BIOGRAPHY
Alison Mitchell Hannaford is a visual artist based in regional South Australia.
"My work centres on the still life tradition of domestic objects, intentionally arranged and composed in the studio. It is an old tradition, deeply embedded in the practice of carefully observed painting from life. It demands attentiveness to the agency of art making - to the fall of light, the intersection of shadows, of elation and uncertainty and, particularly, to the weft and warp of what is known and what is seen."
Alison graduated from the University of Adelaide with a first class honours in Anthropology and this, along with studies in Asian art and decades of life drawing, informs her practice.
She lives with her husband, artist Robert Hannaford on their property near Riverton in the mid north of SA and it is often the fruit and produce of their garden that becomes subject matter along with regular 'en plein air' painting trips. Her works are signed 'Alison Mitchell', although she is known by her married name, Alison Mitchell Hannaford.
She has been a finalist in a number of national art awards including the Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize, The EMSLA - Eutick Memorial National still life Award, the Doug Moran Portrait Prize, the Heysen Landscape Prize, the Fleurieu Landscape Prize and the Fleurieu Food and Wine Art Prize and exhibits regularly in and around Adelaide.
EXHIBITIONS
2022
Solo Exhibition 'Unlemon - A Meandering Tale Of Citrus'
Bundaberg Regional Galleries, Queensland
Mildura Art Centre, Victoria
Riddoch Gallery Mount Gambier, South Australia
2021
Arcadia Contemporary Gallery , New York - 'five and under' 14 August 2021 - 14 September
Solo Exhibition 'Still Water' - 2 August - Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf SA
Joint exhibition with Robert Hannaford 'Collaboration' - Hill Smith Art Advisory
Centre of Creative Health Art prize, Light Square Gallery Adelaide - Selected Finalist
Finalist - Kennedy Art Prize, RSASA Adelaide - Selected Finalist
Finalist - Tatiara Art Prize , Walkway Gallery Bordertown SA - Selected Finalist
2020
Solo Exhibition 'Unlemon - A Meandering Tale Of Citrus' - Museum Of Economic Botany, Adelaide Botanic Garden
Hill Smith Art Advisory online art exhibition
2019
Hill Smith Gallery Exhibition - 'Still Life' - joint exhibition with Stephen Trebilcock
Eutick Memorial Still Life Art Prize (EMSLA) Project Contemporary Artspace, Woollongong NSW - Selected Finalist
2018
Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize SH Ervin Gallery Sydney NSW - Selected Finalist
Tatiara Art Prize - Walkway Gallery Bordertown - Selected Finalist
Kennedy Art Prize Adelaide SA - Selected Finalist
Fleurieu Art Prize SA - Selected Finalist
Solo Exhibition 'Still Even - Still' - Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf SA
2017
Eutick Memorial National Still Life Art Award - Project Contemporary Art Space, Wollongong NSW - Selected Finalist
Adelaide Hills Art Prize - Hahndorf Academy SA - Selected Finalist
Tatiara Art Prize - Walkway Gallery Bordertown SA - Selected Finalist
Kennedy Art Prize Adelaide SA - Selected Finalist
Whyalla Art Prize - Middleback Arts Centre SA - Selected Finalist
Barossa - Cook - Barossa Regional Gallery SA - Second Prize
2016
'Menagerie' - Group Exhibition - Hill Smith Gallery
Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Prize - Selected Finalist
Heysen Prize - Landscape - Selected Finalist
Solo Exhibition SALA 'The Scenic Route' Scenic Hotel, Norton Summit SA
Solo Exhibition SALA 'More Gardener's Folly' Diggers, Adelaide Botanic Garden
Lethbridge 10 000 Brisbane - Selected Finalist
Fleurieu Food & Wine Art Prize - Selected Finalist ( 3 entries accepted, 3 high commendations)
2015
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015 - Semi Finalist
Portia Geach Memorial Award 2015 S. H Ervin Gallery - Selected Finalist
The Advertiser SALA Featured Artist Exhibition - The Advertiser Building, Adelaide SA
Guest Artist - Brush with Art Festival - Blinman - Flinders Ranges SA
SALA 2015 - 'By the Way' Exhibition with Robert Hannaford
Solo Exhibition - Signal Point Regional Gallery, Goolwa SA
'Embody' - Annabelle Collette curated group show, Signal Point Regional Gallery, Goolwa SA
Adelaide Fringe - Diggers Garden Shop - Adelaide Botanic Garden FEB 2015
2014
Winner Burra Art Prize - Art Of The Garden 2014
Winner People's Choice - Burra Art Prize 2014
SALA 2014 Diggers Garden Exhibition - Adelaide Botanic Garden SA
2013
Fleurieu Art Prize 2013 - Selected Finalist
2013 - 'On the Shelf" - Exhibition at Waikerie Rain Moth Gallery SA
2013 - 'On the Shelf' - Exhibition at Berri Regional Gallery SA
May - July 2013 Solo Exhibition - Riverton Light Gallery SA
2013 March - April 'On the Shelf' - Burra Regional Art Gallery SA
2012
SALA exhibition at Riverton Light Gallery with local Riverton Artists
Selected Finalist - Nora Heysen Still Life Art Competition 2011 - judges commendation
2011 - Fleurieu Art Prize – Selected Finalist
‘Harvest ll' exhibition - Flinders Medical Centre Gallery 2011
‘Harvest’ SALA exhibition at Riverton Light Gallery with Samone Turnbull 2011
Selection Judge – Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize 2011