Artists

Mairi Ward

Born 1980 on the Isle of Man, British Isles, Mairi is an artist living and working from her studio in Launceston, Tasmania. Mairi has travelled throughout Asia and Europe, these travels have had a strong influence on her paintings.

Mairi exhibits regularly across Australia as well as many International overseas shows. Mairi has received many grants to support her art practice through Arts Tasmania, Tasmanian Regional Arts and the Australia Council for the Arts. In addition, Mairi has been a finalist in a number of art prizes including the Glover painting prize four times.

"I paint intuitively, as a response to the environment I live in, from the perspective that I am inseparable from it. The paintings are abstract works composed of intricate layers of overlapping and interlocking forms and colours. My paintings are moments of personal freedom. They are about being present and in the moment."

Qualifications
2011         Master of Fine Art, University of Tasmania; Australian Postgraduate Award
2008         Bachelor of Contemporary Arts Hons 1, University of Tasmania; University Medal
2004         Art, Craft & Design, TAFE Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania

Solo Exhibitions
2019         Solo exhibition at Handmark Gallery, Tasmania
2018         Exhibit at the Asia Contemporary Art Show in Hong Kong, Spring edition March
2017         Solo Exhibition at Gallerysmith Project Space, Melbourne, Victoria
2016         Solo Exhibition of Paintings. Ceramics. Design at The Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral, New South Wales
2015         Exhibition stand 14, The Other Art Fair, aMBUSH Gallery Central Park, Sydney, New South Wales
2013         Designer Rooms, Handmark Gallery, Salamanca, Hobart, Tasmania
2011         Object to Object, NEW Gallery, University of Tasmania, Newnham, Tasmania
                 Paintings and Objects, Handmark Gallery, Salamanca, Hobart, Tasmania
                 Sherbet Forest, Ten Days on the Island, INTEERS, commissioned large-scale outdoor ephemeral installation, Greens Beach, Tasmania
2009         Paintings by Mairi Ward, Handmark Gallery, Salamanca, Hobart, Tasmania
                 Passenger, s.p.a.c.e Gallery, Scotch Oakburn College, Launceston, Tasmania
2007         Painting in Itself, Powerhouse Gallery and Artspace, Launceston, Tasmania

Selected Group Exhibitions
2019         Upcoming – Tasmanian Womens Art Prize, Finalist (three exhibitions across the state in March, April and May)
Upcoming – 10 person group ceramic exhibition for the Australian Ceramic Triennial, Handmark Gallery (April/May)
2018         Four paintings in AAD Gallery booth at the Shenzhen International Art Fair, Shenzhen, China
2017         Food : art, Aesthetics and design, Academy Gallery – University of Tasmania, Inveresk, Tasmania
2016         Limit of Maps (three person exhibition), Sheffer Gallery, Sydney, NSW
We Don’t Talk, four person curated exhibition, Tiny Tailor Gallery, Sydney, NSW
                 Bay of Fires Art Prize(finalist), St Helens, Tasmania
2015         Bay of Fires Art Prize(finalist), St Helens, Tasmania
                 Glover Art Prize(finalist), Evandale, Tasmania
2014         Glover Art Prize(finalist), Evandale, Tasmania
2013         Bay of Fires Art Prize(finalist), Gallery Parnella, St Helens, Tasmania
                 Burnie Print Prize(finalist), Burnie Regional Gallery, Burnie, Tasmania
2011         Glover Art Prize(finalist), Evandale, Tasmania
2010         In Partnership, Academy Gallery, Launceston/ Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport, Tasmania
                 Glover Art Prize(finalist), Evandale, Tasmania
                 Connections, Scotch Oakburn College, Launceston, Tasmania
2009         Tasmanian Art Foundation Exhibition, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania
2008         Small Works Exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria

Selected Publications
2019         Mairi Ward – Moving Mountains, editorial article by Briony Downes, Art Guide Australia
https://artguide.com.au/mairi-ward-moving-mountains
2016         Southern Highland News, NSW, Mairi Ward exhibition at Milk Factory Gallery, August 12, p.10
2013         Mairi Ward(profile), InsideOut Magazine, Nov/Dec Issue, p.47
                 An Exhibition With a Difference, ABC 7:30 Tasmania, 5min 29sec, February 22nd
2009         Sunday Tasmanian, TAS, Pursuit of Happiness, May 17
Art Monthly, May 2009, Number 219 (image)

Awards/Grants/Commissions
2018         Arts Tasmania, Artist Investment grant to exhibit at the Asia Contemporary Art Show in Hong Kong
Public art commission for the Peacock Rehabilitation  under the Tasmanian Government Art Site Scheme
2017         Arts Tasmania, assistance to individuals delivery grant for solo exhibition at GallerySmith Project Space, Melb VIC
2016         Northern Exposure Grant from Tasmanian Regional Arts to assist with costs for solo exhibition at the MFG, NSW
Public art commission for the Oatlands District High School under the Tasmanian Government Art Site Scheme
Artsbridge grant from Arts Tasmanian to assist with costs for solo exhibition at the Milk Factory Gallery, NSW
Arts Tasmania, assistance to individuals grant to make a new body of work
2015         Public art commission for the Tasmanian Audit Office under the Tasmanian Government Art Site Scheme
Tasmanian Regional Arts, Quick Response Grant towards Exhibiting at The Other Art Fair, Sydney NSW
2013         Australia Council for the Arts, ArtStart grant
Australian Craft Awards, Winner of the Chairman’s Award
2012         Arts Tasmania, assistance to individuals grant
Public art commission for the Palliative Care Centre under the Tasmanian Government Art Site Scheme
2011         Arts Tasmania, assistance to individuals grant to make new work for a solo exhibition at Handmark Gallery
Tasmanian Regional Arts, Quick Response Grant
2010         Scotch Oakburn College Collection: acquisition
2008         Scotch Oakburn College s.p.a.c.e Gallery Tertiary Student Art Award
University of Tasmania – Dean’s Roll of Excellence with Honours
2007         Fullers Bookshop Award for Art Theory, and Philcam Art & Framing Award for Painting Studio,
S.V.P.A. University of Tasmania