German-born Madeleine Kelly, who arrived in Australia in 1980, is a visual artist who primarily works in painting. She majored with 1st class Honours in Fine Art from the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University in 1999, and her practice-led PhD was conferred by the same institution in 2013. Titled Picturing Archaeologies: The Meta-archaic aesthetic, Kelly’s dissertation examines the archaeological metaphor as an image-laden and mutable terrain. In particular, she engages – not without irony – with the descriptive capacity of Philosopher Michel Foucault’s archaeology of knowledge. Her creative work explores the materiality of images – in particular painting, as an earthen testimony figured from the ground that speaks of the primal frontiers of art, such as material transformation, as well as environmental contingencies. In this context, her work avoids dogmatism by depicting protean and rubric worlds.
Madeleine Kelly has been invited to exhibit in both public and private spaces, including GOMA Q: Contemporary Queensland Art 2015 curated by Peter McKay at the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, QLD and Primavera 2005 curated by Felicity Fenner at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. She has won several awards including the Melville Haysom Memorial Art Scholarship, and the 2004 Churchie Prize for Emerging Art. In 2005 she was the recipient of the Australia Council’s Paris Studio Residency, and in 2011 she received an Australia Council established artist’s grant for New Work. Her works have entered many public collections in Australia, including The Gallery of Modern Art/Queensland Art Gallery and several permanent university collections. She currently lives and works in Wollongong and lectures in painting at the University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Tertiary Education
2013
PhD, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University
2001
Bachelor of Secondary Education, Griffith University
1999
Bachelor of Visual Arts with First Class Honours in Fine Art, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University
Awards, Prizes and Grants
2014
Global Challenges Seed Funding Grant Paint Analysis Using Terahertz Spectroscopy (PAUTS) Roger Lewis (Chief Investigator), Madeleine Kelly, Stephen van Duin, Adam Trevitt ($14 398)
2011
Australia Council New Work Established Grant ($20 000)
2007
Artist in residence, Gadens Lawyers, Brisbane ($9000)
Arts Queensland Project Grant ($3500)
2006
Metro Arts Artist in Residence (March – October 2006)
2004
Australia Council Arts and Crafts Paris Studio Residency Grant ($10 000)
Winner, Churchie Exhibition of Emerging Art ($5000) Judge: Dr Rex Butler 2003 Arts Queensland Project Grant ($5000)
2001
Arts Queensland Project Grant ($2700)
1998
Melville Haysom Memorial Art Scholarship, Queensland Art Gallery (Studio Residency from 20 August – 20 December 1999)
Employment
2013
Lecturer in Painting, Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts, University of Wollongong
2004 – 2012
Part time lecturer, Painting Department, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University
2010
Art teacher, Brisbane Girl’s Grammar, Queensland (two weeks 31 May to 3 June)
2002 – 2004
Art teacher, Bracken Ridge State High School, QLD
2000 – 2001
Tutor for ATAS (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tutorial Assistance Scheme), Griffith University
Solo Exhibitions
2013
The Surface of Language, Griffith University Webb Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.
Picturing Archaeologies, Griffith University White Box Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.
2011
Hollow Mark, Griffith University Art Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Simon Wright, essay by Abigail Fitzgibbons.
2010
The Crevice, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2008
Heavy Heavenly Bodies, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2007
Dreams of Utopia, Gadens Lawyers, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2006
The Elephants’ Shelter, May, Bellas Milani Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2005
Between expansion and collapse, April, Bellas Milani Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2003
Pursuit of the Prizefighter, September, Soapbox Gallery, QLD, Australia.
Grounds for Entropy, August, Redlands Art Gallery, Redland Shire, QLD.
Fossilphilia, March, Metro Arts, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2002
Mnemonics, Queensland Performing Arts Complex, QLD, Australia
2001
Anatomy of a Metaphor, Modus Studios, Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia.
1999
Eclipse, Development Space, Metro Arts, QLD, Australia
Group exhibitions
2015
GOMA Q, Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Peter McKay (11 July – 11 October).
Trace 2015, Biennial Exhibition and Art Auction in the streets of 4101, curated by Susan Ostling.
2014
Conquest of Space, UNSW Galleries, COFA, Sydney, NSW, curated by Andrew Frost;
Processing, Alaska Projects, curated by Teo Treloar;
Fractured Beauty, Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong, NSW, curated by Louise Brand;
15 Artists, Redcliffe City Art Gallery, Redcliffe, QLD, judged by Timothy Morrell;
Tools of the Trade, Juggler’s Artspace, Brisbane , QLD, curated by Justin Jade Morgan and The Wandering Room;
63rd Blake Prize Exhibition, UNSW Galleries, COFA, Sydney, NSW, judged by Director of Artspace, Alexie Glass-Kantor, noted artist, Anne Ferran, and University of Sydney theologian, Dr Alex Norman.
