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