ARTVISORY - Key Persons

Amanda Swanson has over 25 years experience in the Australian art and design world, having managed several prestigious art galleries in Melbourne and in Sydney before working in the auction world. She holds a BA (Fashion Design) from RMIT and her extensive industry experience also includes creating and managing corporate art events and nurturing VIP client relationships.

Job Titles:

• Member of the International Academy of Ceramics

Avital Sheffer grew up in Israel and lives in Australia. Her life long engagement with multi - faceted Middle-Eastern history and design leads her inquiry into fundamental human concerns of materiality and spirituality, past and present, language and memory; complexities and dilemmas which she explores in her work. Since 2004 Sheffer has had thirty solo exhibitions in Australia, USA and the UK, including a touring exhibition held in Regional Galleries across Australia. Her work has been presented at Collect, Art London, SOFA NY & Chicago; she has participated in numerous invitational group exhibitions and competitions, won several awards and been a presenter and demonstrator in conferences. In 2006 and 2008 she received Australia Council grants for new work and in 2014 won the Australia Council artist Residency in Barcelona for 2016. Her work is held in public collections such as the National Gallery of Australia, Sydney Powerhouse, Atelier d'Art de France, Museo del Cántir, Argentona, Spain, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, The Jewish Museum of Australia, Regional Galleries across Australia, as well as Foundations, corporate and private collections in Australia, USA, The Middle East and Europe. Her work features in many art publications, including The Pot Book by Edmund de Waal. Avital Sheffer is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics.

Paul Sumner has 40 years art-world experience in Australia and in the United Kingdom. Paul worked for Christies Inc. in Australia rising to manager of their Sydney operations, before being appointed Managing Director for Sotheby's International in Australia and New Zealand. He was then re-located back to the UK, when he was appointed by their European board as Managing Director for Sotheby's in London (Olympia) and Paul has worked in the art auction and gallery world ever since.