ABOUT

Rachel Joy is a Melbourne based visual artist and independent academic. Their paintings, print works, sculptural practice and writings comment on local and global issues regarding place, identity and history. Trained as an historian before turning to art, Rachel's artworks often reference hidden historical events and offer new ways of understanding them.  Rachel has won public art commissions and international residencies and has collaborated with companies of significant renown including Opera Victoria and Snuff Puppets Theatre Company.  Most recently their print works have been shown in New York, San Francisco, and Sophia in Bulgaria. They are published in books and academic journals and their work has been exhibited at a range of galleries and public spaces internationally and throughout Australia. 

RACHEL JOY CV

EDUCATION                             

PhD. Centre For Ideas, VCA, University of Melbourne. Awarded 2019.

Bachelor of Fine Art (Sculpture), Victorian College of the Arts. 2008.

Graduate Diploma of Education, La Trobe University, 1999.

Bachelor of Arts (Hons), La Trobe University, 1997. Major: Australian History.                                      

SOLO EXHIBITIONS                

Haunting, Portland Arts Centre, Portland Victoria. October 2017.      

Being Occupier, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Abbottsford, Melb. Sept 2017.

Our Selection, George Paton Gallery, Union House, University of Melb. Sept, 2015.

At Arms Length, Atelier Beisinghoff, Germany, July 2013.

FundaMattel: If Barbie wore a Burqua, No Vacancy Gallery. March 2012.

FundaMattel: If Barbie wore a Burqua, Firestation Print Studio Gallery. Feb 2012.

Roller Derby Burqua, Citylights Project, Melbourne. March, 2011

Colonial Architecture, National Wool Museum, Geelong. July 2011.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS       

Meshwork: An intermingling of artists and skin, Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart. Tas. May 2021.       

Lorne Sculpture Biennale, Lorne, Victoria. March 2014.

Print Exchange, Robert Blackburn Printshop, New York. NY. USA. Sept 2013.

Print Exchange, Graphic Arts Workshop, San Francisco, CA. USA. July 2013.

Lessedra Miniprint International, Sophia, Bulgaria, June 2013.

Print Exchange 2013, group show, Brooklyn Art Library, New York. May 2013.

New Works, Red Gallery, Melbourne, Nov 2012.

Beautiful Soup St. Heliers Street Gallery, Abbotsford Convent.  Melbourne, Oct 2012

PRIZES & AWARDS                                                                                                                                                        

Atelierhaus Beisinghoff Printmaking Residency, Women's Studio Workshop, New York. 2013.   

Martin Foley Printmaking Award. 2012.

Artstart Grant Australia Council 2010                     

Acacia Award 2008.                                                                                  

Alliance Francaise Award 2008.                             

David Teleskevi Memorial Prize, 2008.

 COMMISSIONS & PUBLIC & PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

'The Drive Home', woodcut print, 2013. Brooklyn Art Library. New York.             

‘The Meaning of Life’, sculpture commission, Courthouse Arts, Geelong. November 2011.

'A Hard Day at the Office', mixed media, 2008.  Acacia Art Collection.

SELECTED RESIDENCIES

Wilurarra Creative, Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Western Australia. Sept 2023.

Portland Artist Residency, Julia Street Creative Space, Portland, Victoria. Nov 2016.    

Atelierhaus Beisinghoff Printmaking Residency, Rhoden, Germany, 2013.

Knox Festival Skate Schools Project, Knox City Council, Feb 2013.

Xavier College, Melbourne. October-November 2012.

Signal Creative Studios, Melbourne. April-May 2012.

Courthouse Arts, Geelong. November 2011.

Wilurarra Creative, Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Western Australia. July 2010.

Wilurarra Creative, Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Western Australia. June 2009.

 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Joy, Rachel, ‘Very Becoming: Transforming Our Settler Selves in Occupied Australia’ ed’s C Santos, T Crowe Morey & A Spahr To Turn to Testimony: Engaging Common Ground. Brill: Lieden. 2019.

Joy, Rachel, ‘Occupier Ontology: A non-Indigenous philosophy of origins realised through the truth procedure of visual art.’ Coolabah Special Issue: 24 &25, 2018. Reimagining Australia.

Joy, Rachel. ‘Unsettling Occupied Australia’ London Journal of Critical Thought, Vol.1. No 2, 2017.

 Joy, Rachel. ‘Your Red Right Hand’, poem in Blue Giraffe, no.14, 2014.

 Joy, Rachel. ‘Tau Blau Blue Dew’, in Barbara Beisinghoff: Das Gesetz des Sterns und die Formel der Blume. Birgit Kummel und Udo Reuter. Museum Bad Arolsen 2014.