top of page

​Carolyn Menzies is a contemporary artist who incorporates craft processes and industrial materials, as well as found objects, into her abstract sculptures. Her practice shines a light on the often-invisible landscape of labour and power through the lens of the home.

 

Born in New Zealand, she studied sculpture at the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts. She completed her MA in Fine Arts at Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design, London. She has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. She lives and works in Narrm/Melbourne, Australia.​

​

​Download Carolyn Menzies: CV 2023

IMG_2370.jpg

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions

2021  Of Slender Means, Linden New Art, Project Space, St Kilda, Melbourne

2020  Steelo, Members Vitrine, Craft Victoria, Melbourne

2019  Immaterial, Gallery 1, Unitec, Auckland

          Morphogenesis, Tinning Street Presents, Brunswick, Melbourne

2018  Adhere, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney
2017  Embedded, Angela Robarts-Bird Gallery, Gasworks Art Park, Melbourne
          If I Knew Now What I Knew Then, Arcade, Footscray
2016  Lucid Blooms, Trocadero Art Space, Footscray
2015  Pre-emptive Nostalgia, Angela Robarts-Bird Gallery, Gasworks Art Park

​

1999  Ultrasight, Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North

          Pulse, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch
1997  Sleep, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch
1995  Tides of the Heart, Jonathan Smart Gallery, Christchurch

         Surfacing, Vavasour Godkin Gallery, Auckland

 

Selected Group Exhibitions

2023  Leftover Love: New Directions, Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville

           Bond Clean, Maggie Lane, Reservoir

2022  Stories in the Landscape 2022, The Sculpture Park,Waitakaruru Arboretum, NZ

           Design Fringe, Linden New Art Gallery, St Kilda

          The Off Season, Assembly Point Vitrines, Southbank

          Sculpture Now, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melbourne

2021  Leftover Love, Australian Tapestry Workshop, South Melbourne

          Immerse 2021, City of Knox (site-specific art exhibition)

          Albert Park Art Walk, Albert Park, Melbourne

2019  Deakin Contemporary Small Sculpture Award 2019, Deakin University

2018  From Nature 18, Gasworks Art Park

2017  Women for Women: Making Space, The Artist Guild, The District, Docklands
          From Nature 17 - outdoor organic sculpture exhibition, Gasworks Art Park
          Sweet FA, Trocadero Arts Building, Footscray
2016  From Nature - outdoor organic sculpture exhibition, Gasworks Art Park, Melbourne

          Linden Postcard Show 2016, Linden New Art, St Kilda, Melbourne

2015  Art After Dark, Smart Artz Gallery, Melbourne & Ambush Gallery, Sydney

​

2002  Light Sensitive, Century Gallery, ACAVA, London
1998  Embody, Robert McDougall Art Annex, Christchurch
1997  Water, Water Everywhere, Hawke’s Bay Museum, Napier

1996  Pins and Needles, Suter Art Gallery, Nelson
1995  Inside the Solid, Robert McDougall Art Annex, Christchurch

          Praxis, South Island Art Projects
          Occupation, Site-specific art exhibi9on, Christchurch Arts Center

1994  By Invitation Only, South Island Art Projects
          Little Jewels, AMBA, NZ Festival of the Arts, Wellington
         Group Show, Vasasour Godkin Gallery, Auckland
1993  T’arting Up Town, Christchurch Community Arts Council Project

         Nature TaToo, High Street, Gallery, Christchurch

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

2001  Master of Fine Art, Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design, London

1994  Diploma of Secondary Teaching, Christchurch College of Education, NZ

1991  Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, NZ

 

Awards and Scholarships

2023  Winter Residency, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Abbotsford

2021  Artist in Residence, Australian Tapestry Workshop, South Melbourne

2020  City of Port Phillip, Love My Place Funding (to curate Albert Park Art Walk)

2019 -2022 Artist in Residence, Linden New Art Gallery, St Kilda

 

1996  Travel Grant, Creative New Zealand
1993  Crown Jewels, Sculpture Residency, Queen Mary Hospital, Hamner Springs, NZ

1991  Ethel Rose Overton, University of Canterbury
1991  Rosemary Johnson Muller, University of Canterbury

​

Publications, Reviews and Essays

2023   Leftover Love - New Directions, Townsville Galleries, show catalogue

2020   Craft Conversations, Carolyn Menzies, Craft Victoria

2019  Gina Ferguson, Senior Lecturer, Curator Gallery One, Unitec, Immaterial show catalogue

​

2001  Jennifer Hay, ‘Life Flow’, The Christchurch Press, November 14, p37
1999  Robyn Ussher, ‘Take Pick from Plenty’, The Christchurch Press, May 26, p19
1998  Priscilla Pihs, ‘Contemporary New Zealand Sculpture’, David Bateman Ltd, Auckland, p39

1996  Jonathan Bywater, ‘ Pins and Needles’, The Suter Gallery, Nelson, pgs 5-6
1995  Justin Paton, ‘Carolyn Menzies, Kristy Gorman, Andrea Gerbic’, Art New Zealand, vol 4 

INTERVIEWS

bottom of page