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​curatorial statement

As a curator, I'm guided by a passion for contemporary Western Australian art and culture, engaging with artists to present experimental, multidisciplinary art that pushes boundaries and engages audiences through compelling storytelling. My mission is to connect, advance and advocate for WA’s artistic ecology, through providing platforms and opportunities for artists and arts professionals across regional and metropolitan galleries.

As an advocate for art and culture, I have a commitment to delivering impactful exhibitions, and years of experience in local government and non-profit organisations. Over the past couple of decades I have worked as a curator, gallerist and board member of various arts organisations, giving me a range of experiences in the delivery of exhibitions, as well as perspective on the importance of the policies, strategies and structures that govern cultural venues.

​curatorial work


Curator at the Perth institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) Jan-Jun, 2025
Executive Artistic Director of the Ellenbrook Cultural Foundation program and exhibitions, 2017-24
Founder of the 
Swan Open Studios event, Ellenbrook / City of Swan, and coordinator, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024

2024
Producer, presenter, 
F L E S H. Ellenbrook Arts. Curated by Robyn Bernadt, and featuring work by Hugh Breslin, Chris de Sira, Shanti Gelmi, Louise Grimshaw, Rebecca Hepworth, Noel Roy Johnson, Sophie G Nixon, Charlotte Robinson and Robyn Bernadt. Recipient of a Weekly Winner Award at FRINGE WORLD, 2024.
Artistic Director,
 Eco Fashion Week Australia, Closet of the Anthropocene, with Dr Zuhal Kuvan Mills et al., 2024
Gather, Fibrant Art Group exhibition, Unfolding, A Forager's Guide to Mapping, and Tania Spencer, Ghosts of the Wheatbelt, solo exhibition. All presented as part of the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial, Ellenbrook Arts, 2024.
Curator, Topophilia, solo exhibition by Fiona Rafferty, Ellenbrook Arts, 2024.
Presenter, Covid and the Community, curated by Amanda Kirk, Ellenbrook Arts, 2024.

2023
Partnering producer/presenter. 
Behind the Lines 2022: Off the Planet, travelling exhibition developed and presented by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, and toured to Ellenbrook Arts.
Presenter, Single Channel, in partnership with the National Gallery Australia, feat. Tony Albert, Destiny Deacon, Viginia Fraser, collaboration, Silvana and Gabriella Mangano, Club Até, Shaun Gladwell and Tracey Moffatt.
Presenter, producer, Conversation With Time, 5 May – 4 June 2023, Curated by By Dr. Zuhal Kuvan-Mills, In Partnership with Regis Greenmount.
Presnenter, Foraging in the WasteStream, 8 Nov – 8 Dec 2023. Featuring new work by Tami Esancy, Bev Iles, Peter, Dailey, Sophie Nixon, Ingrid Mulder and Kerrie Argent. In Partnership with the Bullsbrook Recycling Facility. Curated and coordinated by Tami Esancy.

​2022

Curator, Transference, 5 July – 13 August, 2022. Martine Perret, Vivian Brockman Webb, Mitchella Hutchins, Roly Skender, Jonathan Mustard. Part of NAIDOC week program in July. Featuring photography and video installation work by award-winning UN photographer, Martine Perret, in collaboration with Wadandi Elders Vivian Brockman Webb and Mitchella Hutchins, and video and sound installation work in collaboration with Roly Skender and Jonathan Mustard.
Curator, Lunchbars of Perth, Brett Leigh-Dicks, Ellenbrook Arts, 2022
Co-producer, presenter, Greywing ensemble exhibition and performance, Ellenbrook Arts, 2022

2021
Presenter, Shaun Tan’s Rules of Summer, Ellenbrook Arts, 2021. Touring with Art on the Move and part of the FRINGEWORLD 2021 Program.
Curator, Landscape: A Western Australian Perspective, Selected artworks from the private collection of Michael and Caroline Levitt. 22 February – 21 March 2021. Featuring works by Robert Juniper, Nigel Hewitt, Guy Grey-Smith, Jo Darbyshire, Andre Lipscombe, Brian McKay, Churchill Cann, Cynthia Ellis, Ernest Philpot, George Haynes, Howard Taylor, Jimmy Pike, Joanna Lamb, John Coburn, John Firth-Smith, Mac Betts, Portia Bennett, Teelah George, Miriam Stannage, Sarah Elson.
Presenter, partner. All That Remains, 5 June – 4 July 2021. Curated by Robyn Bernadt, featuring new work by Olivia Colja, Chris De Sira, Shanti Gelmi, Louise Grimshaw, Kristy Scaddan, Cim Sears, Laura Sikes, Deborah Worthy-Collins, Jane Ziemons and Robyn Bernadt.
Co-curator, Natural Exchange, 28 August - 19 September 2021. Guundie Kuchling, Marie Haass, Stephen Genovese, Sally Stoneman, Tanya Jaceglav, Ben Crappsley and Camilla Loveridge.
Co-curator, when I saw you, 17 October – 14 November 2021. Darryl Bedford, Jacky Cheng, Guundie Kuchling, Richard Hassell, Ingrid Mulder, Sarah Thornton-Smith. Curated with Sarah Thornton-Smith. Part of the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial, 2021.

