Design and Art Australia Online

Bruce Radke is a sculptor born 1950 in Brisbane. Radke’s early career in geology saw him travel the Kimberleys, in Australia’s Northern Territory and northwestern Queensland, where he worked as a geologist for four years from 1972 before attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, in the United States, studying for a Doctorate in geology. Receiving his Doctorate in 1982, Radke worked for four years as a marine geologist in the Great Barrier Reef in northern Queensland, where he began painting and sculpting.

In 1983, Radke completed one year of Sculpture Workshop at the Canberra School of Art. The following year, he resumed work as a marine geologist in the South Pacific with the United Nations Development Program, before devoting three more years to the Sculpture Workshop at the Canberra School of Art, and forging a new career as an artist.

Taking residencies in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia prior to establishing a studio in Pialligo, ACT, Radke’s first group exhibitions were in the 1988 'Floriade’ Fesitval, Canberra, and 'Atelier Sarawak Woodcarving Exhibition’, Kuching, Malaysia.

Radke maintained a position as a tutor at the Canberra Institute of the Arts Radke’s from 1988-2007, while showing in over 70 group and solo shows around Australia. His first solo show was held at Meridian Gallery, Melbourne in 1994. Radke has had a number of commissions, his first, 'Cita’, in 1988 for Market Square at Caroline Chisolm High School. More recently, in 2005, he completed a sculpture for private commision entitled 'Sonata’.

In addition to private collections in Australia and overseas, Radke’s work is represented in public collections, including Lady Nock Sculpture Collection, Sarawak Museum, Malaysia, in the Queen Beatrix Floriade Sculpture Collection, Canberra, and the University of Canberra.

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