Portrait by Ben Adams 2022
Bio
Melbourne-born artist Lottie Consalvo’s journey is rooted in the exploration of the invisible world. She transcends the boundaries of the visible and tangible, pushing into the mind's capacity to explore the unbound possibilities of our existence and what lies beyond. Her work navigates the intersections of the physical, internal, and limitless—challenging conventional notions of reality and urging us to embrace what is unseen and unknown.
Engaging with Consalvo's work means we must tap into our imaginative capacities, a necessity to truly understand her art. Consalvo's fascination with the supernatural encourages new ways of seeking understanding, where the active journey is as significant as any answers we might find. Her symbolic language, rich with ambiguity, speaks directly to the subconscious, creating a new lexicon that transcends traditional language structures.
At the core of Consalvo’s practice lies a profound belief in the mind's expansiveness, which she posits is a greater force than the physical world. She articulates an interest in our internal world, drawing out towards invisible worlds; beyond what we know to be true. Both artist and viewer must access the mind’s eye simultaneously, allowing for a shared yet deeply individual experience that underscores the mind's ability to construct its own reality.
Consalvo suggests an alternative way of being that rejects materialism and the relentless pursuit of productivity, advocating for a more mindful existence. Consalvo challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of reality, suggesting that ineffable mysteries will reveal themselves to us if we are more mindful in how we live each day. If we are willing to look beyond ourselves, we can receive beauty and profundity beyond what can be seen and understood.
June, 2024 Anthea Mentzalis
In 2015, Consalvo completed a residency with Marina Abramovic as part of Kaldor Public Art Projects 30 in Sydney, and an exhibition at Hamburg’s Millerntor Gallery #5. In 2018, she held her first solo museum exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art in Victoria. The following year, she showcased her Horizon video works at Casula Powerhouse, and had a major exhibition at Maitland Regional Art Gallery. Consalvo’s work has been exhibited internationally—including in Germany, Mexico, England, America and New Zealand—and is held in various esteemed collections such as Artbank, Newcastle Art Gallery, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Gippsland Regional Art Gallery, Macquarie University, Newcastle University, Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie, and The Stevenson Collection. She currently lives and works in Newcastle, NSW.
CV
DOB: 27.09.1985 Wayput, Sale, Victoria. Lives and works on the land of the Awabakal and Worimi people in both Newcastle and Pindimar NSW
Represented by Nanda/Hobbs, Sydney, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane and Föenander Galleries, Auckland
Exhibitions
Solo
2023 - [hear silence. now], February, Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2022 - No access but from the Sky, April, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2021 - When I look carefully / I see the nazuna blooming / By the hedge! Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2019 - The Aerial View Of An Anthem, Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2019 - Clayton Utz, Melbourne partnership with 333: Art Projects
2019 - Somewhere Else, Maitland Regional Art Gallery
2019 - I Tried To Make A Horizon For You, Casula Powerhouse
2018 - In The Remembering - Heide Museum of Modern Art, Victoria
2017 - Final Remembering - The Lock Up, Newcastle
2017 - ‘in silence’ - Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2016 - Momentary Alters - NKN Gallery, Melbourne
2016 - Mid-fall - Alaska Projects, Sydney
2014 - Everything reminds me of you - Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney
2014 - Public memories - Conductors Project, Sydney
2012 - The Life Exchange - Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney
2011 - And all around is Desert - Damien Minton Gallery Annex, Sydney (curated by Kim Fasher of SuperKaleidoscope)
Selected group
2024 - Where Delusion Meets The Sun, The Lock-Up Contemporary Art Space, Newcastle
2024 - Aotearoa Art Fair, Auckland with Föenander Galleries
2023 - Up River, Down River - Maitland Regional Art Gallery
2023 - Loud Sky - The Lock-Up Contemporary Art Space, Newcastle
2023 - Aotearoa Art Fair, Auckland with Föenander Galleries
2022 - A Paleolithic Age, November, Tripoli Gallery, New York
2022 - Together we are less alone (with Philip Grözinger and Clemens Krauss), Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2022 - An Anthology of the Wind (video collaboration with Sarah Mosca), MAP, Mima, Lake Macquarie
2021 - Unthinkable Fields, Curated by Eloise Kirk, ANCA, Canberra
2021 - Hugo Michell Gallery, Adelaide in partnership with Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2019 - Two Waters: Wairua, Laree Payne Gallery, Hamilton, New Zealand, with Maia McDonald
2019 - Secret Garden - Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2019 - us.Universal Stories,The Museum Of Art And Culture Lake Macquarie, curated by Meryl Ryan
2019 - Of the Sun, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, curated by Gina Mobayed,
2019 - Poetic of the Line, Kudos Gallery, UNSW Art And Design, curated by Tim Marvin
2019 - From The Mudbrick House - Newcastle University Gallery
