Leah Bullen

Leah Bullen
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About

Leah Bullen’s painting practice is centred around the representation and mediation of the natural world. Currently, her work is concerned with representing locations that reconstruct nature, such as gardens, aquariums, and museum displays. These locations act as a model through which she explores how we experience and consume the spectacle of nature more broadly within contemporary culture.

Leah Bullen completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours) and a Doctor of Philosophy, Creative Arts, at the School of Art & Design at the Australian National University in Canberra. In 2021, Bullen won both the Stanthorpe Art Prize and The Pring Memorial Prize as part of the Wynne Prize. She won the Trustees’ Watercolour Prize in the Wynne Prize in 2016. She has been a finalist in many national and international prizes, such as the Mosman Art Prize, the Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, McClelland Watercolour Prize, the Elaine Bermingham Watercolour Prize, Flowing Water: Taoyuan International Watercolour Biennial (Taiwan), and the Fabriano International Watercolour Biennial (Italy). She has exhibited her work in artist-run-initiatives as well as commercial and public art galleries around Australia and internationally. Bullen is currently based on Anaiwan country in Armidale, New South Wales. She is a member of the Australian Watercolour Institute and an Artist Ambassador for Winsor and Newton Australia.

Leah would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land she lives and works on, the Anaiwan people, and pay respect to their elders, past, present and emerging.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

2019
Doctor of Philosophy, Research School of Humanities, School of Art & Design, ANU, ACT.
2005
Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), First Class Honours, School of Art, ANU, ACT.
2004
Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), School of Art, ANU, ACT.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2022
Underland, Side Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.
2020
Going to ground, Weswal Gallery, Tamworth, NSW.
2019
Biophilia, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW.
2018
ANU Graduate Season Exhibition, ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Acton, ACT.
2012
Imaginitis, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Braddon, ACT.
2011
Everywhen, Sawtooth ARI, Launceston, TAS.
2010
Shutterbug, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Manuka, ACT.
2008
Bodies Full of Sentences, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW.
2007
Nothing goes Away, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Manuka, ACT.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2022
Come Back, All is Forgiven, Canberra Contemporary Art Space. Curator Alexander Boynes.
2022
Fabriano Watercolour 2022, Museo della Carta e Filigrana, Fabriano, Italy.
2021
Locus, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale. Curator Belinda Hungerford
2021
Flowing Water: Taoyuan International Watercolour Biennial, Department of Cultural Affairs, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
2020
The New England Landscape, New England Regional Art Museum. Curator Belinda Hungerford.
2019
Art Word Place, Tamworth Regional Gallery, Tamworth, NSW. Curator Caroline Downer.
2018
Painting Amongst Other Things, School of Art & Design Gallery, Australian National University, Acton, ACT. Curators Peter Alwast, Raquel Ormella and Su Yilmaz.
2017
Naturally Yours, School of Art & Design Gallery, Australian National University, Acton, ACT.
2017
94th Australian Watercolour Institute Exhibition, Juniper Hall, Sydney, NSW.
2017
Sentiment, Sawtooth ARI, Launceston, TAS. Curators Patrick Sutczak and Aaron Fell-Fracasso.
2017
miniature, Collab Gallery, Chippendale, NSW. Curators Susannah Smith and Heather Tralaggen.
2017
One Way or Another, ANU School of Art & Design Foyer Gallery, Acton, ACT.
2016
Retronauts, ANCA Gallery, Dickson, ACT. Curator Kathleen Linn.
2016
DELVE, School of Art Gallery, Australian National University, Acton, ACT.
2015
Retroneers, Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Marrickville, NSW. Curator Kathleen Linn.
2014
Contemporary’s Contemporaries, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW. Curators Eloise Cato and Elyse Goldfinch.
2013
Interplay, 107 Projects, Redfern, NSW. Curators Kathleen Linn, Peter Johnson and Sophia Cai.
2012
Establishment – Clean Living, CAST, Hobart, TAS. Curators Fernando do Campo and Catherine Wolfhagen.
2011
Placemarks, Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Curator Carol Archer.
2011
Exploration Eleven, Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne, VIC. Curator Claire Harris.
2011
2×4, M16 Gallery, Canberra, ACT. Curator Ruth Waller.
2006
Blaze2006, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Gorman House, Braddon, ACT.
2006
picture this…painting alumni 2000-2006, VCA Gallery, Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, VIC and School of Art Gallery, Australian National University, Acton, ACT.
2005
Graduate Show 2005, ANU School of Art, School of Art Gallery, Australian National University, Acton, ACT.
2005
You can’t do this on television, The Front Gallery, Lyneham, ACT.
2004
We woke up early this morning, Australian National Capital Artists, Dickson, ACT.
2003
AVU Graduate Show, AVU, Prague, Czech Republic.

