For Yeldham a painting is not a window onto the world but an instrument (sometimes even a musical instrument) that allows us to go beyond the visible. Ideally it’s also a tool for transformation, a vehicle for self-discovery…
Yeldham is a pilgrim, so enthused and stimulated by his quest that he can never visualise a destination. He’ll recognise it when he gets there - John McDonald, for Child of the Storm.
“Drawing from a deep spiritual affiliation with the land and a reverential love of nature, Joshua Yeldham’s art practice forms a complex interplay between narrative and myth, imagination and experience. Working across painting, photography, drawing and sculpture, the artist has developed a singular aesthetic that often conflates these various mediums, such as his characteristic oil paintings with sculptural assemblages on board or his pierced and carved photographs. His distinctive visual language fuses the physical elements of the landscape with the metaphysical modalities of history and mythology.”
Joshua Yeldham
Born 1970, Sydney, Australia
EDUCATION
1989-93 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design. USA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024, Broken Head, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2023, In Return, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2022, Garden of Ruins, Scott Livesey Gallery
2021, Hearthstone, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2020, Providence, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2019, Child of the Storm, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2017 Endurance, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2017 Endurance, Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence, Tweed River Regional Gallery, NSW
2017 Surrender, Tweed River Regional Gallery, NSW
2016 Rishi, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2015 The Need of the Time, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2015 Owls of Kyoto, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2015 Surrender, Art15 Art Fair, London, Cat Street Gallery
2014 Surrender, Survey Exhibition, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney
2013 Surrender Tree, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2012 The Tongue Has No Bone, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2011 Two Rivers, Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong
2010 River Song, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2010 River Music, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2009 Child Of The Moon, Hawkesbury River, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2008 Hawkesbury River, Motherland, Art House Gallery, Sydney
2007 Hawkesbury River - Death Bird Series, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2006 Hawkesbury River, Melbourne Art Fair, Art House Gallery
2006 Hawkesbury River, Art House Gallery, Sydney
2005 Bird Nest Diaries, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2004 Bird Nest Diaries, Art House Gallery, Sydney
2003 The Clay Brothers - A Prayer for Fertility, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2003 A Prayer for Fertility, Sydney Art Fair, Fox Studios
2002 Solitude's Bride Series, Art House Gallery, Sydney
2002 Solitude's Bride Series, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne
2001 Eucalyptus, Art House Gallery, Sydney
1999 Colo River, Art House Gallery, Melbourne
1999 Solitude & Prayer, Art House Gallery, Sydney
1998 Paradise is a Bird, Art House Gallery, Sydney
1997 The Hunger Artist, Art House Gallery, Sydney
1996 Viola and the Emu Catcher, Art House Gallery, Sydney
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 ‘Triennial’, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC
2023 Art House Gallery at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair
2023 ‘Paper & Clay’, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2022 ‘Summer’, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2021 ‘Coming Home’, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2021 ‘Summer Salon’, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2020 ‘Portraits Project’, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, NSW
2020 ‘Renewal’, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2020 ‘Arthouse Presents 2020’, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney
2019 ‘Love’, Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, Murwillumbah, NSW
2019 Scott Livesey Galleries at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair
2019 Art House Gallery at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair
2018 ‘Cabinets of Curiosity’, Installation with Sibella Court, Rigg Design Prize, NGV
2018 Art House Gallery at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair
2017 Imagine, Gippsland Art Gallery, Victoria
2016 Cutting Edge - 21 St Century Photography - Monash Gallery of Art, Victoria
2016 Ku-ring-gai pH: art + science project, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney
2015 The Salon, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2014 Twenty Fourteen, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2013 Wonderworks, Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong
