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From large-scale bronze portraits and memorials, to intimate hand-held objects, Lis Johnson’s artwork demonstrates a refined artistic sensibility.
Skilled in visual and spatial representation, with accurate figurative and research expertise, Lis can sculpt almost any subject, specialising in naturalistic bronze portraits and figures.
Lis can design, create and install engaging sculptures, including for specific sites.
Available for public and private commissions.
Excalibur, Camelot PS, 2015
bronze sword in stone for Camelot Rise Primary School, Glen Waverley, Vic.
Shell… bronze components
all the pieces for Shell: What Lies Below, were made in wax, then cast seperately in bronze before welding together
Coalmining Memorial, detail, 1994
symbolising continuity and cameraderie, commemorating miners' sacrifice over 200 years in the Illawarra
Turtle installation, 2017
scaling up the outline of my body, to fill the floorspace, old Cossack Post Office, WA
Shell: What Lies Above, 2017
resin, acrylic and oil paints, 12cmH x 32 x35cm; base is cast from underside of elephant's foot
Self-portrait, terracotta turtle installation, 2017
my years and weight in kilos of clay (54): 283 hand-made turtles in the shape of my body, expanded to cover the floor of an empty room in the ghost town of Cossack, Pilbara, Western Australia. [photo Russell Ord]
shopping centre mural, 1995
sculptor for hire, relief mural for Broadmeadows Foodcourt [Mothers Art Prod]
clay model of Rod Laver in progress
studio shot mid-way into sculpting the Rod Laver statue (head removed)
Cruciforms, 1992
cast ciment fondu with oxides, wall-mounted installation, each component approx. 20 x 25 x 10cm
Vietnam War Memorial, 2006, detail
110% life-sized bronze, Australian soldier, 'Side by Side', Dandenong RSL forecourt, Victoria
Valentina, 2017
ink on Arches paper, 16 x 16cm (portrait of Valentina Tereshkova, first woman in space)
Handle, 2012
interactive installation, hand-held forms, George Paton Gallery, University of Melbourne
Site work: Illawarra Coalmining Memorial, 1994
completing concrete work on site with mentor Bert Flugelman
Handle, detail, 2012
hand-held form, life-sized hands, plaster, mixed-media interactive installation 'Handle'
Moomba river monster, 1995
clay model for fibre-glass illuminated river monster, approx. 2m high, Moomba Parade, Melbourne
Tale of the Tempest, 1992
painted relief [ciment fondu], first from series of 6 narrative panels, [shortlisted Sulman Prize], 35 x 27 x 9cm
Epic Battle Frieze, 1991
5 metre x 70 x 15cm cast concrete [ciment fondu], 17 relief panels, my homage to Hellenistic sculpture
John Coleman, 2013
150% life-sized bronze portrait sculpture of champion mark-taking goal-kicking footballer, Avenue of Legends, Yarra Park, MCG
JC patination, 2013
warming up John Coleman 150% life-sized bronze sculpture to apply colour and protective wax coating
‘Child’ Penguin, 1999
human-sized child penguin, clay model, Penguin Family, Werribee Aquatic Centre, Victoria
Handle, gallery installation, 2012
series of hand-made objects designed to be handled, mixed-media, George Paton Gallery, University of Melbourne
Millar memorial, 2008
bronze deco-style features, including urn and drapery with text, Carrara marble, Melbourne Cemetery
Handle, 2012, detail
hand-made forms, plaster, part of Handle series - objects designed to be handled
Fight or Flight, 2005
alpha-gypsum fibre-glass deer, 75cm high, installed in Atrium at Federation Square for Sustainable Living Festival
Rugby League sculpture, detail, 2011
110% life-sized clay model, senior player, St George Illawarra Centenary Rugby League Sculpture, Win Stadium, Wollongong NSW
Melbourne’s Underbelly, 2000
interactive diorama showing underground services, mixed-media, Melbourne Museum
Elephant temple frieze, detail
