Laura Wills
Laura Wills b.1981, is an Adelaide based multidisciplinary artist.
She explores social and environmental themes using found materials, collaborative processes and site-specific ephemeral projects. She holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Applied Design from Adelaide Centre of the Arts (2003), and a Bachelor of Visual Arts Honors, from The School of Art Architecture and Design, (2011). Since 2004, she has exhibited nationally and internationally as well as participating in several Australian and international residencies.
Finders Sharers is a body of work about plants and community. Commissioned by OSCA-Open Space Contemporary Art for the project Foragers, Weed Gardens and Gatherings/Finders Sharers 2017. The works reference plant properties, botanical drawings and explore ideas of food diversity and food plant relationships. Growing your own food and healthy safe and affordable food for all inspired these drawings.
Education
2003
Bachelor of Visual Arts and Applied Design, Adelaide Center for the Arts
2011
Visual arts Honours, South Australian School of Art, Uni SA
Solo Exhibitions
2018
Finders sharers, Hill Smith Gallery
2017
Tending, Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
2016
Floodlands, Walkway Art Gallery, Bordertown South Australia
2015
Wheels in Flight, sand drawing Port Willunga Beach
2010
There in Time, Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
Bismania, Flinders Medical Centre, Arts in Health, Adelaide
Reno, FELTspace, Adelaide, collaborative project with William Cheesman
2009
Prospecting, Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
View of a View, Clutural Gallery, Port Augusta
2007
Loop Project, to be continued, Vienna
Parkside Nomadic Group, Project Space, Contemporary Art Centre South Australia
Blueprints, SoMA Galleries, Adelaide
2006
Giving and Receiving, Carclew Youth Arts Center, Adelaide
2005
Zimmer in Berlin, Naunyn Strasse, Berlin
2004
Gourmet Traveller, Organic To Go, Adelaide
2003
Stills, The Health Gallery, Mt Gambier
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018
Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize, Adelaide
National Works on Paper award, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
2017
Four Decades- Six Artists, FRAN Festival Exhibition, Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
Island Home, Adelaide Airport
2016
Covenant of the Animals, Murray Bridge Regional Gallery
2015
Mad For, Light Square Gallery, Adelaide
2014
Historia, Adelaide Town Hall
2013
Their Shadows in Us, Flinders University Art Museum and City Gallery
2012
Melbourne Art Fair with Hill Smith Gallery, Melbourne
2008
Cellar sweatshop, Light Square Gallery, Adelaide
Selected Projects and Public Art
2017
Creek Lore, with Open Space Contemporary Art
Finders Sharers, with Open Space Contemporary Art
Dig and Delve, permanent work for Hendrie St Reserve
2016
Growing Coonalpyn, project artist, Creating Coonaplyn
The Beast, with Tutti Arts, OzAsia Festival
2015
Project artist, Cardboard Challenge, Charles Campbell College, Come Out Children’s Festival
Wheels in Flight, sand drawing, Port Willunga beach
Turning In, Collaboration with Will Cheesman, Waite Meterological Station
Drawing works for the New Royal Adelaide Hospital
Lace Fence Design, Mt Gambier, Public Art at the Rail
Selected Grants
2016
Arts SA Independent Makers and Presenters Grant
2011
Artist in Schools grant for Flying Fruit Project, Sturt Street School
2009
Asialink Residency grant to Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Arts SA Independent Makers and Presenters Grant
2008
SAYAB Project and Development grant to exhibit and develop a new body of work
Australia Council grant for Just Filling Dance project through Next Wave Festival
Awards
2018
Joint Winner with James Tylor, National Works on Paper award, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
Joint Winner with James Tylor, Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize, Adelaide
2017
Finalist SALA Contemporary Art Prize, Adelaide
