ABOUT
image credit: Nic Duncan (Denmark WA)
Saira Ellen K. Spencer is a self-taught artist living and working from her home studio nestled amongst forested wetland, on Menang-Bibbulmun country in Western Australia's Great Southern region- one of the most biodiverse areas in the world.
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Formerly a professional tattoo artist, Saira has been pursuing a fine arts practice since mid 2020 after relocating from Perth to rural Western Australia.
Drawing inspiration from her new home, Saira makes abstract-surrealist works that combine biophilic textures with anthropomorphic forms to depict states of inner turmoil, transition and growth & decay cycles.
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Saira’s recent arts practice has been primarily concerned with how water and the physical environment interacts with medium.
Her work invites the viewer to consider the body as landscape; drawing parallels between phenomena of the natural sciences and of human experience, their interactions and their contradictions.
The intention of this practice is to examine our fraught relationship with the worlds around us whilst also celebrating the inherent beauty of Australia’s wilderness.
Saira’s professional background also extends to curation, cultural events, arts programming and mural work.
SAIRA ELLEN K. SPENCER - CURRICULUM VITAE
EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS
2024
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August
Moonlight- solo
Denmark Visitor Centre
Denmark- WA
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June
Do You See What I See (installation)
Strange Arts Festival
Perth CBD- WA
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June
Rockingham Art Prize
Rockingham Arts Centre
Rockingham- WA
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April
Living in Another World
Tyger Gallery (group exhibition)
Yass- NSW
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March
Soho Art Prize - finalist
Soho Studio Space
Sydney- NSW
2023
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16 October- 23 November
Moonlight- solo
Vancouver Art Centre
Albany- WA
Supported by City of Albany
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11 March-14 May
Lovely Creatures- group exhibition (curator, participating artist)
Painted Tree Gallery
Northcliffe- WA
Supported by Southern Forest Arts, Mycellium project
2022
8 - 25 July
G + B exhibition- group exhibition
Albany Maritime Festival, Albany- WA
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8 - 24 July
MEAN STREAK- solo
Pia Gaze Studio, Perth- WA
& Scotsdale Hall, Denmark- WA
2021
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June
Mothers- debut solo
Intoo Studios, Northbridge- WA
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April
Featured Emerging Artist
Butterfactory Studios, Denmark- WA
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February
BellyBusters- group exhibition
LevelUp Studios / Naval Store, Fremantle- WA
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Nov 2023 - Feb 2025
Programming, Venue & Publicity Coordinator Denmark Arts Council Inc.
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Jan - Oct 2023
Programs & Administration Officer Denmark Community Resource Centre
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Jul 2021-Dec 2022
Events Coordinator Denmark Community Resource Centre
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MEDIA
August 2024 ABC Radio Great Southern- Saturday show with Chris Edmondson
November 2023 Albany Advertiser, Manjimup-Bridgetown Times
Featured artist exhibition for Inspire
July 2022 Interview - RTRFM Artist segment
July 2022 SCOOP Magazine editorial feature for MEAN STREAK
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