Contemporary artist to provide concepts for new project

Contemporary Australian artist Craig Walsh will undertake an artist in residency project at the Australian Museum from November 2011– January 2012.

Walsh will spend two months liaising with Museum staff and immersed in the Museum's collection of over 18 million specimens and cultural objects.

He will then develop a series of artwork proposals to present to the Museum in late February 2012.

Born in Orange, NSW, Walsh (45) is renowned for visually stunning large-scale new media works exhibited in diverse public spaces from urban buildings to national parks. He works across a range of art forms including public works, gallery exhibitions, festivals, theatre and architecture, and has recently exhibited at the Powerhouse Museum (2009) and Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (2008).

Australian Museum Assistant Director Public Engagement Steven Alderton said the relationship is an exciting collaboration for the Museum.

“We are always exploring new ways of looking at our Collections, as well as adding new, contemporary pieces to them,” says Steven Alderton.

“Craig’s approach is very innovative and gives audiences a sense of excitement and wonder long after they experience the artwork, whether it is projection, photography, sculpture or new media.

“We look forward to seeing an imaginative response to our brief for concepts which we hope can be developed into a project to challenge and inspire our visitors, and also to tour outside of the Museum.”

Walsh’s work has been selected for major survey exhibitions, festivals, commissions, and national and international residencies.

For more information, visit

http://www.craigwalsh.net/