Associate Professor Jon Cattapan

Coordinator of Graduate Coursework Programs

Please click here to view images of Jon's work.

Jon Cattapan began his studies in art at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (BFA Painting) in 1975 and gained his Masters degree from Monash University in 1993. He has taught at RMIT, Canberra School of Art and was appointed as Head of Drawing at the VCA in 1994. In 1990 he was a visiting artist at Ohio State University, USA and in 1997 was visiting artist/professor at Hong Ik University in Seoul, Korea. He is currently a principal lecturer in the School of Art working with postgraduate students. His research interests are centred on urban themes, representations of 'the city' and social narrative. His paintings, drawings and prints have been exhibited very widely in museum and commercial shows throughout Australia and overseas over the last twenty years. His work is held in numerous public, state, regional and private collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Queensland Art Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. His career highlights include representing Australia at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Triennial in 1993 and the Fire and Life collaboration and residency with subsequent exhibitions with Surendran Nair in India in 1996 and 1997. In 2003 he was commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, through the Hugh Williamson Foundation to make a work celebrating the city of Melbourne. In 2006 a 30-year survey of his work, The drowned world: Jon Cattapan works and collaborations was held at the Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne, curated by Dr Chris McAuliffe. A major monograph of his work is due for publication in 2008.