Dr SALLY GRAY CURATOR EDUCATOR AND WRITER
AUSTRALIAN POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW 2010–12

In October 2009 I was awarded an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship by the Australian Research Council to write on Sydney style in the 1970s and 1980s within a global context. This research builds on my PhD thesis in Art Theory (UNSW 2006) entitled There's Always More: The Art of David McDiarmid. The thesis encompassed urban culture in New York and Sydney, art history and theory, dance music history and the career of self designated queer artist David McDiarmid (1952–1995). I have subsequently published in leading international journals and books. Click the publications panel above to download a PDF summary.
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Curator


As a curator I have enjoyed working with the relationships between ideas, history, visual culture and language.

Feb–May 2008
WOLLONGONG CITY GALLERY
Curator

The project exhibition A Journey In Cloth, explored my relationship to 'dutch wax' fabric and was developed to accompany the Gallery's major exhibition of African Textiles, Walala Wasala.

2003 2004
SYDNEY HILTON HOTEL
Public Art Consultant
HILTON INTERNATIONAL ASIA PACIFIC

Provide advice on commissioning Australian artists to design site specific permanent works of art for the renewed Sydney Hilton Hotel.
[image above: Bronwyn Oliver, Hilton foyer sculpture, Vine, 2004, length 16.42m. Reproduced with permission of the artist and Roslyn Oxley Gallery. Photographer: Astrid Spielman.]

2001
THE RECOLLECTION ROOM: MARY MACKILLOP SCHOOLHOUSE
Curator
SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH
Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney

Concept development and management of a major public art program to enhance the image and identity of the Sydney international airport as part of its redevelopment for the 2000 Olympic Games.

1999
CHINA '78: A POLITICAL ROMANCE
Curator
CASULA POWERHOUSE
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney

1999
A SUMMER PLACE: AUSTRALIAN WOMEN AT THE BEACH
Curator
WARRINGAH COUNCIL
Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Sydney


1998
DESIGNING AUSTRALIA: MODERNITY AND THE STAMP
Curator
AUSTRALIA POST
Australia Post Gallery, Melbourne

1997 - 1998
THE SOCOG OLYMPIC GAMES IN-HOUSE EXHIBITIONS PROGRAM
Curator
SOCOG
Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Head office, Ultimo, Sydney

1996-1997
FORZA E CORAGGIO: THE ITALIANS OF SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY
Curator
FAIRFIELD AND LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCILS
Fairfield Regional Heritage Centre and Liverpool Bicentennial Museum, Sydney

1989–1994
NSW STATE LIBRARY EXHIBITIONS
Exhibitions Program Manager
New South Wales State Library

CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP
In 1993 I received a Churchill Fellowship to examine exhibition development processes at The Tate, The National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and other cultural institutions in Europe.

Visual Artist

As part of my creative practice I work as a visual artist on individual and collaborative art projects.

2004
IMAGING THE ILLAWARRA: 25 TAKES
Wollongong City Gallery

An invited exhibition of the work of 25 artists who have lived and worked in the Illawarra region.
[image above: Eye For Detail, APS colour photograph, Sally Gray, 2004]

2003
MY GARDEN AS A FAMILY ARCHIVE
Artist: Sally Gray

State Archives of NSW, The Rocks, Sydney

Installation within "The House of Exquisite Memory" exhibition curated by Susan Charlton, designed by Kylie Legge

2003
IN THE REALM OF THE LOTUS
Wollongong City Gallery

In 2003 I was invited to create an installation at Wollongong City Gallery based on my Lotus Series of 2001. I collaborated with the local Buddhist Community to create IN THE REALM OF THE LOTUS.

2001–2002
LOTUS SERIES
Digital Ghosts exhibition

Red Gate Gallery, Beijing,
Mass Gallery, Melbourne,
Tin Sheds Gallery, University of Sydney

1998
CASULA COLOSSI
Concept for Casula Railway Station
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
Designers: Sally Gray and Ron Smith

1998
THE GIANT 25TH BIRTHDAY CANDLE
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Designers: Sally Gray and Ron Smith
Commissioned by Sydney Opera House Trust

1989
G'DAY CHAIR
G'Day Chair Exhibition

1983
RELATIONS A DUET IN BLACK AND WHITE
Artspace, Sydney

In 1983 film scholar and filmmaker Laleen Jayamanne invited me to participate with her in the development and presentation of a performance art work we entitled RELATIONS: A DUET IN BLACK AND WHITE. The multi media work explored issues of race, culture, gender and sexuality in the formation of the two women's lives.

Image credit: Australian House and Garden, Nov 2002. Photographer: Simon Kenny.

Image credit: Australian House and Garden, Feb 2003. Photographer: Andrew Lehmann.

Cultural Broker, Art and
Design Advocate

2009–2010
art+place EVALUATIVE REVIEW 2010
Art Consultant
ARTS QUEENSLAND

Research and evaluate the success of the Queensland Government’s public art policy and program, art+place
[image above:
The High/Perpetual Xmas, No Abstractions
Scott Redford 2008
Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane
Reproduced with permission of the artist]

2001 - 2003
CITY-WIDE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Cultural Broker
CITY OF WOLLONGONG AND NSW DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

As cultural broker my role was to bring arts, culture and creativity to the forefront of city planning for Wollongong, a city of 200,000 people 80km south of Sydney. I initiated concepts and political support for a new centre for contemporary culture and a city-centre cultural precinct.

2001
REDFERN COMMUNITY CENTRE
Art Consultant
PITTENDRIGH SHINKFIELD AND BRUCE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, URBAN ART PROJECTS AND SOUTH SYDNEY COUNCIL

Provide advice on commissioning of indigenous artists to create works of art for new Redfern Community Centre [image above: Jonathan Jones, Site Map, 2001, courtesy the artist and Gallery Barry Keldoulis]

1999
CULTURAL MAPPING OF THE ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT
Cultural Consultant
ILLAWARRA REGION OF COUNCILS

Manage a study of the layered cultural meanings associated with the Illawarra Escarpment, which extends from southern Sydney to the Shoalhaven River NSW.
[image above: Illawarra from Bulli Pass, A.H. Fullwood, 1892]

1997
ILLAWARRA REGIONAL MUSEUMS PLAN
Project manager
ILLAWARRA REGION OF COUNCILS

Manage a planning process for Illawarra Museums. Working with staff and volunteers of thirty museums of the lllawarra area, the largest being Wollongong City Art Gallery and the smallest being local community history museums.

1996 -1997
CORPORATE COLLATERALS COLLECTION DESIGN
Creative direction
AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS PTY LTD

Creative direction and design management of corporate imaging materials collection for Australian Business, a large national employer organisation.

1995
'ARTSTART WOMEN IN ARTS BUSINESS'
Business Mentor
NSW DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT

Mentoring for creative businesses run by women

1995
DESIGN INDUSTRY AND THE SYDNEY OLYMPICS
Design Broker
NSW DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT

Provide advice on opportunities for design industry in imaging of Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games

1993 - 1996
AUSTRALIA POST STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Member
AUSTRALIA POST

Provide advice on Australian stamp design.
[image above: St. Valentines Day, stamp. Designer: Kim Roberts, 1995]

1993–1995
VISIONS OF AUSTRALIA
Committee member
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

The committee recommended allocation of grants for national touring exhibitions.

1989
TAFE VISUAL IDENTITY
Creative Director of Design and Implementation Process
TAFE NSW

Provide creative direction and management for the implementation of TAFE's new corporate ID
[TAFE logo above: original design concept, Josie Howlett; design development, Ruth Downes. Commissioner: TAFE NSW]