Academic Achievements

  • 2017, PhD, Australian National University, College of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Art & Design, Photography and Media Arts.

  • 2004, Master of Philosophy (Visual Arts), Australian National University, School of Art.

  • 1996, Post-Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts, Sydney College of the Arts, The University of Sydney.

  • 1990, Bachelor of Visual Arts, Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney.

  • 1986, Commenced a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the Darwin Institute of Technology.

Academic Scholarships and Awards

  • 2021 ANU Vice-Chancellor’s citation for outstanding contribution for student learning.

  • 2020 HDR Supervisor of the Month award, June.

  • 2019, Innovative Research Award, ACUADS Awards 2019.2019, Innovative Research Award, ACUADS Awards 2019.

  • 2016, Recipient ANU Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Enhancement Grants for Semester 1, 2017. Dr Al Munro and Ms Erica Seccombe (School of Art, Textiles): The Open Studio: Supporting Student Learning in Visual Art Settings with Digital Demonstrations.

  • 2013, Inaugural ANU Vice Chancellor’s College Artist Fellowship Scheme

  • 2013, ANU School of Art, EASS Postgraduate Materials Award

  • 2012, HDR Travel Research Field Trip, UK

  • 2011, Australian Postgraduate Award 2011-14

  • 2003, ANU School of Art Materials Award.

  • 1986-87, Northern Territory Government Bachelor of Arts Scholarship (4yrs)

Research Grants

  • 2022, Tellus: Plant blindness commission, Bundanon Siteworks. UNSW Art and Design, the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens Herbarium, Bundanon Trust and Open Humanities Press.

  • 2019-2022 Consultant, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown Hospital Rebuild.

  • 2017 artsACT project Grant: research photopolymer intaglio at Baldessin Press + Studio

  • 2014, artsACT project Grant to take up Artist in Residence, Natural History Museum, London, 2015

  • 2010, Synapse Art Science Collaborations, Australian Network for Art and Technology ANAT, Visiting Research Fellow, ANU Department of Applied Mathematics

  • 2009, ArtsACT project grant for 2010 Visiting Research Fellow, ANU Department of Applied Mathematics

  • 2006, ArtsACT grant for 3-month artist in Residence, ANU Department of Applied Maths,

Commissions

  • 2019-2022 Integrated Art Strategy, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Campbelltown Hospital Rebuild.

  • 2013, Commission, Centenary of Canberra, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Science Fiction

  • 2011, Commission, High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre, CSIRO, Permanent foyer installation

  • 2005, Craft ACT, Craft-in-site writing grant for unMagazine, issue 5

Awards and prizes

  • 2023, First Prize, European Healthcare Design Awards in two categories, Mental Health Design and Interior Design and the Arts, Campbelltown Hospital Rebuild, Billard Leece Partnership.

  • 2018, First Prize, Waterhouse Natural Science Art prize, South Australian Museum

  • 2018, Scientists first choice award, Waterhouse Natural Science Art prize, South Australian Museum

  • 2016, Capital Arts Patrons, CAPO Fellowship

  • 2015, First Prize, acquisitive, Inaugural Paramor Prize: Art + Innovation Casula Powerhouse Art Centre, Liverpool, NSW

  • 2007, George Mora Foundation Fellowship - Inaugural short-listed award recipient

  • 2007, Megalo Print Studio Artist in Residence and Materials Award (Watson Studios)

  • 2002, Megalo Print Studio Artist in Residence and Materials Award. (Hackett Studios)

Residencies

  • 2022, Bundanon Artist in Residence program, as part of The Tellus Art Project 2022-23 is a shared project between UNSW Art and Design, the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens Herbarium, Bundanon Trust and Open Humanities Press.

  • 2015, Natural History Museum Micro-CT laboratory, London, June – July 2015. (ArtsACT)

  • 2012, Australia Council for the Arts London Studio Residency 14 May – 18 August.

  • 2012, Millennium Seedbank, RBG Kew, Wakehurst Place, West Sussex, UK. 1-14 May.

  • 2009-2010, Synapse Residency, Visiting Fellow, Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Physics and Engineering. (ArtsACT + Synapse funding ).

  • 2010, Plants Under the Microscope, High Resolution Plant Phenomics Centre, CSIRO, 1 October – 30 November.

