Australian sculptor, Greg Johns celebrates an extraordinary 50-year career of creating significant Australian sculpture.

Since 1975, Johns has forged a distinctive artistic path, deeply influenced by the Australian landscape and its timeless qualities.

His large-scale public sculptures, crafted from materials like Corten steel, wood, and stone, resonate with universal themes while embodying a uniquely Australian sensibility. From his iconic “Rhythm” at Glenelg Beach to the vast Palmer Sculpture Landscape, a 400-acre property where his works symbiotically engage with the land

Johns has consistently challenged and enriched the public’s interaction with art, leaving an indelible mark on Australia’s cultural fabric.

Commissions
1978: “Rhythm”, Glenelg Beach, South Australia
1991: Happy Valley Community Arts Grant, Children’s Sculptural Playground
1993: “Guardian Figure”, REDAS, Singapore
1999: “Birth Gandel Collection, Victoria
2004: “Floating Figure”, Tanunda, South Australia
2007: “Swirling Mandala (Cataclysm)”, private collection, Melbourne
2007: “Returning Column”, Palmerston North, New Zealand
2012: Invited Artist, Chatswood Commission, Sydney, Australia
2017: “Landlines”, Entrance to Gawler Sculpture
2018-2019: “To The Centre”, England
2020: Near the Centre, M8 expressway entrance to Sydney Commission
2020-2022: “Within – Without (Of Land And Spirit)”, Lachlan River Sculpture Trail
2024: “Vortex Mandala”, Oran Park Leisure Centre, Camden
2025: Major new public sculpture “Swaying Whisperers (Songs Of The)”, Sydney

Exhibitions
1991: Emil Leonard Gallery, New York (3 works)
1992: Hakone Sculpture Competition, Japan
1994: Hakone Sculpture Competition, Japan
2001: Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize (finalist)
2002: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi (first of 11 participations)
2003: McClelland Museum Australian Sculpture Survey/Prize (finalist)
2004: Selected sculptor for focal sculpture for entry to Shanghai Art Fair
2004: Palmer Sculpture Biennial
2005: Pocheon Sculpture Symposium, Korea (invited Australian Artist)
2006: Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe (first of 11 participations)
2008: Contempora, Victoria
2008: Sculpture By The Sea, Western Australia
2008: Sculpture By the Sea, Sydney (Distinguished Invited Artist)
2009: Mt Gambier Limestone Sculpture Symposium
2009: Sculpture By The Sea, Aarhus, Denmark
2009: Sculpture By The Sea, Western Australia
2010: Artscape, Byron Bay, New South Wales
2010: Sculpture By The Sea, Western Australia
2010: Australian Masters, Solander Gallery, Canberra (invited Artist)
2012: Canberra C.B.D. Sculpture Competition
2013: Montalto Sculpture Prize (finalist)
2013: Fleurieu Prize for Landscape, Adelaide (finalist)
2013: Sculpture On The Greens, N.S.W. (Invited Artists – “Legend Sculptor”)
2013: Swell Exhibition, Queensland (invited Artist)
2014: ‘Edge of time’ small exhibition and book launch, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2015: ‘Two Stories’, Redot Fine Art Gallery, Singapore
2016: ‘Land lines – End of the Line’, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2017: Swell Exhibition, Queensland (invited Sculptor)
2017: ‘From the Centre’, Australian Galleries, Sydney
2019: ARTpark Australia Sculpture Exhibition, Woolloomooloo Wharf, Sydney
2019: Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk, Sydney, presented by ARTPark
2020: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, Sydney
2021: Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk, Sydney , presented by ARTpark
2022: Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk, Sydney (featured sculptor), presented by ARTpark Australia
2022: ‘2022 Montalto Sculpture Prize Exhibition’, Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove, Red Hill, VIC.
2023: ‘From the Centre’, Australian Galleries, Sydney
2023: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, Sydney
2023: Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, Perth
2024: Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk, Sydney, hosted by ARTPark Australia
2024: Walsh Bay Sculpture Walk, Sydney presented by ARTPark Australia
2024: ‘Greg Johns’ 50 Year Survey Exhibition’, Palmer Sculpture Landscape
2024: Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, Sydney
2024: Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, Perth
2025: Woolloomooloo Sculpture Walk by ARTPark, Sydney
2025: ‘Greg Johns: 50 Year Survey: Against the grain – with the flow’, Australian Galleries, Melbourne
2025: 50-year exhibition of his work in the new Palmer Ecoshed and round house

Prizes and Awards
1980: Whyalla Sculpture Prize
1980: V.A.B. Grant
1981: S.A. Arts Grant (part assistance to work & travel in U.S.A. and Europe)
1983: S.A. Arts Grant (part assistance to work & travel in U.S.A. and Europe)
1986: S.A. Arts Grant (part assistance to work & travel in U.S.A. and Europe)
1988: S.A. Arts Grant (part assistance to work & travel in U.S.A. and Europe)
1993: First Prize, REDAS International Sculpture Competition, Singapore
1993: Art and Architecture Prize, S.A.
1994: Award of Merit R.A.I.A. (S.A. Chapter) (shortlisted for National Award)
1994: Commendation Art and Architecture R.A.I.A. (S.A. Chapter)
1994: Award of Merit, B.H.P. Colourbond Steel Award, R.A.I.A. (S.A. Chapter)
1995: Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Merit Award – Collaboration Award,
1995: Civic Award (S.A.) Collaborative Award, Swallowcliffe Primary School
1995: C.E.A.D. Award (National) Australia Council, Collaborative Award
1997: State and National Heart Awards for design of playground space
2000: Merit Award – Collaboration with TECTVS Architects – Dawson Home
2001: Stonnington Landscaping Award, Melbourne (Joint award for sculpture “Origin” and to Landscape Architects for surrounding landscaping)
2004: Waterhouse Sculpture Prize (Natural History Award)
2009: Finalist, SA Great Awards, Palmer Sculpture Landscape
2010: Brighton Jetty Sculpture Prize
2010: Second Prize, Arid Sculpture Exhibition
2010: Lorne Trail Sculpture Prize (Lorne Sculpture Biennale)
2011: Lorne Sculpture Biennale (winning artist)
2012: McClelland Sculpture Award (“At The Centre (There Is Nothing)”)
2012: Advertiser Contemporary Art Prize, honourable mention
2016: Brighton Jetty Sculpture Prize
2016: Arid Lands Sculpture Prize
2016: Adelaide Fringe Award, Palmer Sculpture Biennial
2017: ICON AWARD, Design Industry of Australia
2019: Sculpture By The Sea Decade Club, Bondi
2020: Second Prize – Palmer Sculpture Biennial 2021
2021: Directors Choice Award, Sculpture By The Sea, Cottesloe
2022: Sculpture By The Sea Decade Club, Cottesloe, W.A.
2022: Montalto Sculpture Prize (finalist)
2023: Helen Lempriere Scholarship, Senior Sculptor