2011
Ten Years of Contemporary Art: The James C Sourris Collection, Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, QLD, curatorial manager Julie Ewington.
New Psychedelia, University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Sebastian Moody.
Australia Felix, Crane Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA, curated by Ross Woodrow.
2010
The Ipswich House: Heritage house portraits by contemporary Queensland Artists, Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich, QLD, curated by Michael Beckmann;
Tiny Little Wonderful Worlds, Southbank Parklands, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Pat Hoffie;
BABELProjekt, Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD,curated by Pat Hoffie.
Other Misconceptions, Level Artspace, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Jo Di Ball; To Freeze, To Prick, To Cook, the Wandering Room at Melbourne Street, Brisbane, QLD, curated by the Wandering Room.
2009
Temperature 2, Museum of Brisbane, curated by Frank Mc Bride, Brisbane, QLD.
The Brisbane Line, The Narrows, Melbourne, VIC, curated by Ross Woodrow.
2008
Carnivale Illuminata, Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford, QLD, curated by Pat Hoffie.
Stan and Maureen Duke Art Prize, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Gold Coast Arts Centre, QLD.
2007
Twenty Twenty, Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Frank Mc Bride;
Voiceless: I feel therefore I am, Sherman Galleries, Sydney, NSW, curated by Charles Green.
2006
ABN Amro Emerging Art Award, Finalists Exhibition, Sydney NSW.
Colonial to Contemporary: Queensland College of Art 125 Years. A Contemporary Overview, Dell Gallery, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Timothy Morrell.
Primavera, Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, Muswellbrook, NSW, curated by Felicity Fenner.
Animals and Allegory, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane, QLD, curated by Simone Jones.
2005
Primavera 2005: Exhibition by Young Australian Artists, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW, curated by Felicity Fenner.
Arc Biennial, Lingua Franca Exhibition, Brisbane City Hall, Brisbane, QLD.
The Sixth of May, Project gallery, Queensland College of Art, Brisbane, QLD.
2004
Blur: Reality and Realism in Picture Making, Cleveland Gallery and Dell Gallery Brisbane, QLD, curated by Steven Alderton.
Brett Whiteley Traveling Art Scholarship Finalists Exhibition, Brett Whiteley Studios, Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW.
Flesh, Project gallery, Queensland College of Art, Brisbane, QLD.
A Place for Reflection, Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland, QLD.
Churchie Exhibition of Emerging Art, Anglican Church Grammar School, East Brisbane, QLD.
Professional activities
2014
‘Splitting Primordial Identity and Dissembling Images’, conference presentation, Conquest of Space Symposium, UNSW Galleries, COFA, Sydney NSW, delivered 14 June.
Artist talk, UNSW Galleries, COFA, Sydney NSW, delivered 4 June.
2012
Panelist for ‘Documenta 13 – a critical panel discussion’, The Glasshouse, Creative Industries Prescient, Queensland University of Technology, delivered
2011
Artist talk, Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane, QLD, delivered 4 December.
‘Early Years and primary: Imagination and Pretend worlds’, lecture, Cinema B Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane, QLD, delivered 30 July.
Artist in resident, Brisbane State High School.
Artist talk Brisbane Boy’s Grammar school.
Assistant Program Officer, Education & Curriculum Program coordinator for ‘Art for our school’ program coinciding with ‘Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams’, workshop component Beenleigh State School;
Judge, Bellas Bursary, Brisbane State High School;
Judge, Creativo Arts Gala Martin Galleries
2010
Visiting Artist for The Mekong River Project Children’s Workshop, Kids APT Festival Queensland Art Gallery.
Selection committee for finalists for the Churchie Exhibition of Emerging Art;
Judge, junior category, Queensland Youth Art Awards, Brisbane Boy’s Grammar School.
Artist in resident, Brisbane State High School.
2008
Artist talk, ‘I Love Art History’ Lecture series, Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane, QLD, delivered 4 December.
Steering Committee and Panel Member, Metro Arts, Brisbane, QLD,
Creative Short Watercolour Course, Aug-Nov, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University; Curator: Undercurrent, QCA, GU open day exhibition.
2006
Artist talk, lecture series, Queensland University of Technology Art Museum and Queensland College of Art, Dell Gallery
Workshop Artist, Box City Installation, Queensland Art Gallery.
Artist talk, Brisbane Boys Grammar School.
2005
Artist talk, ‘Coolbytes Lecture Series’, Queensland College of Art, Southbank and Gold Coast City Art Gallery.
2004
Event Coordinator for ‘The Minister’s Awards For Excellence in Art’ for Education Queensland.
Bibliography
2015
Gathering as Usual 2010 Cover image, Mascara Literary Journal Issue 17 April 2015
2014
Brand, L 2014, Fractured Beauty, exhibition catalogue, 13 September – 26 October, Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong, NSW.