  • 2007, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, Artist in Residence + Materials Award, Watson.

  • 2006 - 2008 Artist in Residence Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Physics and Engineering, ANU (ArtsACT grant).

  • 2002, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, Artist in Residence + Materials Award, Hackett.

  • 1994-96, Artist in residence, VisLab, The University of Sydney.

Board membership

  • 2020 - current, Chair of the Board, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, ACT.

  • 2018 - 2022, Member of the board of directors, ANAT (Australian Network for Art + Technology), Adelaide

  • 2017 - 2020, Member of the Board, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, ACT.

  • 2010-2014, Chair of the Board, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, ACT.

  • 2007 - 2010, Member of the Board, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, ACT.

Collections

  • 2017, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, In Our Own Time, (2016) 6 panel inkjet print on mirrored composite board.

  • 2017, ANU Research School of Biology, Commissioned panels, permanent display.

  • 2016 Australian War Memorial, Crossing the line, (2016), screen print on Stonehenge

  • 2015 Casula Powerhouse Art Centre Permanent Collection. Virtual Life, (2015), inkjet print on composite board.

  • 2015, National Gallery of Australia Print Collection, Creaturepede, (2003), inkjet print on paper

  • 2015, Australian War Memorial, Rosette, (2015), screen print on Kozo

  • 2014, New Parliament House, Australia, Canberra. Nanoplastica (2008-2014), single channel digital projection installation

  • 2008 Canberra Museum and Gallery, Nanoplastica (2008), 3 channel digital projection installation

  • 2002 National Gallery of Australia, 1994 Partners in Print portfolio, Strange light, (1994), screenprint on paper

  • 1997 Wagga Wagga Art Gallery permanent Collection, Do you read me over? portrait of an astronaut, (1995), multipanel screenprint on paper

  • 1996 UWS, Macarthur National Printmedia Acquisitive collection, Snake, (1995), screenprint on paper.

  • 1993 Wollongong University permanent Collection, Mothers, death, 2 worlds and sea things, (1992), linocut on paper.

Solo Exhibitions

  • 2019, BIG PINK, Gallerie Pompom, Sydney, 30 October - 24 November.

  • 2017, The Lady Botanist, Megalo Print Studio & Gallery, 8-31 April.

  • 2016, Out of Season (PhD Examination Exhibition) ANU School of Art Gallery

  • 2016, Metamorphosis, Brenda May Gallery, Dank St, Waterloo, Sydney. 9 July – 4 Aug.

  • 2014, A zone of Living things, Dominik Mersche Gallery, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, 8-31May

  • 2013, Science Fiction, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Supported by the Centenary of Canberra. 16 Aug – 16 Sep

  • 2008, Nanoplastica, 23 May - 5 July, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Gormon House, Canberra, ACT

  • 2004, Surface for Air, 2x4 Masters and PHD graduation exhibition 2004 ANU School of Art Gallery, 29th April - 1May

  • 2002, Work from the Megalo Residency Photography Gallery Space, ANU School of Art,

  • 1998, SATELLITE space and other measurements. TAP Gallery, Sydney.

International exhibitions

  • 2022, Körperkammer (Body Chamber) Eisenwunderwelt, Poets Novella, Berlin, curated by Critin Millet, 8-22 September 2022.

  • 2019, Boundless Objects, Curated by Monika Bakke, Centro de Arte e Cultura, Evora, Portugal, October 12, 2019 - March 29, 2020

  • 2015, Aesthetics of Manufacture, Sheffield Design Week, Butcher WorksGalley, UK, curated by Carle Baugh, Sheffield, UK.

  • 2014, Natural History Museum, Tomography for Scientific Advancement exhibition – and highly commended finalist

  • 2012, Time & Vision, Curated by Paul Bayley, 20 years Australia Council for the ArtsLondon Studio Residency Exhibition, Barge House, London, 20 Oct – 11 Nov

  • 2012 Nanoplastica, So far The Future, London, UK 21-23 June (solo)

  • 2006 Super Natural, with Alison Munro. Alsager Art Centre, Faculty of Performing and Visual Arts Manchester University, Cheshire, UK.

  • 2003, A Borderless State, the Miskolci Galleria, Prague, curator Dr Paul Thirkell, Centre for Fine Print Research, University of West England.

