Michele Elliot is a visual artist, educator and occasional writer living and working on Wodi Wodi Country. Her practice spans textiles, sculpture, installation and drawing. Michele’s artworks are material explorations in relation to human connectivity, mapping and memory. She has exhibited across Australia, in India and in Singapore. Her recent solo exhibition, what is held, is here, was presented at Wollongong Art Gallery in 2024.
Michele is currently guest artist for the Cruthers Collection of Women’s Art and making artworks in response to a selection of works from CCWA. HELD: on care and collections opens Friday 31 July and runs until 19 September, at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, Perth.
She holds textile workshops and community projects in the Illawarra, in regional NSW and interstate. These have included Tender Funerals Illawarra’s Sewing Circle as part of their After Care Program, Stitch it for Dementia with carers of people living with dementia, a project about the lived experience of palliative care with families and health workers and an artist residency at UNSW Library as part of the exhibition, Care is a Relationship, in 2024. She currently facilitates a stitching group for the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre.
Her artwork is held in public collections including Wollongong Art Gallery, Artbank, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Cruthers Collection of Women’s Art, the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery at UWA and UNSW Library.
2004-07 | Masters of Fine Art by Research, Monash University, Melbourne |
1994-95 | Graduate Diploma, Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney |
1985-87 | Diploma of Fine Art, Claremont School of Art, Western Australia |
2023 | Artist-in-Residence, UNSW Library for the exhibition Care is a Relationship |
2022 | Australia Council for the Arts, Grant for Individual Art Projects (exhibition at Wollongong Art Gallery 2024) |
2021 | Artist-in-Residence, Textile Support online residency during February. |
2019 | Artist-in-Residence, The HIVE, an Arts Health research project through Black Dog Institute |
2017-20 | Artist-in-Residence, Tender Funerals, Port Kembla (2017-19 REALM project funded by Create NSW) |
2016 | Arts NSW Artist Support Grant |
2014-18 | Costume construction and design, John A Douglas Circles of Fire |
2014 | Artist-in-Residence, Fremantle Arts Centre, WA |
2013 | Australia Council Skills and Art Development Grant |
2009 | Australia Council New Work Grant (Established Artists) |
2009 | Artist-in-Residence, Khoj Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
2008 | Artist-in-Residence, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE, Perth |
1997 | Artist-in-Residence, School of Visual Arts, Edith Cowan University, Perth |
1991 | Artist-in-Residence, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE |
1990 | Artist-in-Residence, Edith Cowan University, Perth |
2024 | what is held, is here new work, Wollongong Art Gallery 1st June 25th August |
2018 | some kind of longing : textile works 1995-2018, Tamworth Regional Art Gallery : 15th Sept-28th Oct |
2016 | some kind of longing : textile works 1995-2015, Ararat Regional Art Gallery, Vic |
2014 | whitewash, Wollongong Art Gallery, NSW and Walker Street Gallery, Dandenong, Vic |
2011 | the vanishing, Faculty of Creative Arts Gallery, University of Wollongong Global Animal Conference Exhibition |
2010 | the vanishing, Atrium Gallery, Australian High Commission, Singapore |
2008 | surfacing, Linden Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne |
2007 | always between us, Span Galleries, Melbourne |
1997 | new drawings, SEA Gallery, WAAPA at Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA |
1990 | Scar Char Chair, Installation at Wellington St, West Perth |
2024 | Bowness Photography Prize, Museum of Australian Photography, Melbourne (upcoming September) |
2023 | is a Relationship, UNSW Library with Sphere in the Know |
2022 | SECOND Look: remade and refashioned textiles, Barometer Gallery, Paddington and Tamworth Regional Gallery pa l i n d r o m e , (David Roach, Lizzie Buckmaster Dove, Melinda Young, Michele Elliot, Mignon Steel), Clifton School of Arts |
