Biography

Born
15 September 1952
Country
Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Province
Eastern Highlands
Village
Yohobo
District
Henganofi
Tribe
Kafe'
Clan
Jofa
Language 1
Kamano-Kafe'
Language 2
Tok Pisin (New Guinea Pidgin)
Language 3
English

Chronology

From 1959
Attended Lutheran Primary School at Finintegu followed by schooling at Kainantu, Asaroka and
Mount Hagen where he completed Standard VI
1967
Ran uncle's trade store in Yohobo for 6 months
1968–70
Arrived Port Moresby, PNG—employed by Allied Enterprises as a grass cutter, painter, brickmaker and welder
1970
Worked at Hara Hara Prints, Port Moresby, PNG
1971
Worked for four months as an artist at the Centre for New Guinea Cultures, University of Papua New Guinea, Boroko, Port Moresby, PNG
1971
Goroko Teachers College, Goroko, PNG
1972–77
Fellowship at the National Art School, Port Moresby, PNG
2016
Lives and works, Port Moresby, PNG

Solo Exhibitions

2016
Kamano man, Andrew Baker Art Dealer, Brisbane
2004
Ruki Fame: Man of Steel, Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria, BC, Canada
1978
Ruki Fame, National Arts School, Port Moresby, PNG
1977
Ruki Fame, National Arts School, Port Moresby, PNG
1976
Ruki Fame, National Arts School, Port Moresby, PNG
1973
An exhibition of new sculpture by Ruki Fame, National Arts School, Port Moresby, PNG
1971
Ruki Fame: Screens and lamps, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, PNG
Selected Group Exhibitions
2016
No.1 Neighbour: Art in Papua New Guinea 1966–2016, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
2008
Altogether: Contemporary Papua New Guinea Art, East-West Center Gallery, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, USA
2003
Changchu International Sister-Cities Sculpture Symposium, Changchun World Sculpture Park, Jilin Province, China
1998
New Colours from Old Worlds: Contemporary Art from Oceania, October Gallery, London, UK
1988
Pieces of Paradise, Australian Museum, Sydney

Selected Commissions

Architecture Building, Unitech, Lae, PNG
Henganofi Council, Eastern Highlands Province, PNG
Institute of Papua New Guinea Sudies, Port Moresby, PNG
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, PNG
Papua New Guinea Coffee Industry Corporation Ltd, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, PNG
Rural Development Bank Building, Waigani, Port Moresby, PNG
University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, PNG

Selected Bibliography

Beier, Ulli. ‘From 'Boy Wire to Art—Ruki Fame’, Decolonising the Mind: The impact of the University on culture and identity in Papua New Guinea, 1971–74, Pandanus Books, Canberra, 2005
Boulay, Roger; Mel, Michael A.; Gama, Henri, Maillot Win-Nemou, Sandra. La Peinture des Papous, Éditions Parenthèses, Rochefort, 2007
Cochrane, Susan. Luk Luk Gen! Look Again! Contemporary art from Papua New Guinea, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, 1990
Cochrane, Susan. Contemporary art in Papua New Guinea, Craftsman House, G&B Arts International, Sydney, 1997
Cochrane, Susan. Contemporary art from Oceania [ex. cat.], The October Gallery, London, 1997
Preece, R.J., ‘New colours from Old Worlds: Contemporary Art from Oceania at October Gallery, London (1998–99)’, ART AsiaPacific, Vol. 24, p. 92
Specht, Jim R. Pieces of Paradise [ex. cat.], Australian Museum Trust, Sydney, 1988

Public Collections

Asia

Changchun World Sculpture Park, Jilin Province, China

Australia

Australian Museum, Sydney

Europe

Völkerkundemuseum am Münsterplatz, Basel, Switzerland

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery, Port Moresby, PNG
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, PNG
Institute of Papua New Guinea Sudies, Port Moresby, PNG
University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, PNG