Bundanon

Kat Shapiro Wood has a multidisciplinary practice involving painting in (primarily) encaustic, sculpture and ceramics; in whatever medium or form her inherent feeling is towards a sensuous materiality and an essential ‘objectness’, with refined attention given towards nuance of colour, form and surface. She has been based in the Northern Rivers on Bundjalung Country since 2007, after completing a BFA majoring in Ceramics at the National Art School in 2006. She was a finalist in the National Still Life Award in 2021, the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize and the Wollumbin Art Award in 2022. She has exhibited locally and internationally, and is represented by Chalk Horse Gallery in Sydney.

Kelly Austin is a ceramic and mixed media artist living in lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia. She completed a Bachelor of General Fine Arts from the Emily Carr University in Vancouver, Canada in 2011, a Master of Philosophy from the Australia National University, Canberra in 2016 and a Bachelor of Architecture and Built Environment from the University of Tasmania in 2021.

Austin’s work has been exhibited in curated exhibitions across Australia, Canada and The United States of America. Kelly received the The National Still Life Prize from Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery in Coffs Harbour, Australia in 2019. In 2021, her work was included in the Women’s Art Prize, Tasmania and in 2022, the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize in Sydney, Australia.

Kelly has undertaken international artist residencies including QBank Gallery in Queenstown, Tasmania and Medalta International Ceramic Residency in Medicine Hat, Canada. Her work is held in both private and public collections including: The National Gallery of Australia, The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery and the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

In Residence at Bundanon

Material Conversations is a two-week shared residency with visual artists Kat Shapiro Wood and Kelly Austin. Both artists explore the potential conversations between materials and their responsiveness to things both within the works and outside of them, as they relate to themes of either environmental or more elusive metaphysical/poetic/emotive realms. Kat intents to push her work from 2D towards 3D, and Kelly, the opposite. Leaning into the other’s skillsets, we will support each other’s artistic development and growth, sharing skills and providing feedback on new experimental works. A variety of materials will be explored: ceramic, plaster, metals, found objects, encaustic, paint on canvas and paper.