2020
Lust for Lustre, co-curator with Rizzy, Ellenbrook Arts, Jan – Feb, 2020. Featuring new work by Rizzy, Angela Stewart, Bethamy Linton, Gemma Ben-Ary, Jody Quackenbush, Katrina Virgona, Olga Cironis, Pam Jones, Paula Christoffanini, Carla Adams, Tania Visosevic, Eva Fernandez, Lee Harrop, Mandy Harwood, Melanie Dare, Susan Flavell, Natalie Williamson, Ryck Rudd.
Curator, Morphed Alchemy, Ellenbrook Arts, March 2020. Featuring new work by Annemieke Mulders, Joanna Wakefield and Helen Robins.
Co-Curator, Art for World Peace, Soul Birds by Sri Chinmoy, Jun-Jul 2020.
Co-curator, Kalyakool, curated in collaboration with DADAA, Jul-Aug, 2020. Featuring Desmond Woodley, Mandy White, Michael Miller, Daniel Roe.
Presenter, co-curator, Dumped, Ellenbrook Arts, 2020. Featuring new work by: Peter Dailey, Beverley Iles, Neil Elliott, Carolyn Francis, Vince Austin, Veronica McGrath, Ryck Rudd and Tami Esancy, co-curated by Tami Esancy.
Presenter, Home Alone, solo exhibition by Louise Gan. Aug-Sep 2020.

2019
​Curator, Robert Andrew: Our Mutable Histories, co-curator with Guy Ben-Ary, Ellenbrook Art Gallery, 2019
Curator, Fight or Flight: The Persistence of Nature, Ellenbrook Arts, Oct - Nov, 2019. Featuring new work by Mandy Harwood, Katie Sharples & Zoe Wittber.
Curator, Beverley to Curtin Springs, solo exhibition by Susan Hoy, Ellenbrook Arts, Oct-Nov, 2019.
Presenter, Here, There, and Back Again, Desmond Woodley, curated by Esther McDowell (Kickett), Ellenbrook Arts, 2019. In partnership with DADAA.

2018
Curator, Since Confessing, solo exhibition by Tami Esancy, Ellenbrook Art Gallery, 2018

2017
Curator, Whadjuk's Kallip, Charmaine Cole, Joondalup Art Gallery, 2017
Curator, Ryck Rudd solo exhibition, Capriccio!, Arts in Focus, City of Joondalup, 2017

2016
Curator, Burda Burda Dhulga (Telling a Story with Songlines), Julie Dowling, Joondalup Art Gallery, 2016
Curator,Second Hand, Arts in Focus, Bonnie Boogaard, Joondalup Art Gallery, 2016
Curator,Community Invitation Art Award, City of Joondalup, 2016. Andy Quilty, Anna Sabadini, Anna Louise Richardson, David Brophy, Emma Buswell, Fiona Gavino, Gera Woltjer, Lee Harrop, Lyle Branson, Matthew Thorley, Peggy Griffiths, Serge Tampalini, Shannon Lyons, Tim Burns.
​
2015
Curator, Mei, Arts in Focus, Rebecca Jensen, Joondalup Art Gallery, 2015
Curator, Ngatha ni2, City of Joondalup NAIDOC week, July 2015. Featuring artwork by Troy Bennell, Deborah Bonar, Charmaine Cole, Ernie Dingo, Julie Dowling, Errol Eades, Caroline Narkle, Edith Penny, Shane Pickett (dec), Ben Pushman, and curated by Charmaine Papertalk Green.
co-curator, cellF, presented by SymbioticA, at UWA 2015, feat. Guy Ben-Ary, Nathan Thompson, Andrew Fitch, Darren Moore, Douglas Bakkum, Stuart Hodgetts and Mike Edel.

2014
Curator,Community Invitation Art Award, City of Joondalup, 2014. Featuring Jack Ball, Christophe Canato, Teelah George, David Ledger, Alex MacIver, Elisa Markes-Young, Dan McCabe, Mark Parfitt, Perdita Phillips, Jody Quackenbush, Nicole Slater, Justin Spiers, Roderick Sprigg.
Curator,Yey Sussurus, A Selection of Works by Innovative Aboriginal Women Artists, part of NAIDOC week, Joondalup Art Gallery, 2014. Featuring Barbara Bynder, Charmaine Green, Deborah Bonar, Janine McCaullay-Bott, Jenny Fraser, Janet Forbes, Julie Gough, Marlene Harold, Norma McDonald, Naomi Grant, Ningie Nangala, Patsy Mudjidell, Simone Penny, Sandra Hill, Tjemma Napanangka, Sharyn Egan.