2015
First prize Tatiara Art Prize
Finalist Whyalla Art Prize, Adeladie
2011
Fleurieu Art Prize, Fluerieu vista category first prize
2010
Finalist Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Sydney
2009
Nominated for Qantas Art Prize
2008
Adelaide Fringe best visual arts exhibition for a collective
2004
First prize South Australian Youth Environment Art Award
Hill Smith Fine Art Malaysian airline Travel award
Residencies
2017
6 week Residency at Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia
2015
4-week Artist in residence Adelaide Central Markets
2012
4-week residency at Bundanon Trust, NSW with William Cheesman
2009
12-week Laughing Waters Artist-in-Resident program, Eltham Victoria
2008
4-week Grindell’s Hut residency through Country Arts SA and National Parks
2007
6-week residency at Sanskriti Foundation, New Dehli, India
8-week residency at to be continued project space Vienna, Austria
Selected Publications
2015
Art Integral to the New Royal Adelaide Hospital, Suzie Keen, Indaily.com.au Nov 15
2010
Mapping Calm, Slowing Haste, Harry Thring, Independently Weekly July 10
2007
Adelaide artists take to the world, Stephanie Radok, Adelaide Review, July 2007
Collections
Cruthers Collection of Women's Art
Parliament House Collection, Canberra, New South Wales
Laura Wills
Creekliness
Embroidery, pastel, pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
115 x 87 cm
$2,200
Laura Wills
Mirror
Pyrography on kangaroo skin
$500
Laura Wills
Together
Embroidery, pastel, an pigment ink on rag paper
115 x 99 cm
$2,200
Laura Wills
Energy
embroidery and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Green
pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Rainbow Fall
Pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Rock
Pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Quoll
pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Rakali
Embroidery, pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Emit
Pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
SOLD
Laura Wills
Bandicoot
Pencil and pigment ink on rag paper
42 x 31 cm
$290 (unframed)
Laura Wills
torrens
Medium:
Digital print on archival paper Ed 5
Dimensions:
64 x 140 cm
$1,200 framed, $900 unframed
Laura Wills
pakapakanthi/victoria park
Medium:
Pastel & digital print on archival paper
AP
ed 5
Dimensions:
120 x 82 cm
$1,900 unframed, $2,100 framed
Laura Wills
murray map
Medium:
Digital print on archival paper
Ed 5
Dimensions:
64 x 140 cm
$1,200 unframed $1,500 Framed
Laura Wills
Clean and Sour
Pastel, and pigment ink on rag paper
Unique print
Ed 5
90 x 66cm
$2,000 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Wolseley Prize
Pastel & digital print on Hahnemuhle paper
48 x 35 cm
$450 Framed
Laura Wills
Knitbone
Pastel, pencil, ink and pigment ink on rag paper
Unique print
Ed 5
90 x 66cm
$2,000 (unframed)
Laura Wills
Aloeskinvera
Pastel, pencil, ink and pigment ink on rag paper
Unique print
Ed 5
90 x 66cm
$2,450 (framed)
Laura Wills
Liquid Gold Harvest
Pastel, pencil, ink and pigment ink on rag paper
Unique print
Ed 5
90 x 66cm
$2,450 (framed)
Laura Wills
Greensauce
Pastel, pencil, ink and pigment ink on rag paper
Unique print
Ed 5
90 x 66cm
$2,450 (framed)
Laura Wills
Helps Get Things Moving Around the Body
Pastel, pencil, ink and pigment ink on rag paper
Unique print
Ed 5
90 x 66cm
$2,450 (framed)
Laura Wills
Deep
Medium:
Acrylic, gouache and pigment ink on canvas
Dimensions:
122 x 79cm
$1,900 unframed, $2,100 framed
Laura Wills
High
Medium:
Acrylic gouache and pigment ink on canvas
Dimensions:
82 x 76cm
$1,800
Laura Wills
Nurture
Medium:
Acrylic, gouache and pigment ink on canvas
Dimensions:
82 x 86cm
$1,800
Laura Wills
Power
Medium:
Acrylic, gouache and pigment ink on canvas
Dimensions:
56 x 70cm
$1,600
Laura Wills
Hot
Medium:
Acrylic, gouache and pigment ink on canvas
Dimensions:
62 x 84 cm
$1,800
Laura Wills
One path
Medium:
Digital print on archival paper
Dimensions:
46 x 28 cm
$450
Laura Wills
District Prize
Medium:
Digital print on archival paper
Edition of 5
Dimensions:
46 x 35cm