Frost, A 2014, ‘The Engine of Experience: Contemporary Art and SF’, in Conquest of Space, exhibition catalogue, 22 May – 5 July, UNSW Galleries, COFA, Sydney, NSW, pp.5-7.
2013
MacLeod, B 2013, ‘Profile: Madeleine Kelly’, in Artist Profile, no.25, pp.52-55.
McFarlane, H 2013, ‘Brisbane Gallery Hop’, Artlink, vol.33, no.4, p.95.
Butler, R 2013, ‘The QCA School’, Art Monthly Australia, no.257, pp.40-43.
2012
Morrell, T 2012, ‘The James C. Sourris A.M. collection’, in Artlink, vol.32, no.1, p.95.
Kirker, A 2012, ‘The Woman Question, Surrealism: The Poetry of Dreams, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 11 June – 2 October 2011’, in Eyeline, no.76, online review, accessed 20/01/15.
2011
Richards, B 2011, ‘Emerging artists the Current Crop’, in Ewington, J. & Queensland Art Gallery 2011, Ten years of contemporary art: the James C Sourris AM collection, Queensland Art Gallery, 12 November – 19 February, South Brisbane, QLD, pp.97-117.
Fitzgibbons, A 2011, ‘An Alchemy of Reflection’, in Hollow Mark, exhibition catalogue, 7 October – 13 November, pp.4-7.
Kelly, M 2011, ‘Dream Weapon’, reproduction of painting, Oculus: Postgraduate Journal for Visual Arts Research, no.3, pp.52–3.
2010
Fitzgibbons, A 2010, ‘Madeleine Kelly, The Crevice’, Artlink, vol.30, no.4, p.85.
Stewart, K 2010, ‘Fairy Knoll: Madeleine Kelly’, in The Ipswich House: Heritage house portraits by contemporary Queensland artists, exhibition catalogue, 11 September – 14 November, Ipswich Art Gallery, QLD, pp.26-30.
Kelly, M 2010, ‘Gathering as Usual’, reproduction back cover image, RED Magazine, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, no.5.
2009
Morrell, T 2009, ‘Queensland: The Unreal Australia’, Exhibition catalogue Temperature Two, p.15.
2008
Morrell, T 2008, ‘The error of our ways: Madeleine Kelly’, Artlink, vol. 28 no. 1 March 2008, pp.60-65.
2007
Fenner, F 2007, ‘The Nature of Art’, Art and Australia, Vol 44, No.3, Autumn.
Flynn, B 2007, ‘Madeleine Kelly, Emerge and Review: A Look into the UBS Australian Art Collection’, pp.54-55.
2006
Morrell, T. & Cooke, G. 2006, Colonial to Contemporary: Queensland College of Art 125 Years, p.26.
Frost, A 2006, ‘Madeleine Kelly, 50 of Australia’s most collectable artists’, Australian Art Collector, Issue 35, January-March p.105
2005
Butler, R 2005, Art in Australia, Art Review, vol.43, no.2, Summer, p.277.
Smee, S 2005, ‘Spring Loaded’, The Weekend Australia, pp.17-18 September.
Clement, T 2005, ‘Cleanse the Palette’, The Sydney Morning Herald Metro: Exhibitions, p.26.
McDonald, J 2005, ‘Isn’t it Ironic?’ The Sydney Morning Herald – Spectrum, Visual Art, 15-16 October pp.28 – 29.
Art Matters (MCA’s Members’ Newsletter), Cover Image, Spring.
Fenner, F 2005, Primavera: Exhibition by Young Australian Artists, exhibition catalogue.
2004
Brand, S 2004, ‘Painting Modern Life’, exhibition catalogue, Blur, December, pp.6-16.
Sorensen, R 2004, ‘Top painting a confronting image of Iraq’, The Courier Mail, Saturday May 15, p.3.
2003
McLean, S 2003, ‘Art from the Ashes’, The Courier Mail, Saturday September 6, BAM p.4.
Butler, R 2003, ‘Spooky work by fresh new talent’, The Courier Mail, Saturday August 23, BAM p.4.
Machan, K 2003, Art Monthly Australia, Artnotes QLD, March no 157 p. 157.
Milani, J 2003, ‘On the transformation of oil’ in Fossilphilia, exhibition catalogue.
Brooks, H 2003, ‘Oil Painting’, The Courier Mail, March 11 2003, p.17.
2001
Hoffie, P 2001, ‘Review: Anatomy of a Metaphor’, in Artlink, vol.21, no.2, pp.86-87.
Collections
Queensland Art Gallery I Gallery of Modern Art
Griffith University Art Collection, Brisbane
University of Queensland Art Museum
Artbank, Sydney
The Paul Eliadis Collection of Contemporary Art
TEWRR Collection, Brisbane/UK
Gadens Lawyers, Brisbane
KPMG Corporate Collection, Sydney
UBS Art Collection, Sydney
Ipswich Regional Gallery, QLD
Various private collections in Australia