2011 Wattle – Australian Artists, Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong
2010 Hong Kong Art Fair, Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong
2008 Group Show ‘08, Scott Livisey Galleries, Melbourne
2006 Sulman prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2006 Flaming Youth, Orange Regional Gallery
2005 Selected, Mosman Art Prize, New South Wales
2003 Biennial Sydney Art on Paper Fair, Sydney
2003 Selected, Mosman Art Prize, New South Wales
2003 Ned Kelly Framed, The National Trust of Australia, S. H. Ervin Gallery
2000 Art House Gallery, Biennial Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne.
1999 An Affair to Remember, Art Sauce, Singapore.
1997 A Taste in Art: Next Generation of Great Australian Artists, Sotheby's Sydney
1997 Zoo, Art House Gallery, Sydney
1997 Westpac Art Awards, Skeggs Redlands, Sydney
1997 Tattersall's Landscape Art Awards, Brisbane, Queensland
1996 Australian Artists Exhibition, Cranbrook School, Sydney
1996 Teresa Burns Exhibition of Australian Artists, Westpac, Sydney
AWARDS, GRANTS & RESIDENCIES
2023 Salon des Refusés People’s Choice Prize Winner, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2021 Salon des Refusés, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2020 Salon des Refusés People’s Choice Prize Winner, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2020 Artist in Residence, Capella Lodge, Lorde Howe Island, NSW
2019 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2018 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2017 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2017 Nancy Fairfax Artist Residency recipient, Tweed Regional Gallery, NSW
2016 Redlands Prize, Sydney (Second place)
2015 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2014 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2013 Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2013 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2012 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2011 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2010 Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2009 Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2006 Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
2005 Mosman Art Prize, New South Wales
2003 Mosman Art Prize, New South Wales
2002 Universities and Schools Club Prize, Sydney
2000 Commission, Australian Stock Exchange, Sydney
1998 Selected Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales
1995 Australian Young Achiever Awards, New South Wales State Finalist, Career Achievement Award, (Arts Division), The Queen's Trust Award
1993 Alumni award for outstanding achievement, Rhode Island School of Design, USA
PUBLIC & CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Victoria
Mosman Art Gallery, NSW
Manly Art Gallery & Museum, NSW
University of Wollongong, NSW
Commission, Australian Stock Exchange, Sydney, NSW
BHP Billiton Collection
Mirvac Collection
Hawkesbury River Regional Gallery (on loan), NSW
Autore Pearl Collection
ACP Collection
James Packer Collection
Tweed River Regional Gallery Collection
FILMOGRAPHY
Frailejon (1993) ( Colour, 65 minutes), Producer, Director, Writer, Co-DOP, Co-Editor Filmed on location in the Venezuelan Andes, New York & Sydney
1982 Platform (1991)
Children of Haiti (1991)
Sauvinance (1991)
Silver Threads Among The Gold (1990)
FILM NOMINATIONS & AWARDS
1995 Frailejón, Best Feature Film, Heartland Film Festival, Indianapolis, USA
1995 Frailejón, Original Concept in Film (Winner), Best Director & Best Screenplay, St. Kilda Film Festival, VIC
1995 Frailejón, Innovation in Film Award, Best Australian Short Film (Nominee), Australian Teachers of Media Awards, Sydney, NSW
1994 Frailejón, Best Australian Short Film, Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
1994 Frailejón, Best Short Film & Innovation in Film (Nominee), Best Screenplay (Nominee, Joshua Yeldham),
1994 Australian Film Industry (AFI) Awards
