Image credit: Lisa Barmby

about heidi yardley

Heidi Yardley is an Australian artist who has exhibited widely throughout the country for the last 20 years. She has been a finalist in significant prizes including The Archibald Prize, Wynne Prize, Sulman Prize and The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. Yardley has held two artist residencies in New York, funded by the Ian Potter Cultural Trust and has been listed as one of Australia’s 50 most collectable artists (Australian Art Collector magazine, 2011). Yardley’s work is held in public institutions including Artbank, Gippsland Art Gallery, and the University of Queensland Art Museum. Yardley is represented by Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne and Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane.

Yardley works with found images to create scenes of mysterious temporality. Often painted in faded hues, her artwork is suggestive of a period that could sit somewhere between the 1960’s and 70’s. In fact, these works could exist somewhere ‘out of time’ – from a faded memory in the deep resources of our mind. Glimpses of naked figures in private spaces, acting out rituals or becoming something ‘other’, make the viewer’s position decidedly voyeuristic. Hybridity is more lucid in Yardley’s charcoal drawings that replicate hand-made collages. The familiar splintering and reconfiguration of paper collage is belied by the medium of carefully applied charcoal; burnt material that has been in a long battle of application and erasure. The process results in subtle chiaroscuro and seemingly infinite levels of tonal variation. Yardley seeks out subversive possibilities within the traditional genres of figurative, interior and landscape painting, embuing her work with a unique sense of melancholy and nostalgia. We encounter the familiar and strange and are compelled to invent our own narratives as active participants in deciphering her seductive visual language.

CV

Born Melbourne 1975

Education

2002	Graduate Diploma in Education, Melbourne University
1999	Bachelor of Fine Art Honours (Drawing) RMIT, Melbourne
1995	Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) Monash University, Caulfield

Solo Exhibitions

2020	Glittered in the cave, Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2019	The Thin Veil, Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2018	Drifters, Jan Murphy gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2017	The Sinking Belle, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney, NSW, Night Letters, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2016	Lost Weekend, presented by Nicholas Thompson Gallery at Neospace, Collingwood VIC
2015	Shapeshifting, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, Meeting the Shadow, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2014	Unfamiliar, presented by blackartprojects, Chalk Horse, Sydney NSW
2013	Glass Psyche, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2011	Her Kind, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
2010	Gift for the Darkness, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2009	Light Possession, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
	Black Mirror, Gallery 2, Grantpirrie, Sydney, NSW
2008	Supernatural, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2007	Darklands, Stephanie Burns Fine Art, Canberra, ACT
2004	Vacation, Intrude2 Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2000	Urban Myth, Goya Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
1999	Tethered, 69 Smith Street, Melbourne, VIC
1998	Winter-Tales of Unrest, Roar Studios, Melbourne, VIC

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021 2020	Spring 1883 Art Fair, presented by Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Collingwood Re-gathering, Benalla Art Gallery. VIC The Paul Guest Prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, VIC The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery National Works on Paper Prize, MPRG, VIC The Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townesville, QLD
2019	The Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Hazelhurst Art Centre, NSW Love, Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Centre, NSW Custom Ordered, Fashion Capsule 2, Melbourne Fashion Week, Melbourne Town Hall, VIC
2018	Heidi Yardley and Rhys Lee, The Clayton Utz Art Partnership, 3:33 Art Projects and Nicholas Thompson Gallery, 333 collins Street, Melbourne, VIC A fine romance, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC Spring 1883, Jan Murphy Gallery, The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne, VIC The Glover Prize, Falls Park Pavillion, Evandale, TAS Imagine, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC
2017	Romancing the skull, Art Gallery of Ballarat, VIC Sydney Contemporary, Arthouse gallery, Carriageworks, NSW Dog Days, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD Big and small: Works from the Collection, Art Gallery of Ballarat, VIC
2016	Drawing to an end, MARS Gallery, Windsor, VIC New Slang, Den-holm Studios, Reservoir, VIC Nigredo, Second Space Projects, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC CUT, The Dirty Dozen, Campbell Arcade, Melbourne, VIC Spring 1883, Jan Murphy Gallery, The Windsor Hotel, Melbourne, VIC The Kilgour Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery, NSW The Archibald Prize, The Art Gallery of NSW, Touring The Wynne Prize, The Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, NSW
2015	Grey Matter, curated by Mark Feary, Artbank, Sydney, NSW Sex, curated by Linsey Gosper and Jack Sargeant, Strange Neighbour, Melbourne, VIC Mug Shot, Gallery Ecosse, Exeter, NSW Shots off the dices, curated by Rhys Lee, Nicholas Thompson Gallery, Melbourne, VIC With her feet off the ground, curated by Simone Hine, Counihan Gallery, VIC Iconoclasts, curated by Chelsea Lehmann, Airspace Projects, Sydney, NSW Point A to Point B, Williamsburg, New York, USA
2014	The Dame Joan Sutherland Fund showcase, Adelante Studios, New York, USA The Archibald Prize, The Art Gallery of NSW, Touring The Sulman Prize, The Art Gallery of NSW In Bloom, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale VIC Cut, Paste, Create, Walker Street Gallery, Dandenong VIC
2013	The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Sydney, NSW The Archibald Prize, The Art Gallery of NSW, Touring
2012	The Fisher's Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre, NSW The John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC Melbourne Art Fair, Jan Murphy Gallery, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne, VIC Things that go bump in the night, Walker Street Gallery, Dandenong, VIC Narrative Spaces, Reverie Projects, Villa Alba Museum, Melbourne, VIC Fashioning Self, The University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane, QLD
2011	Esk Collection, Academy Gallery, School of Visual and Performing Arts, Launceston, TAS Summer Arts Soiree, American Australian Association, Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn, New York, USA The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of NSW, touring nationally
2010	Hold, Screen Space, Melbourne, VIC NOTFAIR, Satellite Art Fair curated by Sam Leach, Tony Lloyd and Ashley Crawford, Melbourne, VIC Kings x Kings, Kings ARI, Melbourne, VIC The City of Albany Art Prize, Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany, WA
2009	The University of Queensland National Artists' Self-Portrait Prize, Brisbane, QLD The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, State Library of NSW
2008	NEW Selected Recent Acquisitions, University of Queensland Art Museum, QLD Post Chrysalis, Sullivan and Strumpf Fine Art, Sydney, NSW Neo Goth Back in Black, University of Queensland Art Museum, QLD
2007	Introducing Kirra Jamison, Rhys Lee, Sarah Ryan, Heidi Yardley, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane QLD What Lies Beneath, Upstairs Flinders, Melbourne, VIC Exploration 7, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
2006	Small Works, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2005	MLC Acquisitive Art Exhibition, MLC, Kew, VIC Chiaroscuro, Goya Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
2004	Fantastic and Visionary Art, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat, VIC Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship Finalists' Exhibition, Brett Whiteley Studio, Sydney, NSW Neoteric Atmosphere, The Foundry, Melbourne, VIC MLC Acquisitive Art Exhibition, MLC, Kew, VIC
2002	Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship Finalists' Exhibition, Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills, NSW
2001	A Charcoal Sea II, Goya Galleries, Melbourne, VIC Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney NSW The Land of Milk and Honey, Emerging Victorian Artists, Adelaide Central Gallery, SA
2000	The Hutchins School Art Prize, The Long Gallery, TAS Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship Finalists Exhibition, Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills, NSW MLC Acquisitive Art Exhibition, MLC, Kew, VIC Invention, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Gippsland, VIC

Awards | Residencies

	2020	Finalist, The Paul Guest Prize, VIC Finalist, The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery National Works on Paper Prize, VIC Finalist, The Percival Portrait Painting Prize, QLD
	2019	Finalist, The Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, NSW
	2018	Finalist, The Glover Prize, TAS
	2017	Finalist, Eutick Memorial Still Life Award
	2016	Finalist The Kilgour Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW Finalist, The Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW Finalist, The Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
	2014	Artist in residence Point B Artist Worklodge, New York, USA Recipient The Ian Potter Cultural Trust Finalist The Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW Finalist The Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
	2013	Finalist The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, NSW Finalist The Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
	2012	Winner Best Gippsland work, John Leslie Art Prize VIC Finalist The Fisher's Ghost Art Award NSW
	2011	Artist in Residence, Point B Artist Worklodge, New York, USA Recipient, Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant Recipient, The Dame Joan Sutherland Award Finalist The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, NSW
	2010	Finalist The City of Albany Art Prize, WA
	2009	Finalist National Artists Self Portrait Prize, QLD Finalist The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
	2004	Finalist Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, NSW
	2002	Finalist Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship, NSW
	2001	Finalist Mosman Art Prize, NSW
	2000	Finalist The Hutchins School Art Prize, TAS Finalist Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship
	1999	Recipient Pat Corrigan Artist Grant
	1997	Finalist Nillumbik Art Award, VIC Winner St Leonards College Art Prize, VIC
	1996-2000	Artist in Residence, Roar Studios, VIC

Selected Publications

Elli Walsh, Feature Article, Artist Profile Magazine, Issue 47, May 2019, p116-121
Phil Brown, Catch her drift, The Brisbane Times, August, 2018
Carrie McCarthy, The Sinking Belle, Art Almanac, August 2017, p40-42
Ashley Crawford, Heidi Yardley's Cadavre Exquis, The Article, November 10, 2016
Simon Gregg, Hindsight-Gippsland Art Gallery History and Collections 1965-2015 2015 pp 224-225
Sylvia Lopez, Architectural Digest Magazine Spain, online article, Feb 29th 2016
John McDonald, Small Wonders, The Sydney Morning Herald, July 19 2014 p16
Real Living Feature article, Artist in residence, August 2014 pp 100-107
ABC TV, Hannah Gadsby's OZ, Series 1, Ep 2, March 18, 2014
Phil Brown, Serene Dreams, The Brisbane Times, October 16, 2013 p27
Ashley Crawford, Go figure: human side comes back to life, The Australian Financial Review, July 11 2013, p15
2013 Archibald Prize, Ex.Cat, AGNSW, p37
John McDonald, In our own image, The Sydney Morning Herald, March 23-24 2013, pp12-13
Ashley Crawford, The Art of the Parties, Vault magazine, Issue 2, 2012, p44
Simon Gregg, The Lure of the Land, Ex.Cat, The 2012 John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery
Melbourne Art Fair, Ex.Cat, Melbourne Art Fair Foundation, 2012
Ashley Crawford, 50 of Australia's Most Collectable Artists, Australian Art Collector, Issue 55, 2011, pp198-199
NEWv2, Selected recent acquisitions 2009-2011, UQ Art Museum Catalogue, 2011, p45
Esk Collection Catalogue, Launceston Tasmania, 2011, p47
Subject Matters, Belle Magazine, September 2011, p7
The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Ex.Cat, State Library of NSW, 2011
NOTFAIR, Ex.Cat, 2010
Alison Kubler, Little Whispers in the Dark, The Courier Mail, July 31 2010
Simone Hine, Hold Ex.Cat, Screen Space, 2010
Louise Martin-Chew, Fresh Views in the Face of thew Mirror, The Australian, December 11 2009
Tonya Turner, Mirror Mirror, The Courier Mail, 2009, pp14-15
Ashley Crawford, Feature Article Eyeline Magazine, Issue 68 pp33-35, 2009
Ashley Crawford, Gothic Candour: 'I am the coffin that will not be silent', Art Monthly, December 2008 - February 2009, pp45-47
NEW, Selected recent acquisitions, UQ Museum catalogue, pp106-107
Louise Martin-Chew, Neo-Goth Shadow Looms Large, Ex.Cat, Neo-Goth: Back in Black, UQ Museum, 2008, pp20-23
Ashley Crawford, The Goth Within, Ex.Cat Neo-Goth: Back in Black, UQ Museum, 2008
Scene, Vogue Australia, August 2008, p68
Ampersand Magazine, Edition Zero, Summer 2008, pp59 - 64
Charly Ogilvie, Danger that lies Beneath, The Canberra Times, May 18 2007, p8
Helen Musa, Harsh Light Inspires Dark Themes, The Canberra Times, April 29 2007, p24
Off the Wall, Belle Magazine, August 2006, p183
Robert Nelson, Talent Emerges, Not Necessarily on Cue, The Age, October 27 2000
Jeff Makin, Critic's Choice, The Herald Sun, October 17, 2000

Acquisitions

Artbank
Australia Felix Foundation
Ballarat Fine Art Gallery
BHP Billiton Collection
Esk Collection Tasmania
Gippsland Art Gallery
Methodist Ladies' College Collection
RACV Melbourne
St Leonard's College
University of Queensland Art Museum
Private Collections in Australia and overseas

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