Our Alumni are one of the Queensland College of Art's greatest assets. They are making significant contributions to the visual arts both nationally and internationally and we encourage you to stay connected via Griffith University Alumni.
Visit the Arts, Education and Law Alumni site, Griffith University Alumni Facebook page and join Griffith University, Arts, Education and Law Alumni on LinkedIn for further information and updates about our alumni activities, profiles and news.
The latest news from our Queensland College of Art and Griffith Film School Alumni:
- 2011 marked the 40th anniversary of the Queensland Parliament’s passage of the Griffith University Act to establish South East Queensland’s second university. To celebrate this milestone, the Queensland College of Art and Griffith Film School invited our alumni and staff to come back to campus and celebrate with us.
Visit the Griffith Film School News Site for more GFS Alumni News.
Visit the Queensland College of Art News Site for for QCA Alumni News.
Queensland College of Art Alumnus of the Year, 2011
Mr Peter Hegedus
Mr Peter Hegedus has been making documentaries professionally since 1999. He has a Doctorate in Visual Arts from Griffith and has mentored numerous students and up and coming filmmakers. His films have won many awards from around the world and been broadcast on both international and national TV stations.
His drive as a filmmaker is about contributing to positive change in the world, and his company Soul Vision Films was established for the very purpose of producing documentaries that can make a difference in some way. Find out more about Peter's latest work on the Soul Vision Films website.
Peter completed his degree and postgraduate studies in Film and Television at Griffith Film School and began making Grandfathers and Revolutions, a story about his grandfather who called in the Soviet troops to quash the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. At 24 he began his first feature length documentary as an international co-production. Inheritance, a Fisherman’s Story is based around the ecological disaster which occurred in Hungary in 2000. The film was shortlisted for the 2004 Academy Awards and won an additional five awards around the world.
One of his recent documentaries, My America, was six years in the making and looks at Peter’s personal struggle and transition from unpacking his childhood fantasy about America and beginning to see the world’s only superpower in a more realistic light. In the process he travels the world asking people what their dreams are. While only completed in March 2011, the film has already had positive feedback from several film festivals worldwide.
My America and Hegedus' latest documentary, The Trouble With St Mary's were both screened at the Brisbane International Film Festival in 2011 and have attracted national and international interest.
Read more about the films and others screen at BIFF in the ArtsHub article, BIFF Celebrates QLD Filmmakers.
We take this opportunity to congratulate and recognise a small selection of some notable QCA and GFS Alumni:
Peter and Michael Spierig (GFS) - Filmmakers
Twin brothers Peter and Michael Spierig graduated from the Queensland College of Art in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design respectively. In early 2000, they wrote and directed their first highly regarded feature film, Undead. Self-funded and made locally, the zombie film quickly gained a cult-following and screened at 17 major international film festivals before being released in the US and Canada by Lionsgate, who developed a close relationship with Peter and Michael, and backed their second production, Daybreakers.
Filmed in Queensland, Australia, Daybreakers has an international cast including Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill and was released worldwide in January 2010. To date, the film has taken over $50 million dollars at the international box office.
- Read the full Spierig brothers story on the GFS Featured Alumni page.
- Further information about the films, Undead and Daybreakers.
- Visit Michael and Peter's production house, Blacklab International Pty Ltd.
Margaret Olley AC DUniv (decd.) - Celebrated Australian Artist
In 1941, soon after attending school at Somerville House in Brisbane, Olley first enrolled as an art student at the Brisbane Central Technical College later renamed Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. By 1947 she had completed her studies, made friends with leading Australian artists like Donald Friend, William Dobell and Russell Drysdale, and set the stage to become one of Australia’s most loved artists.
In 2006 she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia and named a Queensland Great. In 2007, Ms Olley showcased her work over five decades at the Queensland College of Art including rarely seen works from her own private collection as well as important works from private Brisbane lenders. Margaret was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University in 2008. Griffith University offers condolences to the family and friends of one of Australia’s greatest painters, Margaret Olley who passed away at the age of 88 in July, 2011.
Harrison Saragossi - Photographer
Recent QCA Photography graduate, Harrison Saragossi won a prestigious Walkley Award in 2011 for his portrayal of Fortitude Valley’s notorious nightlife. Subsequently, he was named the Walkley Young Australian Photographer of the Year. Twenty-three year old Harrison said, “I started this series while in my honours year at the Queensland College of Art while Charles Page was my supervisor. It was a great opportunity to be guided by such a well-respected photographer and teacher. I also benefited a lot from the help of QCA alumni Mick Richards.”
- Read the full story about Harrison's Walkley win on the QCA News site.
- View more of Harrison’s work at harrisonsaragossi.com
- Watch a clip about Harrison's achievements broadcast on the 7:30 Report, ABC.
Marek Kochout - Animator at Dreamworks Animation
Queensland College of Art animation graduate, Marek Kochout was a traditional animator at Disney in Australia, before moving to America to pursue a job as an effects animator.
He is currently working as a 3D character animator at Dreamworks Animation in California and was a supervising animator on the latest Kung Fu Panda animated film.
- For the full interview with Marek in The Herald Sun or visit the QCA news site. Images sourced from the original article.
Abby McCulloch - Visual Artist
With a research masters in Visual Arts from the Queensland College of Art (Gold Coast), Abbey has gone on to become a finalist in the Archibald Prize in both 2007 and 2009. Her work has been supported and featured in such publications as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Frankie Magazine and she was recently asked by the Yves Saint Laurent brand to be an ambassador for their cosmetics.