  • 2000, Y2K International Print Exhibition, National Taiwan Arts Education Institute, Taiwan, and Tokyo Fine Arts University, Japan

  • 1998 2nd International Triennial of Graphic Art. The Labyrinth: Visions andInterpretations of the Eternal Myth in Contemporary Printmaking Prague

Curated competitions

  • 2023, Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize 2019, Campbelltown Art Centre,

  • 2019, Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize 2019, Campbelltown Art Centre,

  • 2018: (Winner) Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, South Australian Museum, 8 June - 5 August.

  • 2018: The 40th Alice Prize. Selected Finalist. Araluen Arts Centre Alice Springs, NT.

  • 2015: (Winner) Inaugural Paramor Prize: Art + Innovation Casula Powerhouse Art Centre, Liverpool, NSW

  • 2013 - Fremantle Print Award Exhibition, Fremantle WA 21 September – 17 November

  • 2012 - The 37th Alice Prize, selected contestant, The Araluen Centre, Alice Springs NT, 11 May - 10 June

Curated exhibitions (national)

  • 2025, (forthcoming) Six Seasons, cross-cultural collaborative socially engaged exhibition, with Rebecca Mayo, Aunty Deidre Martin, Jacob Morris, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery.

  • 2022, Site works, as part of the Bundanon Siteworks Series and the Tellus: Plant blindness commission, curated by Sophie O’Brien and Boe-Lin Bastian, 27 November 2022

  • 2019, Baldessin Press - The Story, curated by Baldessin Press, Monsalvat, Victoria, 25 July - 15 September

  • 2019, Promised the Moon, curated by Dr Ursula K Frederick, an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Fellow at the School of Archaeology & Anthropology and School of Art & Design. SOAD Gallery, 20 June - 27 July.

  • 2019, Plant + Human, curated by Allison Holland, Australian Centre for Photography, 15 Feb - 27 April. 

  • 2018, The Art and Consequence of Collaboration. Curated by Jonathan Parsons - Artistic Director - Experimenta, for Spectra 2018 presented by Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) with University of South Australia and Experimenta Media Arts, and support from Arts South Australia. Location: South Australian School of Art Gallery (SASA Gallery), University of South Australia, Adelaide. Exhibition Dates: 4 – 26 October 2018. Travelling to UTS Gallery, 2019.

  • 2018, Image(in)ing, Ewart Art Gallery, Sydney, curated by Jane Theau, 27 February - 17 March

  • 2017, Backyards, curated by Waratah Lahy and Anne-Marie Jean, May Space Sydney, 19 September - 7 October

  • 2017 Aura: Repetition, Reproduction, and the Mark of the Artist, Curated by Ben Rak, Manly Art Gallery & Museum 14 July – 3 September [Travelling- Wagga Wagga Art Gallery 9 December 2017 – 4 March 2018; ANU School of Art & Design, 23 April - 20 May, 2018.]

  • 2017, How Does Your Garden Grow? Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, NSW, 3 Feb - 18 March.

  • 2017, Pareidolia: cloud gazing, group show, curated Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, 8-30 March

  • 2017, Making Design Research, ANU SoA&D Gallery, 18-25 Feb

  • 2016, Contour 556: interventions in the landscape, curated by Neil Hobbs, Canberra Public Art Festival 22 Oct - 13 Nov

  • 2016, Notfair: Sign O’the Times, curated by Kirsten Rann, 16-21 August 2016, 524 Flinders St, Melbourne.

  • 2015, Light Speculation, The Carlton Connect Initiative, The University of Melbourne, curated by Dr Renee Beale, July 2015.

  • 2013, Think it, make it share it, RiAus, The Science Exhange. Adelaide. SALA Festival, Curated by ANAT, 2 August - 30 August 2013

  • 2013, Synapse a Selection, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, 8 June- 14July

  • 2013, Bad Girls, Gorman House, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, curated by Annie Doyle Wawrzynaczak, 8 February – 16 March

  • 2012, Crossing the Rubicon, with Ellis Hutch, ANCA Studios & Gallery, Dickson, Canberra, 24 October – 4 November 2012, The 37th Alice Prize, selected contestant, The Araluen Centre, Alice Springs NT, 11 May - 10 June