Selected Grants, Prizes and Awards

2022
Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award – Selected Finalist.
2022
Fabriano Watercolour 2022, International Biennial Prize – Nominated Finalist.
2021
The John and Elizabeth Newnham Pring Memorial Prize – Winner.
2021
Stanthorpe Art Prize – Winner (Major Prize).
2021
Stanthorpe Art Prize – Winner – (2D Painting/Drawing Category Prize).
2021
Vice Chancellor’s Creative Research Fellowship, Australian National University – Recipient.
2020
Elaine Bermingham National Watercolour Prize – Selected finalist.
2020
Muswellbrook Art Prize – Selected Finalist.
2020
Megalo International Print Prize – Selected Finalist.
2019
Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award – Selected Finalist.
2019
Tattersalls Club Landscape Art Prize – Finalist.
2018
Splash: McClelland Contemporary Watercolour Award – Selected Finalist.
2018
Tattersalls Club Landscape Art Prize – Finalist.
2018
Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award – Selected Finalist.
2017
Mosman Art Prize – Selected finalist.
2017
Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award – Selected finalist
2017
Elaine Bermingham National Watercolour Prize – Selected finalist.
2016
Jasco Start Your Studio Art and Design Scholarship – Winner.
2016
Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award – Selected finalist.
2016
Trustees’ Watercolour Prize, Wynne Prize – Winner.
2016
Wynne Prize – Selected finalist.
2015
Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award – Selected finalist.
2015
Hutchins Art Prize – Selected finalist.
2015
Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award – Highly commended.
2013
Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize – Selected finalist.
2012
Australian Postgraduate Award – Recipient.
2011
artsACT Project Funding New Work Grant – Recipient.
2008
CAPO Singapore Airlines Travel Grant – Winner.
2005
Emerging Artist Support Scheme (EASS) Parker Financial Award – Winner.
2005
EASS Bradley Allen Acquisition – Winner.
2005
EASS KPMG Acquisition – Winner.
2005
EASS ANU Acquisition and Loan Collection Award – Winner.
2005
EASS Henry Ergas Acquisition – Winner.

Residencies

2023
Lighthouse Arts, Newcastle, NSW (upcoming Feb 2023).
2023
Nancy Fairfax Artist Residence, Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah, NSW (upcoming July 2023).
2021
The Old School, Mount Wilson, NSW.
2019
Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea, NSW.
2017
Megalo Print Studio and Gallery, Kingston, ACT.
2014
Hill End Artist in Residence Program, NSW.
2012
Bundanon Trust, Nowra, NSW.
2011
Cataract Gorge, Launceston, TAS.
2011
Bundanon Trust, Nowra, NSW.
2011
Australian National University, Acton, ACT.
2009
Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
2008
New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW.
2006
Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Braddon, ACT.

Publications

Essay:
Parsons, R, ‘Underland’, self published through Side Gallery, Brisbane,, May 2022.
Catalogue:
Flowing Water: Watercolour Biennial, 2021.
Essay:
Brooke, J, ‘One Way of Another’, self published, March 2017.
Essay:
Linn, K, ‘Retronauts’ self published, March 2016.
Catalogue:
Linn, K, Retroneers, self published, July 2015.
Catalogue:
Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize, National Art School, Sydney, 2013.
Catalogue:
Establishment, Contemporary Art Spaces Tasmania, 2012.
Room Brochure:
Broker, D, ‘Leah Bullen – Imaginitis’, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, October 2012.
Review:
‘Leah Bullen – Lay it on Thick’, Norris, Y, https://yolandenorris.com.au/2010/07/22/leah-bullen-lay-it-on-thick/ , July 2010.
Catalogue:
picture this, ANU School of Art, Australian National University, 2006, pp 42-3.
Room Brochure:
Broker, David, ‘Blaze2006’, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Dec 2006.
Review:
Stockdill, John, ‘Fragments, Beeswax and Dropped Chicken’, Artlook, issue #07, Dec 2004/Jan 2005, pp 20-1.
Catalogue:
Graduate Show 2005, ANU School of Art, School of Art Gallery, Australian National University, Dec 2005, pp 56.
Catalogue:
Green, ANU Graduate Show 2004, ANU School of Art, School of Art Gallery, Australian National University, Dec 2004, pp 43.

Collections

Artbank

New England Regional Art Museum

The Southern Downs Regional Council Collection, Stanthorpe Regional Gallery

Museo della Carta e della Filigrana, Fabriano, Italy

ACT Legislative Assembly

EASS Acquisition and Loan Collection, Australian National University

Charles Sturt University Art Collection

University of New England Art Collection

Bundanon Trust Collection

Ergas Collection

Pleysier Perkins Collection

KPMG Canberra Collection

Parker Financial Collection

Bradley Allen Collection

Private collections

Professional Experience

2022
Artist Educator, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW
2021-22
Program facilitator, Young Creatives, New England Regional Art Museum, Armidale, NSW.
2021
Guest Lecturer, Painting Workshop, School of Art and Design, ANU, ACT.
2017
Sessional Lecturer, Painting Workshop, School of Art and Design, ANU, ACT.
2008-14
Sessional Lecturer, Painting Workshop, School of Art, ANU, ACT.
2009
Graduate in Residence, Painting Workshop, School of Art, ANU, ACT.
2007
Sessional Lecturer, Core Studies Workshop, School of Art, ACT.
2006-7
Mentor and Teaching Assistant, Painting Workshop, School of Art, ANU, ACT.
2006
Teacher, Continuing Education, Visual Art/Open Art Program, ANU, ACT.