CV

NICI CUMPSTON 

 

Nici Cumpston’s gentle, quietly spoken demeanour belies a fierce and resolute passion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the development and recognition of their artistic practice.  Born in Adelaide in 1963, Nici Cumpston, who is of Afghan, English, Irish and Barkandji Aboriginal heritage, is a descendant of the Darling River people of north western, New South Wales.

 

Nici is simultaneously an artist, a curator, a writer, an educator and a builder of relationships.

 

Having studied fine arts, specialising in Photography at the University of South Australia, Nici has worked as a photographic lecturer at Tauondi Aboriginal Community College, Port Adelaide, as well as at the University of South Australia. She wrote and delivered the inaugural course Indigenous Art, Culture and Design at the South Australian School of Art before commencing as the first Indigenous Curator at the Art Gallery of South Australia in 2008.

 

She curated and co-wrote the publication for the major exhibition Desert Country held at the Art Gallery of South Australia in 2010, which then toured nationally from 2011 - 2013. In collaboration with Project Curator, Lisa Slade they curated the major exhibition HEARTLAND Contemporary Art from South Australia in 2013. She is currently the Artistic Director of Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art as well as Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art. 

 

Nici has also been exhibiting her works of art since 1998 and in that time has been invited to participate in many prestigious awards, commissions, group and solo exhibitions. Her work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia Canberra, National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne, Parliament House Collection Canberra, Macquarie Group Collection Sydney, Artbank Melbourne, Flinders University Art Collection Adelaide, the Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation Adelaide and the Adelaide Club Adelaide among many others. She has been commissioned to create signature works of art for public buildings in Adelaide including the Commonwealth Law Courts and the South Australian Department of Health.

 

In 2014 she was artist-in-residence, as well as exhibiting works from the series, having-been-there at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Virginia USA. A solo exhibition with works from having-been-there and the Attesting series was held at Harvey Art Projects, Ketchum, Idaho. Nici’s works were included in the international touring exhibition Wall Power: Contemporary Australian Photography curated by Michael Reid Gallery and shown in Cologne, Berlin, London and Paris in 2017 – 2018. In 2018 she travelled to Berlin to present her work in the prestigious exhibition Indigenous Australia: Masterworks from the National Gallery of Australia at me Collectors Room, Berlin and the solo exhibition Calling in at Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin.

 

 

 

Education

 

2004                              Bachelor of Visual Arts, (Honours) Photography, University of South Australia

 

Employment

 

 

2016 - current                Curator Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, Art Gallery of South Australia

 

2013 - current                Artistic Director Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art, Art Gallery of South Australia

  

2008 – 2013                   Associate Curator Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Art, Art Gallery of South Australia

 

2006 – 2008                  Course Coordinator Indigenous Arts, Culture and Design, Lecturer Photography SA School of Art, University of South Australia

 

1996 – 2006                  Art Department Coordinator, Lecturer - Photography, Tauondi, Aboriginal Community College 

 

 

Board and Committee Appointments

 

 

2016 – current               Art Advisory Committee, South Australian Parliament House

 

2016 – 2017                  Board Member, Australian Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide

 

2009 – 2012                  Board Member, Tandanya, National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide

                                     

2007 – 2010                  National Indigenous Arts Reference Group, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board, Australia Council for the Arts

                                 

2004 – 2010                  Panel Member Selection Committee, Art in Public Places, Arts SA

 

                               

International Exchanges

 

 

2017 – 2019                  Tri-Nations Curatorial Exchange, Australia Council for the Arts, Creative New Zealand, Canada Council for the Arts

 

2018                             Australia Council for the Arts, First Nations Exchange to the USA

 

2016                             South Australian Public Service Exchange to China

 

 

Selected Exhibitions

 

 

2022                             52 Artists 52 Actions, Artspace Sydney and touring nationally 2022 - 2024

 

                                    DEKADE: 10 Years of Michael Reid Berlin 2012 – 2022, Michael Reid Gallery Berlin

 

