SHER MANNERHEIM
Sher is an artist of Finnish heritage.
For the past few decades Sher has been teaching and painting in eleven different locations in Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia. During this time part of her role included the organization of collections of art work for public exhibitions and examination at a variety of small and large capacity galleries.
Sher returned to Victoria after working in Barunga, Ngukkur, Yirrkala and Wadeye, in remote Arnhem Land and the Daly River region in small and large protected Aboriginal communities, where a profound understanding of environmental complexity of this country is often manifested through the arts. The Northern Territory Government commissioned Sher to oversee and paint a mural on the new Roper River Bridge, which prevented Ngukurr from being an isolated island during the wet season. She was also commissioned to paint a 33,000-liter water tank and a lengthy water pipe supplying rainwater to a remote community. Working in Arnhem Land, Sher gained much knowledge of bush medicine and different species of flora.
As an artist, Sher has been selected as a two time semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize with oil paintings of Eileen Kramer and Yalmay Yunupingu. Her focus is often on portraiture, and stylized flora but her recent paintings reflect the spirit of Australia on a large-scale. Her current series depicts her deep love of the Australasian landscape and a focus on individual petals, foliage and seedpods. The subject matter is observed closely on country and recorded through on site sketches and a macro lens in order to zoom in on the subject. Her fascination with repetition and pattern emanates from an interest in the systemic nature of cycles and reoccurrences in the universe.
Many artists from the grandmasters to the indigenous have impacted the technical style of Sher’s work but none more significantly than her own mother, Gwen Mason, who painted prolifically throughout her life. Her steady hand and attention to fine detail utilized brush strokes that touched the canvas like a small embroidery needle. Sher hopes to continue to develop her bravura as an emerging artist, by freeing up the way she applies paint to abstracting images more spontaneously.
Awards:
§ Nominated for and awarded a full scholarship to Savannah College of Art & Design (Atlanta, Georgia, US) Certificate in Printmaking (2012)
§ Twice semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2018, 2021
§ Excellence award winner at Art Space Botanicals 2026
Collections:
§ Work exhibited online at Xanadu Gallery, Arizona, USA
§ Work exhibited and sold online at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Major achievements:
§ Guest speaker at The Australian Institute of Language
§ Teacher of drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital design, fiber arts and ceramics
§ Teacher of traditional Japanese bookbinding
§ Designer of web-based and printed newsletters and image construction
§ Coordinator of Art Days and giant art projects
§ Designer and Creator of theatre costumes and props for major productions and musicals
§ Organizer of ‘artist’ based fashion shows as fundraisers for children in need of facial surgery
§ Examiner Visual Arts International Baccalaureate candidates in the UK, USA, Taiwan, Japan, Italy
§ Invited to moderate the International Baccalaureate Diploma of Visual Arts on-line examining
§ Introduced International Baccalaureate Diploma of Visual Arts to various international schools
§ 100% pass rate for IB Visual Arts Diploma candidates with all students attaining Art School placements with majority
awarded full scholarships to top ranking Arts Schools in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, Singapore and France.
Education:
§ University of Melbourne – Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Art & Craft Double Major) Conferred 1978
§ Bachelor equivalent
§ R.M.I.T. University – Diploma of Art – Graphic Design 2nd and 3rd years 1975, 1976 (transferred from Monash University to R.M.I.T University to major in illustration)
§ Monash University – Diploma of Art and Design Foundation Year and 1st Year, 1973, 1974
§ Tintern Anglican Girls School, Melbourne Australia
Skills/Interests/Professional Development:
§ Concept Based Learning Course (2015)
§ Doshisha International School, Kyoto, Japan
§ ESL Strategies Course (2015) Doshisha International School, Kyoto
§ Printmaking workshop Certification (2012) SCAD, Atlanta, Georgia USA
§ Making the IB PYP Happen – Yokahama September (2013)
§ University of Cambridge International Examinations Training (2012)
§ International Baccalaureate IB Diploma Examiner (2008) (No: 26427)
§ Third Culture Kids and Mother Tongue Inset (2008)
§ Certificate – Teaching ESL in the Mainstream (Australian program – Adelaide University). Japan (2007)
§ IB Diploma Teaching Certification update Singapore (2008)
§ IB Diploma Examiner Certification Training (2006)
§ MYP Training workshop Thailand (2005)
§ IB Diploma Teaching Certification Australia (2003)
Curatorial Projects:
§ San José (Costa Rica): Museo de los Niños
§ Gubei New Area Gallery, Shanghai, P.R. China
§ Shanghai Mass Art Space, Puxi, Shanghai, China
§ Assisted Living Facility, A-Bomb survivors, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima