Norma Tahhan

Norma Tahhan is a Sydney based artist who has gained an extensive knowledge of drawing and painting, through various Universities and Colleges. She has undertaken many travels within Australia and abroad for artistic research and this is reflected in her many art works. After numerous exhibitions, including sell out Solo Exhibitions at The Seymour Theatre Centre, The Star, The New England Regional Art Museum and Customs House, it is clear that Tahhan’s artistic practice is dedicated, professional and consistent. Her work has been represented in numerous Private and Corporate Collections throughout Australia, USA, Europe, Lebanon and New Zealand. Tahhan’s work has been featured in many newspapers and publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Black & White and on television. Tahhan’s work was recently featured in the Channel 9 Mini Series “Bite Club” Her works have also been selected and featured at the Powerhouse Museum, The National Maritime Museum and the Australian Centre of Photography. Norma has been the finalist in numerous Art Prizes and has won the Drummoyne Art Prize 2017 and 2019.

Apart from Norma's highly acclaimed professional artistic career, Norma is also a passionate Art Educator. Norma is a fully qualified Art Teacher and has been an Educator in Art in numerous Schools and Colleges throughout Sydney, NSW Australia. Norma has held numerous leadership roles in Sydney Schools and Colleges and has been a Director of Creative Arts in various Sydney Schools. Norma has over 20 years experience as an Art Educator and holds a Masters in Fine Arts and Visual Arts Education. Norma is currently a Visual Arts Education Officer overseeing Art in over 150 schools across Sydney. Norma is extremely experienced in the current K-12 Visual Arts Curriculum, having written varied programs from Kindergarten to HSC Visual Arts. She has successfully tutored and mentored students from Kindergarten to HSC Visual Arts and being a fully qualified Visual Arts teacher, Norma has been able to assist students with all facets of the current curriculum. HSC Students who have worked under Norma's tuition have been selected for Art Express - a selection of the best works for HSC. Norma is also an Art Therapist and can assist students with Diverse Learning Needs achieve success and fulfilment through Visuals Arts. Gallery NTK supports NDIS. Norma has also successfully facilitated students in portfolio creations for Specialist Art Schools and University. She has enabled one hundred percent of students submitting portfolios achieve success in receiving a place in their chosen school or University course.

In 1999 Norma was invited by New England Regional Art Museum to hold a solo exhibition at the Art Museum. He works were showcased alongside an Exhibition featuring the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. The exhibition ‘Models of genius’ was shown for two months and featured da Vinci's uncanny foretelling of 'modern' innovations such as the Parachute, the Helicopter, the Machine Gun and the Military Tank. It was an honour for Norma to be the only artist selected to be featured as part of the Gallery’s museum program during da Vinci’s exhibition. The models were brought to Australia as a joint venture project between IBM Australia and UTS. Since then the 'Leonardo da Vinci: Models of Genius' exhibition has concluded two successful national tours of Australian technological universities and associated libraries, museums and galleries as well as nine regional galleries and the Singapore Science Centre, delighting and intriguing over 100, 000 visitors.
Norma Tahhan’s personal experience and her love for life materialise in the powerful and dynamic images she creates. Her paintings and drawings are rich and reflect the intensity of her personal experience. Her works are spontaneous and direct. Her initial idea soon unravels to reveal a work embedded in reality. “Reality becomes abstract and abstract becomes reality.” Norma Tahhan totally immerses herself in the creative process, each work becoming an extension of her being. “ My artworks are created through my blood stream – the pulse of my life. I call for the viewer to become a part of this experience.”

NORMA TAHHAN - Biography
2022 - Visual Arts Education Officer Sydney Catholic Schools
2019 - Judge - The Burwood Art Prize
2017 - Judge - The Burwood Art Prize
2017 Art well-being Facilitator – International Convention Centre
2004 -present Art classes/workshops Gallery NTK
2009 - 11 Visual Arts Co-Curricula Rosebank College
2007 Enrichment Program Santa Maria Del Monte
2005 Artist in Residence Domremy College
2000 Artist in Residence - The Sydney Art Gallery
Artist in Residence - Dymocks Sydney
1996 Established Gallery NTK - Croydon
1994 – 96 Post Graduate Studies University of Western Sydney
Painting and Drawing
1990 – 92 Studied St. George TAFE, Sydney
Drawing Certificate
Studied College of Fine Arts
Master of Art Education
1989 – 91 Studied St. George TAFE, Sydney
Painting Certificate
1987 – 88 Studied City Art Institute, Sydney
Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Art Studies
1986 Padstow Technical College, Sydney
Drawing and Printmaking
1980 – 83 Studied City Art Institute, Sydney
Bachelor of Education (Art)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 Gallery NTK, Sydney
2017 Gallery NTK, Sydney
2016 New Horizons, Gallery NTK, Sydney
2015 Gallery NTK, Sydney
2014 Gallery NTK, Sydney
2013 Gallery NTK, Sydney
2012 Gallery NTK, Sydney
2011 “Two’s Company” Gallery NTK, Sydney
2010 “Visions of the Land” Gallery NTK, Sydney
2008 “Entwine” Gallery 41, Woolloomooloo Sydney
2006 “Release”, Gallery NTK, Sydney
2005 “Insomnia”, Gallery NTK, Sydney
2003 “Singe” Gallery NTK, Sydney
2002 “Inferno” Gallery NTK, Sydney
2001 “Lush” Gallery NTK, Sydney
2000 “Abstract Reality”
Gallery NTK, Sydney.
The Sydney Art Gallery, Sydney.
“Artist of the Month” Dymocks Bookstore, Sydney.
1999 “Submerge” New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW
1998 Gallery NTK, Sydney.
“Totemic Stillness”
Gallery NTK, Sydney.
1996 “Sweeping Flames”
The Seymour Centre, Sydney.
The Sydney Harbour Casino, Sydney.
“Heat and Dust”
The Seymour Centre, Sydney.
SELECTED GROUP ART EXHIBITIONS
2018 Bayside Arts Festival, Mascot, NSW
The Drummoyne Art Society Member’s Exhibition, Drummoyne, NSW
2017 The Art of Sydney Award, The Sydney Maritime Museum, Sydney
2016 The Drummoyne Art Society Member’s Exhibition, Drummoyne, NSW
Group Show, Banksia Art Gallery, Sydney
2015 The Drummoyne Art Society Member’s Exhibition, Drummoyne, NSW
The Greenway Art Prize, Sydney
The Christmas Exhibition Gallery NTK, Sydney
2014 The Greenway Art Prize, Sydney
The Christmas Exhibition Gallery NTK, Sydney
2013 Group Show Gallery NTK, Sydney
2012 “Contemplating the Face of Christ” St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.
2011 Group Exhibition, Gallery NTK, Sydney
Artists at Ashfield, Gallery NTK, Sydney
2010 Group Exhibition, Gallery NTK, Sydney
Gold Door Gallery, Sydney
Artists at Ashfield, Gallery NTK, Sydney
2009 Group Exhibition, Gallery 41, Sydney
Concord Golf Club, Sydney
Artists at Ashfield, Thirning Villa, Sydney
Group Exhibition, Gallery NTK Sydney
2008 Group Exhibition, Gallery NTK, Sydney
Group Exhibition, Gallery 41, Sydney
2007 Group Exhibition, Gallery NTK, Sydney
Group Exhibition, Gallery 41, Sydney
2006 Opening Exhibition, Gallery NTK, Sydney
Sydney Art World, Woolloomooloo, Sydney
2005 Group Show, Gallery NTK, Sydney
Various Visions, Gallery NTK, Sydney
2004 Bezalel Annual Art Exhibition, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
2002 Francophone Artists, Customs House, Sydney
2001 Wattan Art Exhibition, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
sally d’Ovelle, Sydney
2000 “The Real Refuses” TAP Gallery, Sydney
Australian Lebanese Association Olympic Exhibition,
AKLA, Sydney
1999 Balmain Living, Sydney
1998 The Rocks Market Art Prize
ASN Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney
“Lebanon, the Land and the People” Our Lady of
Lebanon Church Annual Exhibition, Sydney
Newtown North Public School, Sydney
Emporio Paris, Sydney
1997 Maitland Art Prize
1992 The Hills Grammar School Society of the Arts
Contemporary Art Exhibition, Sydney
1991 St. George TAFE Annual Exhibition
1990 St. George TAFE Annual Exhibition
1989 St. George TAFE Annual Exhibition
The Sydney Morning Herald “On This Day” Art Award
The Mitchell Gallery, Sydney
1988 The Sydney Morning Herald “On This Day” Art Award
The Mitchell Gallery, Sydney
1987 Mitchell College Art Prize
Mitchell College, Bathurst
Warringah Art Prize
City Art Institute Post Graduate Exhibition
Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney
Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney
1986 Padstow Technical College, Sydney
1983 Mitchell Cott Award
Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney
Graduate Student Exhibition, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney
PUBLISHED/REPRODUCED
2018 “Bite Club” Channel 9 Featured Artwork in mini series
2016 “Birthday Bash for Gallery” Inner West Weekly September 13, Steven Stickney
2014 “Art’s in their Hearts at All Ages,” Inner West Weekly December 9,
Sean Thompson
2012 “The Catholic Weekly” October 7
2009 “Art in Croydon” The Burwood Scene, May 7
“Alive” Inner West Weekly, May 14
2006 “Managing he Muse,” Inner West Courier, Dave Berrick, August 22.