                                    Here/EverPresent, solo exhibition, Broken Hill City Art Gallery & Michael Reid Gallery Berlin – online

 

                                    Beating About The Bush, Ballarat Art Gallery

 

                                    Naadohbii: To Draw Water, Melbourne Museum

 

                                    Return to Nature, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne

 

                                    The Alice Prize, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs

 

2021                             Naadohbii: To Draw Water, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Manitoba, Canada

 

                                    William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne

 

2020                             William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne

 

                                    Rite of Passage, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane

 

2019 - 2020                  Tree Story, Monash University Museum of Art, MUMA, Victoria

 

2019                            River on the Brink: inside the Murray Darling Basin, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney

 

                                   36th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

 

2018                            Calling In, solo exhibition, Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin

 

2017 - 2018                  Indigenous Australia: Masterworks from the National Gallery of Australia, me Collectors Room, Berlin, Germany

 

2017 - 2019                  Wall Power: Contemporary Australian Photography, by Michael Reid Gallery - Cologne, Berlin, London and Paris

 

2017                             Salon des Refuses, Charles Darwin University, Darwin

 

                                    Resolution: new Indigenous photomedia, National Gallery of Australia, national tour

 

2016 - 2017                   Troubled Waters, UNSW Galleries, Sydney, Samstag Art Museum, Adelaide

 

2016                             Black White & Restive, Newcastle Region Art Gallery

 

                                    33rd National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

 

2015                             Colour my world: hand coloured Australian photography, National Gallery of Australia

 

                                     Wall Power, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney

 

2014                              Same River Twice, Australian Experimental Art Foundation/Murray Bridge Regional Gallery     

                        

                                     31st National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

 

                                     William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne

 

                                     Having-been-there, Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia USA

 

                                     Having-been-there and Attesting, selected works, Harvey Art Projects, Sun Valley, Idaho USA

           

2013                              Australia,  curated by National Gallery of Australia, Royal Academy of Arts, London

 

                                     30th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

                                      

2012                              Making change, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, COFA Gallery & Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney

                                   

                                     Build Me A City, Australian Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide

 

                                     unDisclosed National Indigenous Art Triennial, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra national tour 2013

 

                                     29th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the NT

 

2011                               having-been-there, solo exhibition, Gallerysmith, Melbourne

 

2010                              Stormy Weather: Contemporary Australian Photography, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

 

                                      In the Balance – Art for a Changing World, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

 

                                      The Challenged Landscape, University of Technology, Sydney

 

                                      The Alice Prize, Araluen Art Centre, Alice Springs, Northern Territory

 

2009                               Attesting – Nici Cumpston, solo exhibition, Gallerysmith, Melbourne

 

2008                               Shards with Judy Watson, Yhonnie Scarce & Nici Cumpston, SA School of Art Gallery, University of South Australia

 

                                      25th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

 

                                      The Haunted and the Bad, Linden Gallery of Contemporary Art, St Kilda

 

                                      Uneasy: Recent South Australian Art, Samstag Art Museum, University of SA

 

2007                               24th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

 

                                       Hobart City Art Prize, Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart

 

                                       River Murray Art Prize, ‘The Culture of the River Murray’, People’s Choice Award, Waikerie Institute

 

2006                               Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Artist Award, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane

 

2006- 2008                     The Murray Cod: much more than just the biggest fish in the River, National Tour NETS Victoria, Melbourne Museum

 

2004 – 2005                    Holy Holy Holy, Flinders University Art Museum, Adelaide Festival of Arts 2004, National Tour 2004 – 2005

 

2004                               21st National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

 

2003                               20th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin National Tour 2004

 

2002                               Reflections, Tandanya, National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 

 

                                      Indigenous Australians: 1873–2001, Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C., Kluge-Ruhe-University of Virginia, USA

                 

2001                               18th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

 

