First Mandorla winner passes away
Theo Koning, the first winner of the Mandorla Art Award in 1985 with Re-creation (pictured), passed away peacefully on 14 March. His winning work is currently on display in the Mandorla Gallery at New Norcia. The Fremantle-based artist is remembered for his quirky sense of humour and contribution to the visual arts in Western Australia.
Born in 1950 in the Netherlands, Theo emigrated with his family to Australia at the age of three. He graduated in fine art at the Claremont Technical School in 1973, and in the same year became one of the founding members of the Western Australian Sculptors’ Association.
Recipient of the Artsource Basel Exchange Residency in 2015, Theo was the #8 commissioned artist of the Mark Howlett Foundation in 2002, has exhibited regularly in Perth since the early 1970s, presenting over 20 solo exhibitions and participating in over 100 group exhibitions and awards.
His work is included in many prestigious public, corporate and private collections including the National Australian Gallery, Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Artbank, BankWest, Parliament House Canberra, University of Western Australia, Murdoch University of Technology, Curtin University, Janet Holmes à Court Collection and Wesfarmers Arts.
He was represented by Art Collective WA.
At his request, a private family funeral will be held.