2012
Curator, Spontaneous Watercolour Exhibition, Zig Zag Cultural Centre, Kalamunda, WA, 2012
Curator, The York Society Annual Art Exhibition, 2012

2011
Curator, Spectrum Youth Arts Exhibition, Zig Zag Cultural Centre, Kalamunda, WA, 2011
Curator, bigDIVERSE, Zig Zag Cultural Centre, Kalamunda, WA, 2011

Selected guest appearances, judging and selection panels

Guest Speaker for Amanda Alderson and Brad Coleman's exhibition, Don't Ignore the Periphery, Midland Junction Arts Centre, 2025
Selection Panelist, Hatched National Graduate Show, 2025, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)
Judge, Kalamunda Art Awards, 2025
Judge, SWAN - South West Art Now, A New Constellation, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, 2024
​Selection Panelist, City of Kalamunda Art Prize, 2024
Selection Panelist, Art on the Move touring exhibitions 2025-27
Committee Member, Darlington Art Festival, 2022-23
Selection Panelist, City of Melville Art Award, 2021
Judge, Northam Art prize, 2023
Judge, Bindoon Show, 2022
Judge, Mandjar Art Awards, 2020
Judge, City of Melville Art Awards, 2019
Judge, North Midlands Agricultural Society Art Prize, 2019
Judge,17th Annual St George's Art Prize, 2019
​Judge, Perth Royal Art Prize for Landscape, 2018
Judge, City of Bayswater Art Award, 2018
Judge (visual arts), Fringe World, 2018, 2019
Curator, City of Joondalup, 2014-2017
Judge, Town of Bassendean Art Awards, 2017
Board Member, Mundaring Arts Centre, 2016-2019
​Board Member, Galleries West, since 2018
Selection Panel Member, Paper Mountain’s annual program, 2015, Paper Mountain Artist Run Initiative, Northbridge, WA
Consultant and grant writer, The York Society, WA 2012
Grant writer, SymbioticA School of Biological Arts, Universtiy of Western Australia, WA 2012
Arts Consultant, Zig Zag Community Arts Group, Kalamunda, WA, 2009
Grant writer for SymbioticA / Art on the Move Adaptation exhibition, City of Mandurah, 2012
Grant writer for Guy Ben-Ary mid career fellowship, Department of Culture and the Arts, 2010
Grant writer for Guy Ben-Ary established career artist fellowship, Australia Council, 2012
http://southern.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Zig-Zag-lines-up-art-for-seniors/7607401/
http://www.theprogram.com.au/Event/20-08-2011/love-honour-obey
Artsource 6 x 6 artist talks, Perth, 2010
Pecha-Kucha, Artist’s Talks, Northbridge, WA, 2008
Freelance Writer and Illustrator, Illustrated Ape Magazine, London, UK, 2001

publications

Foreword, Ghosts of the Wheatbelt, A Collaboration of Art and Poetry,  poems written in response to the solo exhibition, Ghosts of the Wheatbelt, by Tania Spencer, Ellenbrook Arts, 2024,  and published by the Katherine Susanna Pritchard Writers' Centre, 2025. ISBN. 978-0-6455816-9-0
No Stone Without A Name, Philippa O'Brien, published by the Ellenbrook Cultural Foundation Inc., 2022. 978-0-6455985-0-6
Lust for Lustre, catalogue foreword, 2020.
Contributing author, Robots and Art, Exploring an Unlikely Symbiosis, Editors: Herath, Damith, Kroos, Christian, Stelarc, Springer Singapore, 2016, Hardcover ISBN 978-981-10-0319-6
Contributing co-author, Nervoplastica, Guy Ben-Ary, Bio Robotic Art and its Cultural Contexts, Published by the Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art, Gdanzk Poland, ISBN 978 83-61646-53-2
Introductory catalogue essay, Janet Yates, Memories of Exotic Lands, Zig Zag Cultural Centre 2012
http://www.artcollector.net.au/JanetYatesMemoriesofExoticLands
http://www.janetyates.com.au/prod/mem-invite
Introductory catalogue essay, Los Adornos de Venus, Heathcote gallery, 2018.
Reviewer, Fringe World 2018, www.fringefeed.com.au/reviews/alira-callaghan-gallery-as-residency-1886
Reviewer, Fringe World 2018, www.fringefeed.com.au/reviews/drowning-1991

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