -
Group Show
Paper 4 May - 10 June 2023'Paper & Clay' brings together the work of twenty-nine Australian artists traversing the timeless materiality of two enduring artforms. Unencumbered by dense conceptual wilderness, the works in this show posit...Read more -
Jo Bertini
Deep in Land 20 October - 12 November 2022Creating art is arguably a form of magic. In the work of Jo Bertini, one can plainly see an alchemy and interplay of paint, surface, pigment, pressure, line, shape, contour,...Read more -
Sydney Contemporary 2022 Group Show
8 - 11 September 2022
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Jo Bertini
Songs of Dry Hills 11 - 29 May 2021After nearly three decades of traversing, contemplating and capturing desert landscapes throughout Australia and across the world, Jo Bertini found a true connection to the desert of New Mexico, where...Read more -
Jo Bertini
Land of Shining Stone 1 - 17 August 2019The very idea of a desert evokes a camel-string of clichés: shimmering mirages, trackless wastes and blinding dust storms, dwindling water supplies and hopeless odds. Implacable and untamed, deserts have...Read more
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Jo BertiniDevotional, 2024oil on French polyester canvas198 x 198 cm, 201 x 201 cm (framed)$29,000
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Jo BertiniLiminal Moment, 2024oil & iridescent pigment on French polyester canvas198 x 197.5 cm, 201 x 201 cm (framed)$29,000
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Jo BertiniThe Water Tree of Doubtful Creek, 2022iridescent pigments & oil on French polyester canvas207.5 x 207.5 cm, 210 x 210 cm (framed)$29,000
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Jo BertiniRiversky, 2024oil on Belgian linen155 x 202 cm, 157.5 x 204.5 cm (framed)$26,000
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Jo BertiniLuring Bitter Clouds, 2022oil on French polyester canvas167.5 x 202 cm, 169.5 x 204.5 cm (framed)$26,000
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Jo BertiniEverywhen, 2024oil on Belgian linen152.5 x 152.5 cm, 155 x 155 cm (framed)$20,000
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Jo BertiniLast Refuge, 2021oil on French polyester canvas147.5 x 147.5 cm, 150 x 150 cm (framed)$20,000
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Jo BertiniLed by the Sound of a Mountain, 2024oil on Belgian linen139.5 x 152.5 cm, 142 x 155 cm (framed)$19,000
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Jo BertiniThe Reverent Eye, 2024oil on Belgian linen132 x 152 cm, 134.5 x 155 cm (framed)$18,500
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Jo BertiniLanguage Without Wind, 2024oil on French polyester canvas132 x 132 cm, 134.5 x 134.5 cm (framed)$16,500
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Jo BertiniEmbers in the Night Hawks’ Garden, 2023oil on Belgian linen127 x 132 cm, 129 x 135 cm (framed)$16,000
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Jo BertiniI Am a Bird Now, 2024oil on French polyester canvas120 x 120 cm, 123 x 123 cm (framed)$14,000
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Jo BertiniObsidian Seeds (Black Stars) and Smokey Quartz Trails, 2022oil on French polyester canvas122 x 122 cm$14,000
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Jo BertiniWind Incantations, 2024oil on French polyester canvas96.5 x 101.5 cm, 99 x 104.5 cm (framed)$10,000
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Jo BertiniSlipping Between Mornings, 2024oil on French polyester canvas96.5 x 101.5 cm, 99 x 104.5 cm (framed)$10,000
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Jo BertiniValley of Wind Rifts & Wittering Songbirds, 2023oil on Belgian linen96.5 x 102 cm, 99.5 x 104.5 cm (framed)$10,000
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Jo BertiniWalking Rain, 2023oil on Belgian linen97 x 101.5 cm, 99.5 x 104.5 cm (framed)$10,000
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Jo BertiniThe Mountain Wilds, 2023gouache and watercolour on paper76 x 56 cm, 86 x 66 cm (framed)$4,200
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Jo BertiniBlue Spring & Red Willow Creek, 2023gouache and watercolour on paper76 x 56 cm, 86 x 66 cm (framed)$4,200
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Jo BertiniDrywater Gorge, 2023gouache and watercolour on paper76 x 56 cm, 86 x 66 cm (framed)$4,200
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Exhibition Calendar 2024
2024ARTHOUSE GALLERY ANNOUNCES A DYNAMIC AND EXCITING EXHIBITION CALENDAR FOR 2024 Arthouse Gallery is delighted to announce our dynamic exhibition program for 2024. This coming...Read more -
Jo Bertini Announced as a Finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award
S.H Ervin Gallery 25 October 2024Congratulations to Jo Bertini who has been announced as a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award for her portrait of her father, David AK...Read more -
Jo Bertini's incredible portrait of mother Annie, featured in 'Portia Geach at 60'
S.H. Ervin Gallery 3 September 2024Jo Bertini's stunning portrait of her renowned artist mother Annie, is currently on display at S.H Ervin Gallery in their 'Portia Geach at 60' exhibition....Read more -
Jo Bertini selected for the acclaimed Salon des Refusés
S.H. Ervin Gallery 5 June 2024We are delighted to share that Jo Bertini has been selected for the Salon des Refusés 2024 for her incredible work ‘Singing Up Country –...Read more
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Arthouse Gallery artists part of Women for Change
Sibyl Centre, Womens College at the University of Sydney. 22 February 2024Arthouse Gallery is delighted to be participating in a major fundraising event for Women for Change. The inaugural IGNITE Art Show is a silent auction...Read more -
The Fishers Ghost Award selects multiple Arthouse Gallery artists as finalists
Susan Baird, Jo Bertini, Kate Dorrough, Nicole Kelly and Amelia Lynch 28 October – 8 December 2023The prestigious Fishers Ghost Award has announced its finalists for 2023 with five Arthouse Gallery artists announced in the selection. Susan Baird, Jo Bertini, Kate...Read more -
Multiple Arthouse Gallery artists announced as finalists in the Paddington Art Prize
Susan Baird, Jo Bertini, Jo Davenport, Lauren O'Connor and Robyn Sweaney 14 September 2023October 12-22, 2023 Cooee Art Leven 17 Thurlow Street Redfern NSW. We are delighted to announce that Susan Baird, Jo Bertini, Jo Davenport, Lauren O'Connor...Read more -
Jo Bertini announced as a finalist in the Mosman Art Prize
Mosman Art Gallery 23 September - 29 OctoberJo Bertini has been announced as a finalist in the Mosman Art Prize for her stunning self portrait 'Taken by the Sky'. Bertini’s paintings traverse...Read more
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Jo Bertini opens 'Mountain of the Watchful Heart'
Taos Historic Museum, New Mexico 27 May – 31 July 23The Taos Historic Museums announces a solo exhibition, 'Mountain of the Watchful Heart', featuring the paintings of renowned Australian artist Jo Bertini. The exhibition will...Read more -
Jo Bertini Conversation at AGNSW
26 October 2022Art Gallery of NSW Centenary Auditorium Wednesday 26 October 2022, 6pm The Art Gallery of New South Wales Artist in conversation series offers insights into...Read more
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Jo Bertini talks with Maria Stoljar about brushes and how to use them
Maria Stoljar, Talking with Painters -
Jo Bertini — Deep in Land: Secrets and the Sublime in America's Southwest
Pippa Mott, Artist Profile -
Interview: Jo Bertini's exhibition "Songs of Dry Hills", May 2021
Richard Morecroft , Exhibition - with Richard Morecroft , 14 May 2021 -
Podcast Interview, Talking with Painters — Jo Bertini
Maria Stoljar, Talking with Painters, 10 July 2021