Heidi Holmes’ practice begins with symptoms that develop within a body and then exist outside the body as material. These symptom-materials form site-specific installations encompassing reconstruction, sculpture, and atmosphere and reference domestic decoration, medicine, bodily functions, ageing and feminist theory. Currently, the symptom-materials in these works reflect the conditions of Menopause, inclusive of Post-Menopause, Perimenopause and hormone-withdrawal Menopause. Formerly, these symptom-materials were determined by the annals of failed fertility and childlessness. Recent works and exhibitions have explored the relentless cycle and management of bodily discharges, the violent ascension of a hot flush and an alchemic reproduction of insomnia with artworks revealed through rotating, dawn-like lighting and pervasive shards of light inspired by curtain cracks.
Australian visual artist Heidi Holmes holds an MFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design (Vancouver, CA) and a BFA (Honours) from the VCA at the University of Melbourne (AU). Holmes has exhibited her work in numerous solo exhibitions and group exhibitions including YYZ Artist Outlet (CA), Yard Space Gallery (CA), Libby Leshhold Gallery (CA), Spring 1883 (AU), Root Division (US), Margaret Lawrence Gallery (AU), TCB Art Inc (AU), West Space (AU), Bus Projects (AU) and worked with curator Raimundas Malasakis on his project, On Campus (AU). Recent accomplishments include securing a scholarship to join The Power Plant's Emerging Artist Collective (CA) and a full scholarship to attend the European Cultural Academy’s Contemporary Art Course (Venice, IT). Interviews and writing about Holmes’ practice have been published in Un Magazine (AU), The Wheeler Centre (AU), and in 2021, Holmes’ work, I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar as I Push out this Science Baby (2016) was the impetus for Angela Balzano’s book, To Do Away with Family, From Abortion to post-human Relationships, published by Meltemi Press, (IT).
heidi-holmes@hotmail.com
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CURRICULUM VITAE
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SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Witching Hour, YYZ Artist Outlet, Toronto, CA, 2024
In this body of work, the symptoms of Menopause become material, MFA Thesis Exhibition, MOEC, ECUAD, Vancouver, CA, 2022
Being in a Body in the Body, SOP, MOEC, ECUAD, Vancouver, CA, 2021
Somewhere between there and then, I am here, TCB Gallery, Melbourne, AU, 2017
(I’m pretty sure) There will be no Science Baby, West Space, Melbourne, AU, 2016
Control yourself (even if you feel dead inside, hurt and barren), KINGS Artist-Run, Melbourne, AU, 2016
I am woman, hear me roar as I push out this Science Baby, BUS Projects, Melbourne, AU, 2015
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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
The Show, Libby Leshgold Gallery, ECUAD, Vancouver, CA, 2022
Sub-Practice, Collaboration with Sidi Chen, Yard Space Gallery, Vancouver, CA, 2022
In-Bloom, Project Room - SPRING 1883, Melbourne, AU, Curated by Jeremy Eaton and Made Spencer-Castle, 2018
15 Year Anniversary Donor Dinner, Root Division Offsite, Ed Frank & Sarah Ratchye Collection, San Francisco, USA, 2018
INTRODUCTIONS 2017, Root Division, San Francisco, USA, 2017
9 x 5, 150 Years, Margaret Lawrence Gallery, Melbourne AU, curated by Elizabeth Gower, 2017
On Campus, MUMA and Monash, Melbourne AU, curated by Raimundas Malasauskas, 2017
I always read by listening to the text, PLATFORM Gallery, Melbourne AU, curated by Martina Copley, 2014
The sketches of rain, Melbourne Art Fair, Aesop Collins St, Melbourne AU, curated by Theodore Wohong, 2014
Bloodflowers, SEVENTH Gallery, Melbourne AU, curated by Theodore Wohong, 2014
Backflip: Feminism and Humour in Contemporary Art (Video Lounge), Margaret Lawrence Gallery, Melbourne AU, Curated by Laura Castagnini and Vikki McInnes, 2013
Grid Show Articulations, George Paton Gallery, Melbourne AU, curated by Sandra Bridie and Craig Burgess, 2012
Common Room, Rear View Gallery, Melbourne AU, Curated by Isabelle Sully, 2012
PROJECT 12: This is not a love song, Anna Pappas Gallery, Melbourne AU, curated by Anna Pappas and Laura Castagnini, 2012
Containment Structure, No No Gallery, Melbourne AU, curated by Roger Nelson, 2012
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SELECTED REVIEWS, EXHIBITION AND PUBLISHED TEXTS
Featured Artist - Katie Lawson, Is it morning yet? Accompanying text to Witching Hour at YYZ Artist Outlet, 2024
Featured Artist - Angela Balzano, To do away with the family, From abortion to post-human relationships, Meltemi Press, 2021
Featured Artist - Tiarney Miekus, ART and art (where the first is assisted reproductive technologies and the second follows from the first), UN Magazine 11.1, April 2017