carved and rendered replica Cambodian temple frieze, Elephant exhibit, Melbourne Zoo
Elephant temple frieze, detail
rendered carved replica Cambodian temple frieze, Elephant exhibit, Melbourne Zoo
Cabinet ’85, 1985
'The lost art of embalming in stone', fabricated timber, glass, brass, steel springs, plaster body-casts
Capitalism, Cabinet’85, 3 Columns, In the beginning, 1984
part of solo exhibition, ceramic and skull, graphite on Arches, fabricated timber and mixed-media, plaster texts, Art Arena Gallery, Wollongong NSW
Elephant temple frieze
carved Hebel, before rendering, replica Cambodian temple frieze, Elephant exhibit, Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne’s Underbelly, detail, 2000
mixed-media,1:5 scale model of underground services, interactive diorama, Melbourne Museum
tracks, VORZ, 2004
test sample, concrete stamped tracks, Lions on the Edge, Victoria's Open Range Zoo
Watusi cow carcass, detail, 2004
polyurethane, steel, mized-media, reconstruction of lion kill, Victoria's Open Range Zoo
Watusi cow carcass, 2004
life-sized reconstructed cow carcass, polyurethane, steel, Lions on the Edge exhibit, Victoria's Open Range Zoo, Victoria
Neil Harvey, 2014
150% life-sized bronze portrait of champion cricketer, Avenue of Legends, Yarra Park, MCG
Neil Harvey, 2014
detail, 150% life-sized bronze portrait of champion cricketer, Avenue of Legends, Yarra Park, MCG
Art is a…, 1984
cast concrete (ciment fondu), 2m x 50 x 8cm, student work, University of Wollongong Admin Building, NSW
O’Neill family memorial, 2001
bronze, 60cm diameter, O'Neill family tombstone, Springvale Necropolis, Victoria
Kevin Bartlett, 2017
150% life-sized bronze portrait of Richmond football legend, Avenue of Legends, Yarra Park, MCG
The Great Mark, 2008
Life-sized sculpture recreating Jessaulenko's iconic mark, mixed-media, National Sports Museum, MCG
WW1 soldier, A. Lowerson VC, 2015
110% life-sized bronze portrait sculpture. 'Alby's' unveiling in Myrtleford
Rod Laver, 2017
150% life-sized bronze portrait sculpture, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Victoria [photo J.Ramos]
Bird’s Eye View, 1991
cast concrete relief mural, 7m long, depicting aerial landscape and celebrating unpowered flight
Vietnam War Memorial in Victoria, 2006
110% life-sized bronze, Australian and South Vietnamese soldiers 'Side by Side', Dandenong RSL
Coalmining memorial, detail
the 20th century miner helps his 19th century equivalent to his feet, symbolising the cameraderie and sacrifice of miners over 200 years in the Illawarra
Illawarra Memorial Coalmining sculpture, 1994
110% life-sized bronze, with cast concrete 'coalseam', Council Admin forecourt, Wollongong NSW
John Coleman, 2013
150% life-sized bronze portrait of famous goal-kicking footballer, Avenue of Legends, Yarra Park, MCG
Rugby League sculpture, clay
working on the clay model, 110% life-sized old school rugby league player
KB patina
applying colour to the 150% life-size bronze portrait sculpture of football champion Kevin Bartlett
Vietnam War Memorial, Side by Side, Australian soldier
110% life-sized bronze, granite, beneath Huey helicopter, Dandenong Victoria
Hide/Trap, 2009
steel-reinforced alpha gypsum, dried plants, foundry dross, found objects, carbon, oil and acrylic paint
John Gorton, portrait bust, 2004
120% life-sized bronze portrait of ex-prime minister, Northbrook Gardens, Armadale Victoria
Love in Action, detail
Love in Action, 2009, detail bronze, Star of the Sea College, Gardenvale, Victoria
Love in Action, 2009
110% life-size bronze, celebrating 125 years of educating strong women, Star of the Sea College, Gardenvale, Victoia
Rugby League Centenary Sculpture, 2011
Rugby League Centenary Sculpture, 2011 110% life-sized bronze, Win Stadium, Wollongong NSW
WW1 Soldier, A.Lowerson VC, 2015
WW1 Soldier, A.Lowerson VC, 2015 110% life-sized bronze, Myrtleford, Victoria
