Career
Apponyi studied sculpture at the North Adelaide School of Arts, and during that time won a German Academic Exchange Scholarship (DAAD), and went on to study for a year at the Munich Academy.[1]
Since then he has had one-man shows and group exhibitions locally, interstate and overseas. He has won several prizes, accepted commissions, conducted workshops in Australia and Malaysia, and studied wood-block printmaking under a Japanese master. His work is featured in many private collections both here and overseas and in public spaces across Australia.[1]
Apponyi was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours for "service to the visual arts as a sculptor".[2]
Apponyi lives and works from his studio located at Balhannah in South Australia.[3]
Major commissions
1981: University of Adelaide's Waite Institute ”Aries"
1985: Goulburn NSW, ”The Big Merino" & St Patrick's College, Goulburn, life-sized "St Patrick"
1986: St Dominic's College, North Adelaide "St Dominic"
1988: Tamworth NSW, Bi-centennial Park, 67 stone sculptures & reliefs
1989: State Bank Tower, Adelaide "laminated Wooden Relief"
1990: Mt Annan Botanic Garden NSW, sundial of human involvement – with Sundials SA, Flinders University of SA, bronze & marble \”Squid & Prey\”
Kingston SE SA, Maria Creek beautification, granite sculptures & sundial
Berri SA, \”A Special Place for Jimmy James\” – with Bluey Roberts
1991 – 2006: Mitsubishi National Basketball League Trophy
1992: Henley Beach Catholic Church, "Mary with Child" (RAIA Award), Granite Island "Sea lion carved in Situ" & Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria ”Laughing Kookaburras"
1993: Adelaide Zoo "Sealion", Victor Harbor ”Whale Tail", Flinders University ”Woman Washing her Hair", Ashford Special School "Relief Carving on Granite" Townsend School for the Blind, "Birdbath with Bronze Tortoise"
1994: Keswick SA "Wedgetailed Eagle" Regency College of TAFE "Marine Sculpture"
1996: Wagga Wagga "Waterbirds & Goannas", Lutheran Homes "Granite Fountain", Healesville Sanctuary "Kangaroo and Emu with Chicks"
1997: Spring Hill Estate SA, wooden carvings, stone reliefs, bronze sculptures, Burnside Shopping Village, Granite Fountain
Monarto Zoological Park SA, granite & bronze goanna birdbath (donated by the artist)
1998: Dudley Park SA, Children\'s Cemetery, bronze Pelican & Chicks
Eden Hills SA, Colebrook Home site, granite \”Fountain of Tears\”collaboration with indigenous artists
1999: BRL Hardy\'s Banrock Station Wine & Wetlands Centre, Kingston-on-Murray SA, bronze Pelican & Chicks
University of Adelaide\'s Waite Institute, bronze West Highland White Terrier for Greg Johns\’ tribute to Mr Waite
Eden Hills SA, Colebrook Home site, life-sized bronze \”Grieving Mother\” collaboration with Shereen Rankine
Darwin NT, Heritage Walk drinking fountain with Chinese theme, collaboration with Aladar Apponyi
2000: Thredbo Village NSW, life-sized bronze Eastern Wombat & Grey Kangaroo
Gilles Street Primary School, Adelaide, Demonstrated granite-carving on boulders which form landscaping for C. Lawrence\'s mural
Cleland Wildlife Park, Adelaide Hills SA, life-sized bronze Koala
2001: Parliament House, Canberra, green marble Lizard
Burnside Shopping Village SA, granite water feature with 3 elements
2002: Victor Harbor SA, bronze Penguins for gateway to Granite Island (\”Kaiki\”), w Martin Corbin
SANBL Headquarters, bronze bust of former player Mark Davis
Mikawomma Reserve, Woodville Gdns SA, series of relief carvings. Collaboration w Potter/Minuzzo.
Design Institute Award
2003: Mt Gambier SA, Kimberley Clark foyer, limestone relief, Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos for Landscaping
2004: North Adelaide SA, St Dominic\'s Priory College, Water Feature and Relief of Young Kaurna girl
2005: Adelaide Convention Centre, River Torrens Precinct, Meals on Wheels 50th Anniversary SA, 2.6m x 4m granite relief
Scotch College, Torrens Park SA, granite relief \”Technology and Science\”
2006: Mt Barker District Council Walking Trail SA, Redgum Mother & Toddler \”Catherine & Allana\” carved in situ
2007: September Maroochy Qld, 3 week residency to carve granite sculptures for Botanic Gardens.
2007: October to Elliston, Eyre Peninsula to give workshops at Sculpture on the Cliffs, Mt Gambier SA, \”Memories in a Suitcase\”, 2m high granite memorial to migrant settlers
2009: Peterborough SA, \”Bob the Railway Dog\’
2010: February St Mark\'s College, North Adelaide, \”Flame of Learning\” white marble column.