2021 | SECOND Look: Handmade Textiles, Barometer Gallery, Paddington |
2020 | The Long Kiss Goodbye, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of WA: a Festival of Perth exhibition |
2019 | STILL: National Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery (September) |
2018 | Making : memory Rox de Luca, Michele Elliot, Laurie Paine, Articulate Upstairs, Leichhardt NSW |
2016 | Animaladies, Interlude Gallery, Glebe |
2015 | Notes for a Future Feminist Archive, Affiliated Text/Cross Arts Books, Potts Point |
2014 | Horizon: Exploring the West Coast with the Clipperton Project, Fremantle Arts Centre |
2013 | Burqas Veils and Hoodies : identity and representation, Walker Street Gallery, Dandenong, VIC |
2012 | Kindness : Udarta (celebrating 20 years of Australia-India Council Cultural Exchange program) Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India and RMIT Gallery, Melbourne |
2011 | Sensorial Loop : Tamworth Textile Triennial, Tamworth Regional Gallery (touring 2011 2013) |
2010 | Stains on my Chintz : Archana Hande, Joscelyn Gardener, Lavanya Mani, Michele Elliot and Paula Sengupta (curator), The Harrington Street Arts Centre, Kolkata, India |
2007 | an edge meets an edge, Spectrum Gallery, Northbridge, WA |
2006 | Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, NSW |
2005 | ‘Veneer’ Poimena Art Prize, Launceston, Tasmania |
2003 | 20th Century Women Artists, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, UWA |
1998 | Gotham Times Ten – A survey of ten years of Gotham Studios, PICA, WA |
1996 | The Pathology of Home, The Performance Space, Redfern; Linden Gallery, St Kilda |
1995 | Precious (BVA Honours & Graduate Diploma Graduating Exhibition), Sydney College of the Arts, NSW |
1993 | Perspecta, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney |
1992 | Feminisms : 27 Women Artists, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA |
1991 | A Backward Glance : A Survey of WA Sculpture from the mid 60's to the 90's, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA |
1990 | The Arsonists, Galerie Constantinople, Queanbeyan NSW |
1989 | Desire, The Jam Factory, Adelaide Fringe Festival |
1988 | A New A Gender, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA |
1993-94 | Percent for Art Scheme, WA Department for the Arts: Lakelands High School Public Art Project in collaboration with Penny Ralph Design and construction of amphitheatre and slate mosaic |
1993 | Poster workshops for Social Justice Commission Weekend Forum for the Pilbara, Karratha |
1993 | Visual Artist, Red Desert Theatre in Northbridge Derelict Angels |
1992 | Artist-in-Residence, Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre |
1992 | Postcards from the Pilbara Project A Series of Workshops and production of postcards held in Karratha, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Roebourne for women living in isolated communities |
1991 | Visual Artist (Costumes) Ariadne's Understudies, written by Marion Campbell, directed by Noelle Janasczewska, PICA |
1991 | Banner for the State School Teachers Union of WA in collaboration with Sarah McNamara |
1991 | Graffiti Mural Project, Bassendean Youth Centre |
1990 | Poster Design 6UVSFM (University of WA) programme Burning Down the House |
1990 | Postcard Design for Mt Leseur Campaign with Sarah McNamara and Pam Kleemann |
1989 | Mural for Save the Children Fund, Out of School Care Centre, Midvale |
2024 | the confidantes, a self-published artist book: photographs of the artworks with contributions from twenty two writers. |
2021 | Tender Cloths, garland magazine, Issue 23 🌸 Regeneration: A Partnership between past and future June 21 |
2018 | what is held, is here, Remembering ARTEMIS, Gemma Watson (ed), UWA Publishing, Perth out December. |
2017 | Scylla, bodies, water : Ships That Pass Catalogue essay; Jo Darbyshire and Penny Coss at Pakenham St Art Space, Fremantle, WA |
2012 | The Vanishing, Animal Studies Journal, 1(1), 2012, 45-52, 2012 |
2010 | thinking and making: a project in kolkata (excerpts from a blog) |
2009 | The Unicorn and other tales, Hair, Suzanne Boccalatte & Meredith Jones (eds), Trunk Publications, Boccalatte Press, Sydney |