Abbey on her career path: "When I first graduated, it felt impossible to see a future as a practising artist and to be able to make a living at the same time. Now, 11 years into my career, I’ve been lucky enough to have regular exhibitions and to have the support in terms of sales has been a huge boost. Although I have always felt determined as far as my art goes, I could never have predicted that I’d get to do what I love for a living ... Returning to the QCA to undertake my Masters taught me to take stock of things and to develop an understanding of how important it is to always dig that little bit deeper."
- View more of Abbey's work on her website, abbeymcculloch.com.au
- View a video feature about Abbey McCulloch for the ABC's Art Nation.
Dale de la Rey - Photojournalist
Dale de la Rey graduated in July 2009 with a Bachelor of Visual Media (now Bachelor of Digital Media) with a major in ePhotojournalism from QCA Gold Coast, specialising in Editorship and Publication (The Argus) and Text Journalism. “The highlight of the degree,” he says, “was learning from skilled lecturers with extensive experience in the photojournalism industry who passed on a lot of useful practical knowledge. This is the strongest aspect of the program—it allows you to learn the latest industry trends and to receive constructive criticism of your work, as well as giving access to useful contacts.”
Dale has since worked as a photo editor for AFP (Agence France-Presse) in Hong Kong, one of the world’s top three wire agencies, has spent time as picture editor on the AFP desk in New Delhi, India, and has freelanced for Bloomberg, AFP, South China Morning Post and other publications and companies.
- Read more about Dale's career path and his thoughts on the Queensland College Art on the QCA Design and Digital Media site.
- To view more of Dale's work, visit daledelarey.com
Joel Rea - Visual Artist
Joel graduated from QCA in 2003, with a Bachelor of Fine Art and was awarded the Griffith Award for academic excellence in Fine Art. At the end-of-year QCA Graduate Exhibition, Joel's painting skills were recognised by Lethbridge Gallery director and artist Brett Lethbridge, which led to a Mentorship covering all aspects of a successful fine artist practice. In 2006, his first solo exhibition of paintings, 'High Fidelity', was purchased entirely by a single international collector before opening night.
In 2007 at the age of 24, he achieved a record high price for a single painting, 'Killing Me Softly', which sold for AU$30,000. In 2010, as a first time entrant, Joel was selected as a finalist in the Metro Art Award, Australia’s richest award for artists under 35 years of age, as well as the Redland Gallery Biennial Contemporary Painting Competition Art Award. Through many national and international acquisitions, Joel has been able to support his full-time fine art practice with great artistic freedom and diversity while securing his position as one of Australia’s most exciting and collectable young artists.
- View more of Joel's work at joelrea.com.au
- Read more about Joel's nomination as a finalist in the finalist in the Metro gallery Art Award.
Ryan Presley - Visual Artist
Graduating from QCA in 2010,Ryan's series Blood Money, won the Griffith University Graduation Show that year and his outstanding talent was recognised by gallery director Jan Manton of Jan Manton Art. Within days of its release in the gallery, Presley's entire series was sold to a number of buyers including a Melbourne private collector, the University of Queensland and the Griffith University collections.
Ryan was also the recipient of a 2011 Artstart grant from the Australia Council. The award of $10,000 will assist Presley in acquiring equipment, renting studio space and enabling him to travel to Central Australia, the birthplace of his Father and thus providing the opportunity for him to meet his extended family.
- View more information about Ryan on the QCA Fine Art site
- Read Ryan's full bio on the Jan Manton Art website.
Alice Addison - Screenwriter
Alice Addison graduated from Griffith Film School and went on to write on a number of projects including The Cooks (TV series 2004), RAN:Remote Area Nurse (TV mini-series 2006) and The Silence (TV movie 2006). More recently she wrote the TV series My Place (2009) and most notably the screenplay for the feature film The Hunter in which a mercenary is sent from Europe by an mysterious biotech company to the Tasmanian wilderness on a hunt for the last Tasmanian tiger. Adapted from the novel by Julia Leigh, The Hunter stars Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor and was premiered in September 2011 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Alice won two Australian Writers’ Guild AWGIE nominations in 2011 for both her screenplay, The Hunter, and for an episode of the children’s TV show My Place. The film script for The Hunter also won a Queensland Premier’s Literary Award.
- Watch an interview with Alice from the Toronto Film Festival Premiere of The Hunter on the QCA News site.
- View the trailer for The Hunter on the QCA news site.
Michael Zavros - Visual Artist
Since Michael Zavros graduated from Queensland College of Art in 1996 with a Bachelor of Visual Arts, he has gone on to become one of the most celebrated Australian realist painters of his generation.
In addition to winning the prestigious Doug Moran Portrait Prize in 2010, his work is also held by some of Australia’s finest collecting institutions, including the National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery and Queensland Art Gallery.
- View more of Michael's work on his website, michaelzavros.com
Other notable Queensland College of Art and Griffith Film School Alumni:
- Tracey Moffatt DUniv - Artist and filmmaker
- Davida Allen - Internationally acclaimed fine artist
- Gordon Bennett - Celebrated Australian artist
- William Robinson AO DUniv Archibald prize winning artist
- Daphne Mayo MBE (decd.) - Pioneering female sculptor
- Lloyd Rees AC CMG (decd.) - Celebrated Australian landscape painter