A Decade of Dance celebrates ten years of artwork inspired by dance companies from New York to The Australian Ballet by award winning artist Debra Luccio. This evocative and exciting exhibition brings together fifty-six artworks showcasing the artist’s highly recognizable, powerful approach to monotypes and also a foray into the art of mezzotints. It is to be opened by the Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister AM, on Tuesday 19th September and shows until 14th October at fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne.

“Since 2011, I have had the privilege of sitting discreetly in The Australian Ballet studios, quietly sketching the generous and incredibly inspiring dancers in class and rehearsal of many productions.

But it was ten years ago, in 2007, that my first trip to New York began my love of dance. I drew in rehearsals of the New York City Ballet and created artwork from my photos and drawings of a contemporary dance performance, Landfall, by the Tiffany Mills Company at the Joyce SoHo.”

For ten weeks during that first trip to New York, Luccio would use their small rented apartment as her drawing studio. Here she would create small monotypes inspired by the previous day’s experiences. Luccio says, “I used the tiny bench that folded down from the wall to paint, the floor to roll my monotypes, and the bed as a drying area. It worked well until we needed to sleep.”  The artwork was exhibited later the same year.

Visitors to fortyfivedownstairs can expect a complete transformation into the world of dance as they enter the large warehouse-style space. With its wooden floors, high ceiling and beautiful light, it makes the perfect backdrop for Luccio’s images of dance.

In this space Luccio’s work seems to leap off the walls, shimmering with expression afforded by her painterly, layered, unique approach to monotype. Much like the performances she portrays, many of Luccio’s work are grand in scale and filled with great emotive energy.