Featured Artist - Angela Savage, Works of ART: on creativity, infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology, The Wheeler Centre, July 25 2016
Featured Artist - Daniel Stephen Miller, Happy Hour, Un Magazine 6.2, 2012
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EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, CA, Class of 2022
Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting), (Hons), Victorian College of the Arts at The University of Melbourne, AU, 2010-2013
Advanced Diploma of Arts (Visual Arts), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (TAFE), Melbourne, AU, 2009-2010
Advanced Diploma of Advertising, Swinburne University (TAFE), Melbourne, AU, 2002-2003
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SELECTED WRITING BY HEIDI HOLMES
These words, in All We Want it More: The Tobias Wong Project. V.Gosselin (Ed)Tobias Wong Exhibition Catalogue Text, Museum of Vancouver, CA, 2023
How does a Menopausal body navigate a phallocentric world? (Menopause is the penultimate death in the many deaths of the female body), ECUAD Thesis Repository, 2022
The (w)hole is greater than the sum of its parts: A vagina responds to the artwork, ‘Unbecoming a Body’, A review of artwork by Heidi Holmes, 2021
BARBARA, I need to talk to you, Journal 1.0, ECUAD, MFA, Publication and website, Vancouver, CA, 2020
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SELECTED CURATORIAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMING
Missing and Longing, LON Gallery, Richmond, VIC, AU, 2025
Curator and Founder, Yard Space Gallery, Vancouver, CA, 2021
We’ve been here before, Charles Morrison, Wings Gallery (Online), IL, US, 2020
Truths, An exhibition of work by emerging artists in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic and BLM movement, Wings Gallery (Online), IL, US, 2020
A Political Language, A video and research project from the Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA) archives featuring artists: Nick Cave, Amanda Williams, Faheem Majeed, Theaster Gates and Hironaka and Suib, Wings Gallery, IL, US, 2020
Groundbreaking, A tribute to Cleve Carney on the occasion of the gallery becoming a museum, Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA). With works from the COD collection: Carla Arocha, Sanford Biggers, Adam Brooks, Stephanie Brooks, Chris Garofalo, Rimma and Valeriy Gerlovina, Jo Hormuth, Jenny Holzer, Rashid Johnson, Jeff Koons, Laura Letinksy, Maya Lin, Mori Mariko, Jim Nutt, Luis Gonzalez Palma, Karen Reimer, Richard Rezac, David Shrigley, Hollis Sigler, Anne Wilson, Scott Wolniak, 2019
Member of Root Division Curatorial Committee, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2017
Performance, A night of performances and performances by SEVENTH alumni, Georgia Anson, Matthew Berka, Nicholas Chilvers, Aurelia Guo, Hernan Lopera, Jacqui Shelton, Lauren McCartney, Zac St Clair, WETKISS, Kalinda Vary, SEVENTH Gallery, Melbourne, AU, 2015
Curation, Programming, Curatorial Mentor, SEVENTH Gallery, Melbourne, AU, 2014 - 2016
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PRIZES, GRANTS, RESIDENCIES, COMMISSIONS
Winner, Full Art Scholarship, European Cultural Academy, Venice, Italy, 2023
Member of RBC Emerging Artist Network at The Power Plant, Toronto, CA, 2022
Yau Family Foundation Scholarship Fund Recipient, Vancouver, CA, 2021
Studio Artist at Root Division, San Francisco, USA, 2017
Artist in Residence at Creative Spaces - River Studios, City of Melbourne, AU, 2013-2014
Shortlisted, Luminescence, Windsor Hotel, Melbourne, AU, 2013
Commission for Theodore Wohong, Collector Scent, 2012
Recipient of the University of Melbourne, Arts Union, New Work Grant, 2012
Winner, Toyota Undergraduate Award, juried by Anna Pappas and Ken Wong, 2011
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ARTS ADMINISTRATION
Gallery Assistant, LON Gallery, Richmond, Vic, AU
Graduate Representative on the Curriculum Planning and Review Committee, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, 2021
Teaching Assistant - Susan Stewart, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, CA, 2020
Gallery Assistant, Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA), Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA, 2018-2020
Member of Root Division Curatorial Committee, San Francisco, USA, 2017-2018
External assessment panel member of Arts Grants, City of Melbourne AU, 2016-2020
Melbourne Fringe Festival Visual Art Judge, Melbourne AU, 2016
Board member of SEVENTH Gallery, Melbourne AU, 2015-2016
Administration Assistant, West Space Gallery, Melbourne AU, 2014-2016
Artist Assistant to Francesco Finizio and to Curator Liang Luscombe, 2015
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Heidi Holmes’ work is held in several private and public collections.
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