ABOUT
A lens-based artist living in lutruwita/Tasmania, Kelly Marie Slater's practice explores environmental image making that goes beyond sentimental representations landscape. Instead, seeks to offer a personal interpretation of Place.
Kelly relocated to the Northwest of lutruwita in 2009 and began working as professional photographer across a range of areas. When her children headed off on their education and life adventures, Kelly embraced the opportunity to take her photographic practice in new directions. Exploring concepts as a lens-based artist, making images of the environment and her experiences while immersed in the topography of Tasmania.
Growing up in New Zealand in the 1980's her father introduced her to photography, later a science teacher showed her the inner workings of the darkroom. Using film cameras and analogue printing techniques as a teenager gave her a strong foundation in the capture of light. Her education has been self-directed, undertaking technical and creative training as time and family life has allowed.
Photography has become a fundamental part Kelly's life, looking through a lens and resolving ideas through photographs has become an important part of her identity and the management of underlying anxiety; a way to process the complex ideas and emotions the world presents.
Kelly is actively developing new skills, exploring moving images, projection technologies and book making. Her work considers the inevitable impacts humans have on the environment, both as individuals and societies while constructing lives on earth.
Kelly relocated to the Northwest of lutruwita in 2009 and began working as professional photographer across a range of areas. When her children headed off on their education and life adventures, Kelly embraced the opportunity to take her photographic practice in new directions. Exploring concepts as a lens-based artist, making images of the environment and her experiences while immersed in the topography of Tasmania.
Growing up in New Zealand in the 1980's her father introduced her to photography, later a science teacher showed her the inner workings of the darkroom. Using film cameras and analogue printing techniques as a teenager gave her a strong foundation in the capture of light. Her education has been self-directed, undertaking technical and creative training as time and family life has allowed.
Photography has become a fundamental part Kelly's life, looking through a lens and resolving ideas through photographs has become an important part of her identity and the management of underlying anxiety; a way to process the complex ideas and emotions the world presents.
Kelly is actively developing new skills, exploring moving images, projection technologies and book making. Her work considers the inevitable impacts humans have on the environment, both as individuals and societies while constructing lives on earth.
Artist CV
2023 |
Shortlist, Australian Photography Awards 2023 – Experimental, Online Finalist, Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize, Muswellbrook, NSW Group, Art for takayna, Hobart, TAS Solo, River Inception, Devonport Regional Gallery Foyer Space, TAS Solo, Collective Individuals, RANT Gallery Project Space, TAS Featured Artist, Lightwave Festival, Turrakana - Tasman Arts, TAS Group, A New Eye On Nature – Photography Exhibition, Hobart, TAS Supporting Photographer: Portrait23: Identity, Julie Gough Country Waits, National Portrait Gallery, ACT |
2022 |
Group, Art for takayna, Hobart, TAS Group, Gaia Rvealed, Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery, TAS Finalist, Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize, Minto, NSW Finalist, Bay of Fires Art Prize, St Helens, TAS Group, Photons Salon, Moonah Arts Centre, TAS Group, The #everydayclimatecrisis Visual Petition, Climarte Gallery, Richmond, VIC Featured Artist, Lightwave Festival, Turrakana - Tasman Arts, TAS Finalist, Henry Jones Art Prize, Hobart,TAS |
2021 |
