New Zealand born artist exhibited extensively nationally and internationally since the 1970s. Edwards was awarded her Doctorate in 2006. She has been involved in art education since the 1970s and is currently a full time practitioner living in Christchurch. She works primarily in new media including drawing and photography. She has engaged in collaborative practice for a number of years. Edwards’s work explores role-play and social conventions in relation to individual and collective identity.
Edwards has been finalist in numerous awards: Telecom Art Award, Wallace Art Award, CoCA/Anthony Harper Contemporary Art Award, CoCA Contemporary Art Award, Norswear Art Award, Margaret Stoddard Award.
Work in Public Collections: Auckland City Art Gallery, National Art Gallery, Wellington, Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North. The Bath House, Rotorua’s Art and History Museum, Rotorua, North Shore Teachers’ College, North Shore, Auckland, Gisborne Museum and Art Centre. Sergeant Gallery, Wanganui, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Auckland, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, Hamilton Art Gallery & Museum, Centre of Contemporary Art, Christchurch, Silpakorn University, Thailand. Private Collections include New Zealand, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Honolulu, London and New York.
Education
2006
Doctorate of Fine Art, Elam School of Art, Auckland.
1972
Masters of Fine Arts, Auckland University, Elam School of Art, Auckland
1970
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Auckland University, Elam School of Art, Auckland
Professional highlights include
Since 2005
Full time artist
2004
Guest artist of Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
2003-present
Member of External Reference Group to monitor Learning experience outside the Classroom programme (LEOTC): a Ministry of Education initiative in collaboration with Centre of Contemporary Art’s The Art Zone.
1999-2000
Academic Director, Design & Arts College, Christchurch
1996-2005
Director, Fine Arts Faculty, Design & Arts College
1994/1995
Lectureship in Painting and Printmaking, Ilam School of Fine Arts Canterbury University
1989-1992
Studio based Research, Auckland, Christchurch and Rotorua
1985
Stone Lithography Project with Printer Graeme Cornwall for Artist in Focus, Auckland City Art Gallery, Curated by Alexa Johnston
1983
Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Grant
1976
Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Grant
1975-1989
Senior Lectureship in Printmaking, Elam School of Art, Auckland University
1974
Rank Xerox Research Project Don Binney, Victoria Edwards & Greer Twiss, Elam School of Art, Auckland University
Exhibition highlights include
2009
Art Auction, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu; National Drawing Award 2009, Artspace/Auckland, The Physics Room/Christchurch
2006
Victoria Edwards: the heart hath ears, Blue Oyster Gallery, Dunedin; NightWatch...moving image sequences in installation 2005-2006, Scotts garage, Christchurch CBD
2005
GPS, CoCA, Christchurch and Randolph Street Gallery, Auckland; Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts 10th Anniversary Art Exhibition & Burapha University 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Burapha University, Thailand
2004
Dear Victoria, Collaboration with Victoria Bell, Physics Room, Christchurch; Imprint, Collaboration with Gail Anderson, Creation Gallery, Christchurch; Aotearoa Barbie, CoCA, Christchurch and Aigantighe Gallery, Timaru; New Global Vision: East and West The 11th international Art Festival, Eastern Centre of Art and Culture, Burapha University, Chonburi/Thailand; The Middle/Way, Touring exhibition in Thailand: Arts Centre, Silpakorn University/Bangkok, Eastern Art Centre, Burapha University/Burapha, Chiang Mai University Art Gallery/Chiang Mai and Thaksiri University Art Gallery/Songkhla (2004 and 2005)
2003
The Middle/Way, CoCA, Christchurch; Eight Propositions, Randolph Street Gallery, Whitecliffe College, Auckland
2002
blink, Cathedral Junction, Christchurch; International Print & Drawing Exhibition on the occasion of 60th Celebration of Silpakorn University, Arts Centre, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
2001
snapshot, Centre of Contemporary Art, Christchurch (illustrated catalogue)
2000
Manifest: mixing & sampling, Collaboration with Tim McConnell, Centre of Contemporary Art, Christchurch (illustrated catalogue, essay by Virginia McIntosh)