2000                               Nakkondi / Look Adelaide Festival of the Arts, 8th Pacific Festival of Arts, Bernnheim Library – Noumea, New Caledonia

 

                                      17th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin

 

 

Curated Exhibitions

 

 

2022                              Kungka Kunpu Strong Women, curated with Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) touring nationally 2022 – 2024

 

                                     Naomi Hobson: Adolescent Wonderland partnership with Country Arts SA, touring regional South Australia 2022 - 2024

 

2021                              Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, AGSA and thirty partner exhibitions

 

2020                              Open Hands, Tarnanthi at AGSA

 

2019                              Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, AGSA and thirty-two partner exhibitions

 

2018                               I am the Old and the New: John Mawurndjul co-curated Maningrida Arts and Culture, John Mawurndjul, AGSA and MCA

 

2017                              Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, AGSA and twenty partner exhibitions

 

2015                              Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, AGSA and twenty-two partner exhibitions

 

                                     Yvonne Koolmatrie: Riverland co-curated with Hetti Perkins, Jonathan Jones and Genevieve O’Callaghan

 

2013                              HEARTLAND: Contemporary Art from South Australia curated with Lisa Slade

 

2010                              Desert Country AGSA toured nationally 2011 - 2013

 

Awards and Prizes

 

 

2020                              OAM, Honours for services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts

 

2019                              Stephen Gadlabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award, Ruby Awards, Arts South Australia, recognising outstanding achievement by an Aboriginal                                         and Torres Strait Islander person working in any area of the arts

 

                                     Finalist 36th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin

 

2014                              Work on Paper Award, 31st National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum and Art Gallery NT

 

2013                              South Australian Premier’s NAIDOC Award

 

2007                              River Murray Art Prize – The Culture of the River Murray, People’s Choice Art Award

 

 

Commissions

 

 

2021                              SkyCity Adelaide – Commission to design and create site specific works of art

 

2013                              Shepparton Art Museum, Friends of SAM, Shepparton, Victoria Commission to design and create site-specific works of art

 

2007                              Department of Health, Citi Centre Foyer, Government of SA, Commission to design and create site-specific works of art

 

2005                              Commonwealth Law Courts Foyer, Adelaide, Commission to design and create site-specific works of art

 

2002                              Weaving The Murray, Centenary of Federation collaborative weaving project: Kay Lawrence, Rhonda Agius, Chrissie Houston, Karen                                                    Russell, Kirsty Darlaston, Sandy Elverd and Nici Cumpston AGSA and then regional tour Country Arts SA

 

1999                              Black Diamond Public Art Commission, Tauondi College Art department staff and students

 

 

Artist-in-Residence

 

 

2016                              Aboriginal Print Workshop and Curatorial Workshop, Cicada Press UNSW Art & Design, Sydney

 

2014                              Artist-In-Residence, Australia Council/Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum, University of Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

 

2011                              Artist-In-Residence, Fowler’s Gap Research Station, College of Fine Art, University of New South Wales

 

2005                              Emerging Artists Residency, Bundanon, Shoalhaven Bay, NSW

 

2002                              Kate Breakey returning Artist Residency, Menteeship with Helpmann Academy

 

 

Collections

 

 

National Gallery of Australia

National Gallery of Victoria

Parliament House Collection Canberra

 

Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne

Shepparton Art Museum

The Art Gallery of Ballarat

City of Whittlesea Victoria

Mildura Art Centre

 

Artbank Collection Sydney

Gilbert + Tobin Collection of Indigenous Australian Art Sydney

Macquarie Bank Collection Sydney

University of New South Wales

University of Technology Sydney

 

University of Queensland Art Museum Brisbane

 

Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire USA

Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia USA

 

Flinders University Museum of Art, Adelaide

Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation

The Adelaide Club

Commonwealth Law Courts, Adelaide

Department of Health, Government of SA

Mortlock Collection, State Library of South Australia

Wilderness School Adelaide