Tidal.20 Public Program, This River, Site specific installation Devonport, TAS Solo, This River: Inception, Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery, TAS Finalist, Women’s Art Prize Tasmania, Launceston, TAS Finalist, Bay of Fires Art prize, St Helens, TAS Supporting Artist, Constrained-Reclaimed, Devonport Regional Gallery, TAS Group, takayna a Journey, Hobart, TAS Open Program Exhibitor, Ballart International Foto Biennale, VIC |
2020 |
Group, Frontlines, Hobart, TAS Collaborative Group, Tarkine In Motion, Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery, TAS Finalist, Women’s Art Prize Tasmania, Maker’s Space, TAS Head On Photo Festival (Online & Physical), Associate Exhibitor; 107 Projects, Redfern, NSW Loud and Luminous-Equality Exhibition & Publication, Contact Sheet, St Leonards, NSW Finalist, Percival Photographic Portrait Prize, Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville, QLD Group, Pause Button, Art Aviso Event 4.0, Kyneton, VIC |
2019 |
Solo, Unplaced, Sawtooth ARI, Middle Gallery, Launceston, TAS Solo, Residence: pinmatik/Rocky Cape, Artscape Wynyard, TAS Group, Minds Do Matter, Queen Victoria Museum, Inveresk, TAS Group, Tarkine In Motion, Hobart, TAS Group, Traces IV, Belconnen Arts Centre, Canberra, ACT Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, VIC Head On Photography Festival, Associate Exhibitor; Scratch Art Space, Marrickville, NSW Finalist - Curators Award, Bay of Fires Art prize, Joint entry with Dave Mangenner Gough, St Helens, TAS |
2018 |
Solo, Marks that make the place: Mersey Bluff. Little Gallery, Devonport Regional Gallery, TAS Group, XX. Nolan Art Gallery & School, Salamanca Arts Centre, TAS Group, Tarkine In Motion, Hobart, TAS Salon, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, VIC Winner, Undercurrent Emerging Artist Competition, Artscape Wynyard, TAS Highly commended, Bay of Fires Art prize, Joint entry with Dave Mangenner Gough, St Helens, TAS Finalist, Percival Photographic Portrait Prize, Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville, QLD |
Publications
2023 |
Author, Watermarked: This is the story of a River. ISNB 978-0-6456780-0-0 Contributing Photographer, taypani milaythina-tu: ReturnTo Country. Tasmanian Museum Art Gallery ISNB 978-0-9750545-5-0 Contributing Photographer, Portrait23: Identity. National Portrait Gallery ISBN 978-0-9953975-6-9 |
2019 |
Contributing Photographer, Feeding the Resistance. Lisa Searle and Bob Brown Foundation ISBN 978-0-6483644-3-6 |
Brief Biography
2023 2021 2020 2019 |
Photographer in Residence, Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Vale of Belvoir, TAS Situate North, Artist Development Program, TAS Introduction to Film & Video, TasTAFE, TAS Mount Gnomon Farm, Artist in Residence, Penguin, TAS Masterclass in Projection Art, Centre for Projection Art, Melbourne, VIC |
2019 - 2023 |
Exhibition Officer/Gallery Technician, Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport, TAS |
2018 |
Arts Tasmania Dombrovskis Parks and Wildlife, Artist In Residence, Rocky Cape National Park, TAS |
2017-2020 2017- 2023 |
Volunteer Photographer: Bass Strait Maritime Centre; Devonport, Tiagarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place; Devonport. Volunteer & Contract Photographer , Bob Brown Foundation; Tarkine Campaign |
2017 |
Certificate III In Laboratory Skills, TasTafe, Alanvale, TAS |
2012-2013 |
Undergraduate studies: BSc, University of Tasmania, Hobart and Launceston, TAS |
2012- Present |
Contract Event Photographer, Northwest Tasmania |
2012-Present |
Volunteer Photographer, Home Hill National Trust Property, Devonport, Tasmania |
2011 |
Granted Australian Citizenship |
2010-2012 |
Press Photographer, Fairfax Regional Newspaper; The Advocate, Northwest Tasmania |
2010 |
Certificate IV in Photoimaging, Tasmanian Polytechnic, Devonport, TAS |
2002 |
Student Artist in Residence: KCGM, Mt Charlotte Underground Mine, Kalgoorlie, WA |
2001-2002 |
Certificate III in Art Craft Practice (Photography), Curtin University of Technology, Kalgoorlie,WA |
1995 |
Certificate of Foundation Studies in the Visual Arts, Christchurch, NZ |
1977 |
Born: Nelson, New Zealand |