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