{{Short description|Australian sculptor, artist (born 1957)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Deborah Halpern | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1957}} | birth_place = | baptised = | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | education = | alma_mater = Caulfield Institute of Technology | known_for = | notable_works = | style = Sculpture, mosaic, ceramic | movement = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | father = | mother = | relatives = | family = | awards = | signature = | signature_type = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | elected = | patrons = | memorials = | website = | module = }}
'''Deborah Halpern''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}} (born 1957) is an Australian sculptor, mosaic artist and ceramic artist, notable for her public artworks in Melbourne.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/deborah-halpern/|title = Deborah Halpern|date = |accessdate = 12 September 2015|website = National Gallery of Victoria|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>
==Life== Halpern was born in 1957.<ref name=NatLibrary>{{cite web|title=Halpern, Debbie|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/552903?c=people|website=National Library of Australia|accessdate=12 September 2015}}</ref> Her parents, Sylvia and Arthur Halpern, were ceramists and artists and two of the founding members of Potters cottage in Warrandyte.<ref name=AusWomenRegister>{{cite web|title=Halpern, Deborah (1957 - )|url=http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE3982b.htm|website=The Australian Women's Register|accessdate=12 September 2015}}</ref> She began work in ceramics as an apprentice in 1975. She studied painting, printmaking and sculpture at the Caulfield Institute of Technology (now Monash University) in 1979. In 1981 she had her first solo exhibition at the Blackwood Street Gallery and her work was selected to be shown at Meat Market Craft Centre; Gryphon Gallery; apart from having her work showcased at numerous other group exhibitions. She was then represented by the Christine Abrahams Gallery in Melbourne, Victoria, for the next 25 years; and Arthouse Gallery in Sydney, NSW. In 1987–89, she graduated with a Diploma of Visual Arts, from the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education (now Monash University).
==Work== Inspired by the free spirit of Pablo Picasso,<ref name="Artist Profile">{{Cite news|url=http://www.artistprofile.com.au/a-day-with-deborah-halpern/|title=A Day with Deborah Halpern - Artist Profile|date=2015-07-09|work=Artist Profile|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}}</ref> and Niki de Saint Phalle, Halpern's famous works include the surreal sculpture ''Angel'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/deborah-halpern/|title=Deborah Halpern {{!}} NGV|website=ngv.vic.gov.au|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-04-10}}</ref> commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria to stand in the south moat of the gallery, and now relocated to Birrarung Marr and ''Ophelia'' commissioned by the Southgate development project and situated in the riverside promenade in front of the main Yarra river entrance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.southgatemelbourne.com.au/2012/04/video/behind-the-art-deborah-halpern-ophelia/|title=Behind the scenes – Artist Deborah Halpern on Ophelia|work=Southgate|access-date=2018-04-10}}</ref> ''Ophelia'' was named as the official Face of Melbourne by Tourism Victoria during the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/australia/articles/melbournes-mosaic-landscape-an-interview-with-deborah-halpern/|title=Melbourne's Mosaic Landscape: An Interview With Deborah Halpern|last=Terra|first=Monique La|work=Culture Trip|access-date=2018-04-10}}</ref> She did printmaking with master printer Bill Young, which was published by Chrysalis Publishing. In 2006, the National Gallery of Victoria's Ian Potter Gallery at Federation Square held a survey exhibition of Halpern's career to coincide with the relocation of ''Angel'' to Birrarung Marr.<ref name="WNorth">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/mosaic-sculpture-on-show-in-warrandyte-north/news-story/67fdd6ede8ffa9f78af50922670be7f7|title=Mosaic sculpture on show in Warrandyte North|website=www.heraldsun.com.au}}</ref> In 2012 Halpern was invited to participate in the JingAn International Sculpture Project (JISP), in Shanghai, China.