2007 | always between us: boundaries, bodies and liminal space, Unpublished research paper, Masters of Fine Art, Monash University |
2006 | Living Edge catalogue essay for Gosia Wlodarczak, Gallery East, Fremantle, WA |
2005 | Ghost River Paintings, catalogue essay for Jo Darbyshire, Span Galleries, Melbourne & Gallery East, Fremantle |
1996 | Reading in the Dark catalogue essay for Da Dum, Anna Tow, Zitlip Gallery, Chippendale, NSW |
1995 | Confessions of a Female Fetishist, Unpublished research paper, Graduate Diploma, Sydney College of the Arts |
1993 | ‘Postcards from the Pilbara’ Fremantle Arts Review, Vol 8, No 2/3, Feb/Mar '93 |
1990 | Jacket Cover, Cleared Spaces, Clear Moments, Adriana Ellis, Fremantle Arts Centre Press |
1990 | Artist contribution to No Substitute, Anna Gibbs, Wendy Jenkins, Noel King and Terri Ann White (eds), Fremantle Arts Centre Press |
2024 | Millner, J., what is held, is here, catalogue essay for Wollongong Art Gallery see exhibition catalogue |
2018 | Judd, C., Then and Now : Making Memory, Artlink, November 2018 |
2016 | Camm, A. some kind of longing : textile works 1995-2014, Ararat Regional Art Gallery see exhibition catalogue |
2014 | Millner, J. whitewash, Wollongong Art Gallery catalogue essay |
2011 | Bolt, Dr. B., Heidegger Reframed, I.B. Tauris, London New York, 2011, pp 152-157 |
2010 | Sharma, Dr. V., ‘Colonial Tale Retold’, Art Concerns online journal, India April-May |
2010 | Das, S., ‘There is a story behind every pattern’, The Telegraph, Calcutta, India, 20.3.10 |
2008 | Nelson, R., The Age, 25.6.08 |
2007 | Bolt, B. Dr, always between us catalogue essay |
2003 | Quinn, S., 20th Century Women Artists, exhibition catalogue |
1996 | Millner, J. The Pathology of Home catalogue essay. |
1995 | Miller, N., The West Australian 9.3.95 |
1994 | Bromfield, D., The West Australian 8.10.94 |
1994 | Barrett, E., A View from the Other Side Five Women West Australian Artists, Artlink, Vol 14 No 1 Autumn 94, pp 54-6 |
1993 | Clark, D., catalogue essay for Perspecta |
1993 | Lim, A., The Australian, pg.15 24.9.93 |
1993 | Cochrane, P., Sydney Morning Herald 6.10.93 |
1993 | James, B., Weekend Australian 9-10.10.93 |
1993 | Fenner, F., Sydney Morning Herald 23.10.93 |
1993 | Allen, C., The Sydney Review, Nov 93 |
1993 | Lynn, V., Look AGNSW magazine, Oct 93 |
1993 | Souter, F., HQ Magazine, pg 18 Nov/Dec 93 |
1993 | State of the Art, Issue 7, Nov 93-Feb 94 |
1993 | Bromfield, D., A Golden Threat, Artlink, Vol 13 No 1 Autumn 93 pp 85-6 |
1993 | Pedersen, A., Contemporary Representations of Women and the Politics of Difference, Unpublished 4th Year Paper (Hons), Dept of Fine Arts, UWA |
1992 | Bromfield, D., Enunciations on Feminisms, The West Australian 7.11.92 |
1992 | Ewington, J, catalogue essay for Maria Cruz, Michele Elliot, Nicole Page-Smith, Lucia Tancredi |
1992 | Harpley, M., Feminisms catalogue |
1992 | Bolton, K., Contemplating Women, The Adelaide Advertiser, 29.4.92 |
1992 | Neylon, J., Cracking the Code, The Adelaide Review, May 92 |
1992 | Miller, N., Looking Forwards and Backwards, Fremantle Arts Review, Dec 91/Jan 92, Vol 6/7 No 12/1, pp 28-9 |
1992 | Barrett-Lennard, J., Sculpture Backward and Sideways Glance, Artlink Vol. 11 No 4, Summer 91/92 pp 104-6 |
2014-2019 | Short Course and Public Programs Lecturer, National Art School, Darlinghurst |
2013-16 | Sessional Academic Gateway program and Textiles Studio, UNSW Art and Design |
2012-13 | Tutor, Foundation Studies, Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong |
2011 | Visiting Lecturer Textiles, Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong |
1989-93 | Lecturer Sculpture/Drawing, School of Visual Arts, Curtin University, |
1992-93 | Drawing Lecturer, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE, Perth |
1990-91 | Tutor (part-time), Department of Fine Arts, University of WA |
Artbank; Art Gallery of Western Australia,
Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery,
UWA; Central Metropolitan College of TAFE,
Perth; Cruthers Collection of Women's Art,
Perth; Town of Albany, WA,
University of New South Wales Library, Sydney