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Tonia Composto
Printmaker (VIC)

I studied Visual Art in the early 90's majoring in drawing and printmaking at the North Adelaide School of Art. I fell in love with lithography and lino printing and discovered that I was a good illustrator, this drove me to venture into communication arts where I later became a graphic designer/Illustrator this has been my main occupation for the past 13 years.

I have now returned full-time to my original love of printmaking. My artwork captures frames and fragments of humorous stories that come from my Italian family and culture and stories illustrated from Italo Calvino's: Italian Folk tales. Often these themes have been described as funny, silly, cute, fun or sad, they are stories that are easily lost and I set out to preserve these memories in hope that the viewer values and enjoys them as much as I do.

Each project often consists of multiple works, much like the pages from a picture book and they are best viewed as a series. Every family and culture has its own tales and my work is a new collection on an old nostalgic theme about family, food, language and love.

Lino printing has long time been my passion - the rawness, the planning, the colour, the design, the cutting and production. With my own rolling press at home I create print editions of only 10, the prints being reduction linos can contain between two or ten colours on one print.

As an emerging artist I look forward to sharing the many real life stories and anecdotes I have to tell.

For information on how to purchase or commission Tonia’s work please contact her below or call 0417 858 957. Gallery enquiries are most welcome.

Contact Tonia Composto

Art Exhibitions
2006 - Rinaldi Gallery, Melbourne
1994 - Freemantle gallery, WA National Printmaking Awards
1994 - Bangalow Gallery, NSW
1994 - Nexus Gallery, Lion Arts Centre, SA
1993 - North Adelaide School of Art Gallery, SA
1992 - Armory Gallery, SA Museum, International Women's Week