2018 - Video Contemporary, Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks
2017 - Realising Mother - Kudos Gallery, UNSW, Sydney, curated by Zorica Purlija
2017 - Into Abstraction II - Macquarie University Gallery, Sydney
2016 - The Ancestors - Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney , curated by Catherine Benz
2016 - New Strokes - Gallery9, Sydney
2015 - Paris/Hunter - Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery
2015 - Millerntor Gallery#5, Hamburg, curated by Fabian Jentsch
2014 & 2015 - Wild Side: The animal in Art touring exhibition - Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery & Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo
2013 - Mono No Aware - Linden Gallery, Melbourne, curated by SuperKaleidoscope
2012 - Traces - Leipzig Art Fair, Germany
2011 - Australian exhibition - Australian Embassy in Berlin
2010 - A Perfect Day to Chase Tornadoes (White) - Kunstquartier Bethanien Studio 1Berlin, curated by SuperKaleidoscope
Performances
2021 - Sometimes I Hear Trees Falling, Dominik Mersch Gallery Sydney
2018 - In The Remembering - Heide Museum of Modern Art, Victoria
2015 - 2016 - 'Desires', a year long performance
2014 - 'I mouthed I love you' - Wild Side group exhibition, Lake Macquarie Gallery
2014 - 'Until distance passes' - Tiny Stadiums Festival, Erskineville Sydney (commission)
2014 - 'Near your sorrow' - Enduring Parallels (endurance performance exhibition) The Lock-Up, Newcastle (artist & curator)
2013 - 2014 - 'Compartmentalise', a year long performance living with minimal possessions
2014 - 'It's too early to love you' - ALASKA projects, Sydney
2014 - 'Public memories' - Conductors Project, Sydney
2013 - 'Do you love me' - Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney
2012 - 'Steer a steady ship' - Damien Minton Gallery, Sydney
2011 - ‘The weight of the physical mind’- Leipzig International art program (LIA) Spinnerei Leipzig, Germany
2011 - ‘Happiness is an extreme emotion’ - 12hour public performance, Berlin, Germany
2011 - ‘Black feet’ - Leipzig International art program (LIA) Spinnerei Leipzig, Germany
2011 - 'Beyond these walls’ - Engels, Berlin, Germany
Residencies
2015 - Marina Abramović artists' residency program, part of Marina Abramović: In Residence presented by Kaldor Public art projects, Project #30
2013 - Lake Macquarie City Gallery - in conjunction with Christo: John Kaldor Family collection artist rooms
2012 - Titjikala art centre NT
2012 - Freestone print studio, Gippsland Victoria
2012 - Familia Mojo Family orphanage Nairobi, Kenya
2011 - Leipzig International Art Program (LIA) Germany
Collections
Artbank - Stevenson Collection NZ - Allens Collection - Newcastle Art Gallery - Maitland Regional Art Gallery - Onna House ,New York - Warner Music Australia - Macquarie University - Newcastle University - MAC Lake Macquarie Art Gallery - Gippsland Art Gallery
Residencies
2023 - Desa, Ubud, Indonesia
2015 - Marina Abramović artists' residency program, part of Marina Abramović: In Residence presented by Kaldor Public art projects, Project #30
2013 - Lake Macquarie City Gallery - in conjunction with Christo: John Kaldor Family collection artist rooms
2012 - Titjikala art centre NT
2012 - Freestone print studio, Gippsland Victoria
2012 - Familia Mojo Family orphanage Nairobi, Kenya
2011 - Leipzig International Art Program (LIA) Germany
Bibliography
2023
Australian Abstract, Book published by Thames & Hudson by Amber Creswell Bell
2022
5 curators on Artists to watch (interview with Petrit Abazi, Director of Northern Centre For Contemporary Art)
2021
Art is never finished, only abandoned, Brooke Boland
2019
Doing It In Public: The Kaldor Projects - ABC Documentary
If I Could Have - Art Collector Magazine Issue 90
Art Collector Mini Mag - Auckland Art Fair
2018
Profile - Artist Profile Magazine - Issue 44
Terra Firma Magazine
Art Almanac, March 2018 - front cover and article
Art Collector Mini Mag - Melbourne Art Fair
Art Collector Mini Mag - Auckland Art Fair
2017
Black magic, exploring Lottie Consalvo's dark world - D*hub - https://www.dhub.org/black-magic-exploring-lottie-consalvos-dark-world/
2016
Maintaining the Manifesto – Runway by Amelia Wallin http://runway.org.au/maintaining-the-manifesto/
2015
Imitation games: Marina Abramovic, ABC documentary series
Forecast: Lottie Consalvo - Vault Magazine by Rebecca Gallo
Lottie Consalvo Up close and personal – Newcastle Herald http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3079491/lottie-consalvo-up-close-and-personal/
The art of self-incarceration, RealTime Feb-Mar 2015 http://www.realtimearts.net/article/125/11856
2014
Pushing boundaries, Newcastle Herald, November 29
Performance art, ABC radio
Artist profile, Design Satellite 2014
http://www.designsatellite.com.au/artist-profiles/artist-profile-lottie-consalvo-james-drinkwater/
Minimal living, rejecting excess and finding clarity with Lottie Consalvo, Concrete Playground
http://concreteplayground.com/melbourne/arts-entertainment/art/minimal-living-rejecting-excess-and-finding-clarity-with-lottie-consalvo/
2013
'Lottie Consalvo's Insecure Act at Damien Minton’ - Blourin Artinfo International edition, December 20
2012
'See Artist Lottie Consalvo Endure Water Torture For Art’s Sake’ - Blourin Artinfo International edition, October 8
'Australian Artist recreates water torture' – SBS World News, October 8
'The art of torture'- Sydney Morning Herald/The Age/Canberra Times/WA Today/ Brisbane Times, October 6