Biography
Clare is a Photomedia Artist working primarily in digital and performance video art; known for her distinct interdisciplinary practice and autographic portraits of illness, health, beauty, loss, and order. No stranger to the illness experience, Clare completed a PhD in 2020 titled “Theatre, autopathography and the medicalised self: imaging health from the shadows of illness,” a creative research project catalysed by a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2011 and since this time has documented through visual, text and oral means, the artists’ experience of living with dis-ease. Using her own body as the site of transgression her aim is to make visual the un-seen experience of living with chronic illness. As a practicing artist, she has created photographic, video and installation work and has shown in solo and group exhibitions Australia wide.
Clare is a highly respected Arts and Cultural Sector professional having shared her unique and sought-after expertise developing innovative programs and successful funding submissions, educating generations of artists as Photomedia Teacher at the University of Newcastle and Newcastle Art School (Hunter Street TAFE) and supporting the development of the Hunter region’s Arts and Cultural Industry as freelance Curator and Arts Mentor.
Clare currently lives and works in Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Curriculum Vitae
Born 1975, Brisbane, Queensland
Lives and works in Newcastle, New South Wales
Education
- PhD Fine Art School of Creative Industries, Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle (UoN) Thesis: "Theatre, Autopathography and the Medicalised Self: Imaging Health from the Shadows of Illness"
- Master of Fine Arts upgraded to PhD School of Creative Industries, Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle (UoN) Thesis: "Exorcising the Abject: a Cathartic Disquisition"
- Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) (Awarded Class 1) School of Creative Arts, Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle (UoN) Honours Thesis: "The Space in Between"
- Bachelor of Arts: Communication Studies School of Creative Arts, Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle (UoN)
- Bachelor of Arts School of Creative Arts, Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle (UoN)
Selected Group and Solo Exhibitions
2024
- Summer Salon 24/25, Straitjacket, Broadmeadow
- Back & Forth, Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle
- COLLECT, The Lock-Up, Newcastle
- Stories of Light, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
2023
- Memento Mori, Straitjacket, Broadmeadow
- Upriver Downriver, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland
- Loud Sky, The Lock-Up, Newcastle
2022
- COLLECT, The Lock-Up, Newcastle
- Flow, LighthouseArts Newcastle, Nobbys-Whibayganba headland
2021
- Olive Cotton Portrait Award, Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah
- Mullins Conceptual Art Prize, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, Muswellbrook
- This Is Me, John Hunter Hospital
- Art in Your Community, MAC, Lake Macquarie
- Connect, Curve Gallery, Newcastle
- Reciprocity, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago
- Arrival, Newcastle Art Space
2020
- Theatre, Autopathography and the Medicalised Self, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
2019
- Reimagining the Canon, The University Gallery, University of Newcastle
- Beyond the Binary, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle as part of the Head On Photo Festival
- COLLECT, The Lock-Up, Newcastle as part of MAYHEM & MADNESS fundraiser
2018
- Memoranda, The University Gallery, University of Newcastle
- #threethousandwords, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle as part of the Head On Photo Festival
- I can see for miles, Curated by TaliaSmith, Centre for Contemporary Photography,Melbourne
- Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford
2017
- body bits, Gallery 139, Hamilton
2016
- Other Worlds, Gallery 139,Hamilton
- The Artist as Mentor, Gallery 139, Hamilton
- Techne: craftingtechnology,The University Gallery, University ofNewcastle
- Breath, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
- Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford
- Friends of the Universityof Newcastle,The University Gallery, University ofNewcastle
- In the Surface, Curve Gallery, Newcastle
2015
- The Bounds of Photography, Gallery 139, Hamilton
- Directors Choice, Gallery 139, Hamilton
- Blue Print, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
- Signature, The University Gallery, University of Newcastle,Callaghan
- The Piano Has BeenDrinking (Not Me), Maitland RegionalArt Gallery, Maitland
- Art Bender 2015, The Lock-Up Contemporary Art Space,Newcastle
- The Face of MS, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle
- Text Me, Gallery 139, Hamilton
2014
- Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford
- Transit Town, Station Masters Cottage, Nobbys Lighthouse, Newcastle
- Friends 2014 StudentAcquisitive Prize, The UniversityGallery, Callaghan
- Muswellbrook Photographic Award, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, Muswellbrook
- Scope,Front Room Gallery, Newcastle Art School, TAFE, Newcastle
2013
- Bodily Reflections, Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sydney
- CCP Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography,Melbourne
- Handwise VI (walls | floors |ceilings), NewcastleArt Space, Newcastle
- Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford
- Emerging Images, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle
2012
- Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford
- Kodak Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
- Fetish, Podspace,Newcastle
- Outside In, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney CBD as part of the Head On Photo Festival
- Hot House, Front Room Gallery, Newcastle Art School, TAFE, Newcastle
- Open House, Podspace, Newcastle
2011
- Luminous,Front Room Gallery, Newcastle Art School, TAFE, Newcastle
- Kodak Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
2010
- Kodak Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
- All in the making, Newcastle Art School, TAFE, Newcastle
- The in between, Podspace, Newcastle
- pixel perfect, Podspace, Newcastle
2008
- Paper Walls,Podspace, Newcastle
2007
- Kodak Salon, Centrefor Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
- annual emerging artists prize,Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle
2006
- unlocked,the lock-up, John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle
- Greatest hits,curated by Niomi Sands, Field Contemporary Art Space, Newcastle
- Kodak Salon, Centrefor Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
- annualemerging artist prize, Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle
- nature strip,curated by Peter Lankas, John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle
- JosephineUlrick& Win Schubert photography award,Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise
- creature discomfort, John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle
2005
- Artholes Self Portrait Show,Artholes gallery, Fitzroy
- The 20thAnnual Packsaddle Selling Exhibition, NewEngland Regional Art Museum, Armidale
- JosephineUlrick& Win Schubert photography award, GoldCoast City Art Gallery, Surfers Paradise
2004
- postcards from newcastle, curated by Peter Lankas, JohnPaynter Gallery, Newcastle
- the space in between, Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle
- Yellow + Blue, Newcastle Greens fundraiser, WattSpace Gallery, Newcastle
- queen, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
- annual emerging art prize, Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle
- annual student acquisitive artprize, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
- gallery launch, field contemporary art space,Newcastle
- my sweet home, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
- Wine and Cheese show, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
- footprint, curated by Gillean Shaw,Newcastle Police Station Museum & the John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle
2003
- Nikon Summer Salon, CCP, Melbourne
- domestic space, Lovett Gallery, Newcastle
- a bit of hose, rocketart, Newcastle
- Maitland Tertiary Student Art Award,Maitland City Art Gallery, Maitland
- Lomo: beyond what you see, PhotoTechnica, Sydney
- illuminate, JohnPaynter Gallery, Newcastle
- Expansion, WattSpace Gallery, Newcastle
- chopsticks,intrados Gallery, Newcastle
- Paired,Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
2002
- RelativeAbstraction: revelations of the self, Watt SpaceGallery, Newcastle
2001
- Blue Print, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
Collections
Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Curve Gallery, and numerous Private collections