Poised in harmonic tension, Senden Blackwood’s elegant stone sculptures are inspired by the pure underlying forms of nature. These works are deceptive in their apparent simplicity, belying the personally demanding work processes involved in their creation. Senden’s abstractions are the result of a physical and conceptual process of sophisticated reduction and refinement, arriving at works that resonate with the fundamental essence of matter and describe its profound beauty. Senden seeks to share his vision of balance in movement through the shaping of interwoven planes and lines. The solemnity and stillness of the richly worked stone invites quiet contemplation, encouraging us towards a meditative experience of the work, where, for a time, the world drifts away.

Influenced by previous study in jewelry and object design at Enmore Design Centre and a family background of architecture, painting and illustration, Senden Blackwood is an accomplished artist of consummate skill quickly establishing a strong reputation as a notable Australian stone sculptor. Exhibiting since 2007, Senden has won several awards, grants and prizes for his work, notably the 2010 and 2011 sculpture prizes for Sculpture on the Edge (Bermagui, NSW) and the 2011 ANU residency prize for the Lakelight Sculpture Exhibition  (Jindabyne, NSW).  Senden Blackwood has exhibited in both Australia and Canada in over 35 shows, with two solo exhibitions in 2011 and 2013 at Brenda May Gallery (Sydney, NSW) and regular representation in prizes such as Sculpture by the Sea, Sculpture Inside, Sculpture in the Vineyards and Sawmillers Sculpture Prize.

Born in Orange in 1979, Senden currently lives and works in Canberra, A.C.T.

Selected Biography

2016            'Te Kupenga Sculpting Symposium', New Plymouth, New Zealand

2013            'Iron Corroboree' Braidwood, NSW

2012            Australian National University artist residency, Canberra ACT

2011            'Northwest Stone Sculptors Association Stone Carvers Symposium' Mount Vernon, WA, USA

2009            'Iron Corroboree' Braidwood, NSW

2008            'Iron Corroboree' Braidwood, NSW

2006            'Northwest Stone Sculptors Association Stone Carvers Symposium' Mount Vernon, WA, USA

2006            'Thetis Island Stone Sculptors Symposium' Thetis Island, BC, Canada

2004 - 08     Stone Sculptor's Assistant

1997 - 00     Advanced Diploma (Jewellery and Object Design) Enmore Design Centre, Enmore, NSW

1979             Born in Australia

Solo Exhibitions

2013

kaiu, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney.

2011

ishi, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney.

Group Exhibitions

2016

Nishi Gallery, Canberra, ACT. (July)

Sculpture at Hillview, Sutton Forest, NSW.

Western Sydney University Sculpture Award, Sydney, NSW.

"Rock On" Sculpture at Scenic World, Blue Mountains, NSW.

The 2800 Show, Orange, NSW.

2015

Harbour Sculpture, Sydney, NSW.

Sculpture in the Valley, Kangaroo Valley, NSW.

Sculpture on the Edge, Bermagui, NSW.

Sculpture Park, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney, NSW.

2014

Summer Exhibition, Maunsell Wicks at Barry Stern Gallery, Paddington, NSW.

Canberra Grammer School Sculpture Prize, Canberra, ACT.

Artisans in the Garden, Sydney, NSW.

Sculpture 2014, Maunsell Wicks at Barry Stern Gallery, Paddington, NSW.

Harbour Sculpture, Sydney, NSW.

Sawmillers Sculpture, Sydney, NSW.

Montalto Sculpture Prize, Melbourne, VIC.

2013

Christmas Show, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney, NSW.

Christmas Group Exhibition, Maunsell Wicks at Barry Stern Gallery, Paddington, NSW.

Behind The Wall, Mahratta Garden, Sydney NSW.

Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Campbelltown NSW.

Sculpture in the Vineyards, Wollembi NSW.

North Sydney Art Prize, Sydney NSW.

Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, WA.

Sculpture 2013, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney, NSW.

2012

Sculpture in the Vineyards, Wollombi, NSW.

Art + Food: Beyond the Still Life, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney,  NSW.

Hidden 2012, Rookwood Cemetery, NSW.

Melbourne Sculpture Prize, Melbourne, VIC.

Sculpture on the Edge, Bermagui, NSW.

Major, Artists, Major Works, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney, NSW.

Sculpture 2012, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney, NSW

2011

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, NSW.

The 100 Kilometre Art Show, Orange Regional Gallery, NSW.

Lake Light Sculpture, Lake Jindabyne, NSW.

Sculpture on the Edge, Bermagui, NSW.

Sculptors Society Gateway Exhibition, Sydney.

Sculpture 2011, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney.

2010

Sculpture @ Sawmillers, North Sydney, NSW.

Sculpture on the Edge, Bermagui, NSW.

2009

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, NSW.

Sculpture Inside, Bondi, NSW.

Sculptors Society Annual Exhibition, Sydney, NSW.

Chop Art Shop, Millthorpe, NSW.

Katoomba fine Arts, Katoomba, NSW.

2007

Nanaimo Art Gallery, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

Prizes/Awards/Commissions

2014

Winner of the Rennie Family Internal Prize, Harbour Sculpture, Sydney NSW.

2012

Finalist of the Noosa Stone Sculpture Bequest, Noosa QLD.

2011

Winner of the ANU residency prize,  Lakelight Sculpture Exhibition, Jindabyne, NSW.

Winner of the Cox acquisitive sculpture prize,  Sculpture on the Edge,  Bermagui, NSW.

2010

Commission by Urban Art Projects for Melbourne Crown Casino, High Roller Suite, Melbourne, VIC.

Winner of the inaugural acquisitive sculpture prize offered by Philip Cox and Janet Hawley, Sculpture on the Edge, Bermagui, NSW

Publications/Reproductions

2012

Elizabeth Fortescue, ‘Wind in the Wings’, Best Weekend – The Daily Telegraph, 1 September, p.4

2011

Melissa Davey, ‘Stone Sculptures’, Spectrum Planner – The Sydney Morning Herald, 29-30 October, p.22.

‘Snowy River Puts the ‘O’ in Public Art’, Snowy River Echo, June.

Stan Gorton, ‘Sculpture on the Edge at Bermagui overcomes challenges’, Narooma News, 9 March.

2010

Stan Gorton, ‘Sculpture on the Edge at Bermagui’ Narooma News, 17 March.

2009

Christopher Allen, ‘Figures no match for the landscape', The Australian, November 4.

 Collections

Jindabyne City Council, Private collections in Australia and overseas.