  • 2011, Natural Digression, University of Technology, Sydney – group show with PenelopeCain, Waratah Lahy, Al Munro, Kirsten Farrell, Ellis Hutch, Rose Montebelo, March, forthcoming. 8 March - 12 April + at Level17 Artspace, Victorian University, 12-23 October, 2010

  • 2011, Imitation of Life, Canberra Musuem & Gallery, curated by Deborah Clark

  • 2011, Genart_sys | a window on digital culture, Australia Council for the arts, 28 January- 16 March URL http://www.genartsys.com/

  • 2003, 24/7. Exhibition Home. artsACT public art project in conjunction with ACT housing and ACT Craft. Curated by Barbara McConchie

  • 2001, No Muttering, contemporary printmedia, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, The University ofNSW; Gosford Regional Art Gallery, NSW; The Queensland University ofTechnology Art Gallery, Brisbane; curatorRilka Oakley.

  • 2001, Wild Sheep Chase. Group show of contemporary Print and Photo media. Curated by Patsy Payne and Denise Ferris. CSA Gallery. ANU. ACT.

  • 2000, Vacant Possession. Collaborative Installation with video projection, sound and mixed media. with Scot Gordon, Cassie McCullagh and Rob Laurie. PROJECT, Centre for Contemporary Art. Wollongong.

  • 1999, Moments, Christopher Thomas Art and Design. Adelaide. S.A.

Screenings

  • 2021 - BIG PINK, home page ANAT website, https://www.anat.org.au/

  • 2020-2021, Out of Season, home page ANAT website, https://www.anat.org.au/

  • 2020 - Out of Season, Metamorphosis, Big Screen, South Australian Museum, Adelaide.

  • 2013, Nanoplastica, This is Not Art Festival Building Projection Screening, Hunter Street, Newcastle, October – November

  • 2010, Nanoplastica, at Linear Progressions: where art meets science, (panel selection) curated by QUTCreative Industries, screening at Precinct Parer Place, Kelvin Grove Urban Villagescreens, selected Screens at Gardens Point & Federation Square, 14th – 22nd August.

  • 2010, Paro: mental commitment robot, VIRION, QUT, from 19 July to 1 August 2010, a screen based digital art exhibitionthat links to public sites across Brisbane, focused in the Kelvin Grove UrbanScreen Network http://virion2012.com.au/submission/paro-mental-commitment-robot

  • 2009, Oct 19 – Nov 19 Nanoplastica on the Big Screen, Federation Square, MelbourneCentral Business District, curator by Melissa Delayney, notes on the underground.

  • 1996, Tool2ob Sydney/Berlin First International Virtual Exhibition Screening. ARTSPACE, Woolloomooloo, curated by Uban Excile, Graham Crawford andGavyn Lister

Published conference papers:

Book reviews

  • Seccombe, E., Coral Empire: Underwater Oceans, Colonial Tropics, Visual Modernity Anne Elias Duke University Press, 296pp, 2019, Australian Humanities Review 65 (November 2019). ISSN: 1325 8338 http://australianhumanitiesreview.org/2019/11/30/review-13/

  • Seccombe, E., ‘Synthetics: Stephen Jones’, Book review, Art Monthly Australia, issue #247 March 2011

Essays published in journals + magazines: print + online

  • Martin, D, & Seccombe, E., ‘Walk beside me: growing an awareness of plants through art and cross-cultural collaboration.’ The Herbarium Tales, Eds., P.Gibson, S. Jottkandt, M. Sierra, A. Westbrook, Open Humanities Press (forthcoming 2024)

  • Seccombe, E., ‘“What does a hospital feel like?”: art, health, nature community and culture at the new Campbelltown Hospital.’ Arts Health Network ART/NSW October 2021.

  • Seccombe, E., 'A view from the Arboretum', Art + Australia, Issue Three (54.2): Unnaturalism, Editor Edward Colless, Melbourne University, 2018, p 78-81.

  • Robins, V. & Seccombe. E., ‘3D X-ray Art’, Journal of Australian Physics, volume 52, NO 1, Jan-Feb 2015, p 18-22

  • Seccombe, E., ‘Oz East Ender’, Art Monthly Australia, issue #254 October 2012

  • Seccombe, E., ‘Dimensions Variable Contemporary Sculpture Festival Canberra 2005’, unMagazine, issue 5, web supplement

  • Murphy, K. & Seccombe, E., ