Biographies

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)