==Notable works== * 1987–89 "Angel"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/540379/angelic-piece-of-artwork-at-urquhart-park-primary/|title=Angelic piece of artwork at Urquhart Park Primary|last=Brown|first=Emma|date=2009-12-15|work=The Courier|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Deborah Halpern|title=The Making of 'Angel' - Deborah Halpern - ABC Australia (1995)|date=2016-03-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=224&v=aesL9Hi7x9E|access-date=2018-06-18}}</ref> (Bicentennial sculpture) at Birrarung Marr (since 2006) formerly at the National Gallery of Victoria moat (1987–2002) * "Family", at Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong * "Portal to Another Time and Place", at Port Leo Sculpture Park * "Mr Big", at Northland Shopping Centre * "Spirit of Enquiry", at Union Court, Australian National University * "Queen of the Shire" at Shire of Nillumbik<ref name="WNorth"/> * "Water Creature", 'Big Cat", "Small Cat", at City of Manningham * "Power of the Community", at Beauty Park, Frankston South, Victoria * "Dove of Peace", at Luther College, Croydon, Victoria
<gallery> Image:Angel by Deborah Halpern 01a.jpg|"Angel" File:'Ophelia' Southgate. Melbourne. (29747769253).jpg|"Ophelia" Image:Hapern Sculpture Beauty Park Frankston.jpg|"Power of Community" File:Beautiful angel urquhart primary.jpg|"Beautiful Angel" </gallery>
==Awards== * 1981 Professional Development Grant, Crafts Board, Australia Council<ref name="APArt">{{Cite web|url=http://www.antheapolsonart.com.au/artist-details.php?artistID=96|title=Deborah Halpern Curriculum Vitae|author=Anthea Polson Art|website=antheapolsonart.com.au|access-date=2018-04-10}}</ref> * 1982 Artist in Residence, Croydon Community School, Artists in Schools Program<ref name="APArt"/> * 1984 Arts and Crafts Society of Victoria's Fifth Annual Award, Joint Winner Artist in Residence, Narre Warren North Primary, Artists in Schools Program<ref name="APArt"/> * 1985 Crafts Board, Australia Council Grant to work and research in France<ref name="APArt"/> * 1987 Assistant's Grant, Craft Board, Australia Council<ref name="APArt"/> * 1988 The Myer Foundation; The Art Foundation, NGV; The Readymix Group<ref name="APArt"/> * 1989 Special Projects Grant, Visual Arts/Craft Board, Australia Council<ref name="APArt"/> * 1990 Gold Prize, 'Double Figure', Japan Ass'n for International Garden & Greenery Exposition, Osaka Expo<ref name="APArt"/> * 1993 Sidney Myer, Australia Day Ceramic Award, Shepparton Art Gallery<ref name="APArt"/> * 1994 Golden Threads Award, Australian Wool Board, Sydney<ref name="APArt"/> * 1996 Atom Award for 'Angel' (see Electronic Media section)<ref name="APArt"/> * 1996 'Ophelia', the sculpture at Southgate, is chosen to become the new face of Melbourne<ref name="APArt"/> * 2005 Highly Commended Award, The Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award, Werribee Park, Victoria<ref name="APArt"/> *2021 Medal of the Order of Australia, "for service to the arts", Queen's Birthday Honours<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ms Deborah Halpern|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008617|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-16|website=It's An Honour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195831/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008617 |archive-date=24 June 2021 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Sister project auto}} * [https://www.theweeklyreview.com.au/live/the-deborah-halpern-collection-ready-for-auction/ Auction of Halpern collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052415/https://www.theweeklyreview.com.au/live/the-deborah-halpern-collection-ready-for-auction/ |date=18 June 2018 }} * [http://www.artistprofile.com.au/a-day-with-deborah-halpern Artist Profile]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Halpern, Deborah}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Artists from Melbourne Category:Australian women sculptors Category:Jewish women sculptors Category:Jewish Australian sculptors Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Category:Women mosaic artists Category:Women's Art Register artists Category:20th-century Australian women artists Category:21st-century Australian women artists Category:20th-century Australian artists Category:21st-century Australian artists Category:Australian sculptors