A Melbourne-based Australian artist making drawings, paintings, sculptures and prints.
Alter-egos, Smoron the sorcerer and Simon ‘Snake’ Grunters the art dealer/spiritual influencer, make regular appearances.
Born in Ängelholm, Sweden, 1977.
CV
2012 – 2024 Teaching Associate, Fine Art, Printmedia, Monash University
2008 – 2018 Lecturer, Fine Art, Print Imaging Practice, RMIT University
2003 – 2005 Print Council of Australia committee member
Education
2009 – 2012 Masters of Fine Art by Research, Monash University
2001 – 2003 Bach. of Arts with Honours RMIT University
1999 – 2000 Diploma of Visual Arts
Collections
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, RMIT University Art Collection, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Charles Darwin University Art Collection, Print Council of Australia, University of Ballarat, State Library of Victoria, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Burnie Regional Art Gallery, k.d. Lang private collection.
Solo shows
2024
Smoron the Stone Departer, Print Council of Australia, Southbank.
2018
Temple Doors, Artery Project Space, Northcote.
This is my Body, This is my Blood (Dirtied Glyphs), MCA ARTBAR, February, curated by Anney Bounpraseuth, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.
2017
Dirtied Glyphs, C3 Contemporary Art Space, Abbotsford.
2015
Pubism, Chapter House Lane Gallery, Melbourne.
Obedient Things and Whatnot, Bus Projects, Collingwood.
2014
The Snowy River from the Man, C3 Gallery, Abbotsford.
2012
Personal Piñata Picassos, C3 Gallery stall at Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne.
The Truth About the Art of Keeping Mum: A Studio Project on the Grotesque and Confessional Mode in Art, Monash University, Caulfield East.
The Blank Pages, Firstdraft Gallery, Sydney.
2010
Grotto: Seventh Gallery, Fitzroy.
Group shows
2019
Geelong Gallery Print Awards, Geelong Gallery, Geelong.
Sydney Contemporary, Print Council of Australia, Sydney.
2016
National Works on Paper Prize, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington (work acquired).
Out of the Matrix, RMIT University Gallery.
2015
Silkcut Award, Caulfield. (as Sven Eriksson)
2013
Pulp Fictions West Space Gallery, Melbourne
Community and Context, MADA Gallery, Monash University, Caulfield East
Outside: reclaimed warehouse space 12 Peel St, Midsumma Festival, Collingwood
2012
Fremantle Arts CentrePrint Award, Fremantle Art Centre, Fremantle.
2011
Mound Activity vs Slime Theory collaboration with Sarah CrowEST, Platform, Melbourne.
Cashmere if you Can – Series 5: Seventh Gallery, Fitzroy. (as Federico Joni).
Co-opting Practice, Artery Studios as part of Impact 7 conference, Northcote.
2010
Stop, Collaborate and Listen: Boxcopy, Brisbane.
Secret Files from the Working Men’s College: RMIT Project Space, Carlton
Cashmere if you Can – Series 4: Trocadero Artspace, Footscray. (as Federico Joni).
We Don’t Need Another Hero: Seventh Gallery, Fitzroy.
52 Print Exchange: Geelong Gallery, Geelong.
2009
Burnie Print Prize 2009: Burnie Regional Gallery, Burnie, Tasmania.
Seventh Up: Feltspace, Adelaide.
Cashmere if you Can – Series 3: Blindeside Artist Run Initiative, Melbourne. (as Federico Joni).
2008
Against the Grain: Port Jackson Press, Centre for Australian Printmaking, Collingwood.
Cashmere if you Can – Series 2: Off the Kerb, Collingwood. (as Federico Joni).
2007
Gifted: Gallery 1, Charles Darwin University, Darwin.
Come Hither: Interpretations of the Boudoir: Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga.
Silver Lining: Making Space Artist Run Space Festival, Melbourne. (solo show) (as Federico Joni).
2006
Jetlag Art: Konstfack Galleri, Stockholm.
Deceased Estate: Old Magistrates Court Melbourne, Next Wave Festival, Melbourne.
Dispace: Linden, St Kilda.
2005
Bookscapes: Artists Books, Port Jackson Press Australia, Fitzroy.
CPM National Print Award: Tweed River Gallery, Tweed River.
Muscarine: CLUBSproject, Fitzroy.
2004
Frou-frou: BUS artist run space, Melbourne.
There’s a Hole in the Bucket: Collaboration, CLUBSproject Inc, Fitzroy.
Pelt RMIT Project Space, Carlton.
Silk Cut Award: Glen Eira Arts Centre, Caulfield.
2003
New Q: Midsumma Festival, Counihan Gallery,
Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick.
Odd: Comedy Festival, RMIT School of Art and Culture and the Westin Hotel. First Site RMIT Union Gallery, Melbourne.
The Show: First Site RMIT Union Gallery, Melbourne.
Siemens Scholarship: RMIT Gallery, Melbourne and Siemens, Bayswater.
Unique State: RMIT University School of Art and Culture Printmaking graduate Show, First Site RMIT Union Gallery, Melbourne.
Published Writing
Ropponen, Jonas. ‘Department of Avant Garde Clichés’, Imprint, Vol 49, no 3, Spring, (2014). (on Filipino painter Manuel O’Campo).
Ropponen, Jonas. ‘Facts on Flax in Flux’, in Selvedge, Order, Rupture catalogue essay, West Space, September, (2014).
Ropponen, Jonas. ‘Richard Harding: Gayness and Masculinity’, Imprint, Vol 48, no. 4, Summer, (2013).
Ropponen, Jonas. The Woodsman, autobiographical short stories accompanying show, ‘Secret Files from the Working Men’s College, Project Space, RMIT, Melbourne, (2010).