“Spray Cans Release Creativity,” Inner West Weekly, Marie Sansom, August 24
2005 “Creative Boost,” Inner West Courier, Sophie Blakemore, April 5.
“Wraps off to New Gallery”, The Inner West Weekly, April 7.
“Explosion of Art,” Inner West Weekly, Stephen Ryan, December 1
“Christmas Exhibition,” Inner West Courier, December 6.
2003 “Summer Colours Fire an Artist’s Creativity” The Daily Telegraph,
Lillian Saleh, Nov 24.
2002 “French Connection,” The Daily Telegraph, Lillian Saleh, March 16.
“Inferno – An Exhibition by Norma Tahhan,” El Telegraph,
Aug 21st.
2001 “Art Extension of Norma’s Life,” The Glebe & Inner Western Weekly,
Nathan McIlroy, Sept 5.
2000 Black + White, No 41, Feb. 2000
“Your Sydney” Exhibition, The Daily Telegraph, Mary Machen, Feb 24.
“Reading for Life,” The Inner Western Suburbs Courier, Nicole Triantafillou, Nov. 20.
1999 “Submerge yourself at NERAM,” The Armidale Independent, April 15.
“Around Town – New Exhibitions,” The Armidale Express Extra,
April 22.
“Exhibition in Armidale,” The Armidale Express, May 5.
NBN News, Interview, April 27.
Prime News, Interview, April 27.
1998 “Norma’s ultimate masterpiece,” The Glebe & Inner Western Weekly, Feb 18.
“Breaking out,” The Inner Western Suburbs Courier, Susan Mooney,
Feb 23.
“Artist starts up gallery,” The Glebe & Inner Western Weekly,
Emily Tinson, Aug 19.
1997 “Norma makes a dramatic impact,” The Endeavour Room, A publication of Star City, July 1997.
“Whereby hangs winning landscape,” The Fairfax Sun, July 23.
1996 “Norma’s inspiration comes from nature,” Inner Western Suburbs Courier, Brandon Pace, August 12.
“Painting from experience,” Inner Western Weekly, August 14.
“Artist thrives in car yard,” The Glebe & Inner Western Weekly,
Nov 27.
AWARDS
2019 Drummoyne Art Society
WINNER - AWARDED DRUMMOYNE ART PRIZE
2019 Drummoyne Art Society
VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD – Drawing
2018 Drummoyne Art Society
HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD – Drawing
2018 Drummoyne Art Society
COMMENDED AWARD – Modern
2017 Drummoyne Art Society
COMMENDED AWARD – Drawing
2017 Drummoyne Art Society
COMMENDED AWARD – Painting
2017 Drummoyne Art Society
HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD – Drawing
2017 Drummoyne Art Society
WINNER - AWARDED DRUMMOYNE ART PRIZE
Mitchell College Art Prize
HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD
Waringah Art Prize
HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD
The Sydney Morning Herald “On This Day” Art Award
HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD
The Rocks Market Art Prize
HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD
The Blake Prize
HIGHLY COMMENDED
3RD PLACE AWARD
CONTEMPLATING THE FACE OF CHRIST ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL
2015 FINALIST GREENWAY ART PRIZE
2014 FINALIST GREENWAY ART PRIZE
COLLECTIONS
UNSW Sydney
St Pauls Catholic College Sydney.
New England Regional Art Museum.
Dymocks Sydney.
All Hallows Catholic Church, Sydney.
Private and Corporate collections in Australia, USA, Lebanon, New Zealand, Italy, Germany