1993 Frailejón, Emmy Award, Best Student Film, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, USA
1993 Frailejón, Academy Award (Oscar), Best Dramatic Student Film (Nominee), Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, USA
1993 Frailejón, Best Student Film (Winner), Eastman Kodak Awards, USA
1993 Frailejón, Dendy Awards, Sydney Film Festival, NSW
RELATED TV APPEARANCES
2003 The Today Show, Channel 9 - SOLITUDE’S BRIDE - Yeldham talks about his desert paintings Artist Talk, Biennial Sydney Art on Paper Fair, Byron Kennedy Hall, Fox Studios, Sydney, NSW
1999 Catalyst for Renewal Lecture Series, 'Spirituality and the Arts', Paddington, NSW, 7 April
1997 'Accidental Hero', story by Caroline Jones for 'Australian Story', ABC Television, 24 May 1994
1997 'Frailejón Wins Prestigious Emmy', for the 'Today Show', Channel 9
1997 'The Movie Show', story by Margaret Pomeranz, SBS Television
1997 'Arts Show', story by Peter Castaldi, ABC Television
1997 'Creatures of the Spotlight' for JJJ Radio /Television, 24 May
1997 'Frailejón Wins Prestigious Emmy', for the 'Today Show', Channel 9
1997 'The Movie Show', story by Margaret Pomeranz, SBS Television
1997 'Arts Show', story by Peter Castaldi, ABC Television
1997 'Creatures of the Spotlight' for JJJ Radio
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Victoria Hynes 'Joshua Yeldham', Artist Profile Magazine, Iss.13, 2010
Dylan Rainforth, ‘An Artist’s Prayer to Nature’, The Age, 16 Jun 2010
ABC TV, Artists at work, 'Joshua Yeldham', 2009
William Yeoman, ‘Fertile Blend of Disciplines’, West Australian, 18 Aug 2009
Elissa Blake, ‘The Hot Seat’, Spectrum: SMH, 13 Dec 2008
John Macdonald, ‘Return of the Natural Order’, Visual Art, SMH, 6 Dec 2008
Kirsty De Garis, 'Right Now Who', Belle Magazine, Nov 2008
Annemarie Lopez 'Joshua Yeldham - Motherland' The Sydney Magazine, SMH, Nov 2008
Kelsey Munro, 'Hawkesbury River', SMH, 2006
‘Hawkesbury River’, Catalogue, Arthouse Gallery, Sydney, 2006
Victoria Hynes, 'Art: Joshua Yeldham-Bird’s Nest Diaries', SMH, 2004
Lenny Ann Low, 'Bird’s Nest Diaries', SMH Spectrum, 21 Aug 2004
Emma Nicholas, 'Desert Diary Unfolds',The Wentworth Courier, 2004
'Yeldham Family Looks to New Horizons', The Sun Herald, 9 May 2004
Janet Hawley, 'The new Kelly gang', The Age Good Weekend, 1 Mar 2003
Sharon Verghis, 'Fringe arts fight for crumbs beneath sponsors’ table' SMH, 8 Aug, 2003
Pam Walker, 'Art for everyone', The Wentworth Courier, 23 Jul 2003
'Arts & Culture Around Australia: Solitude’s Bride', The Bulletin, 11 Jun 2002
Penny Brown, 'Solo man', The Weekend Australian, 23-24 Nov 2002
Lillian Frank, 'Ghost of a chance', The Herald Sun, 12 Oct 2002
Peter Hill, 'Exhibitions: critic’s picks', SMH Metro, 8-14 Nov 2002
Lenny Ann Low, 'Grave intentions', SMH Metropolitan, 16-17 Nov 2002
Brett Thomas, 'Future Force: The Artist- Joshua Yeldham', SMH, 9 Jun 2002
Bill Ranken, 'Out there...', The Eastern Herald, 16 May 2001
'A Conversation With Joshua Yeldham', Australian Style, 1998
Daphne Guinness, 'On a Bus, in the fast lane', SMH, 2 Sept, 199
'Trust Makes Desert Bloom', The Sunday Telegraph, 1996
'Film Maker On Track To Win', The Daily Telegraph Mirror, 1996
'Filmmaker and painter', The Wentworth Courier, 1996
Tim Hilferty, 'On The Road To Stardom', SMH, 1995
Lawrence Zion, 'Celluloid Rising', Triple J Magazine, 1995
Lynden Barber, 'Joshua Is Ready to Make the Climb', SMH, 1994
Patricia Coppleson, 'Journey to Higher Ground', Cafe Magazine, 1994
Anna Maria Dell’oso, The Sydney Morning Herald, 1994
Shelley Kay, 'Time For Changing: Short Film Awards', Film News Australia, 1994
Margaret O’Shea, 'Wise Young Guy', Film News, 1994
Margaret Pomeranz, ' Extraordinarily Accomplished First Film', Gold Coast News, 1994
Jenny Rogers, 'Cranbrook Old Boy to Soar to Top', The Wentworth Courier, 1994
Lawrence Zion, 'Australian Directors: The Next Wave' Rolling Stone (Australia), 1994
Variety, ‘The Academy of Television Art & Sciences has selected its Annual College Award Winners’, Feb 18 1994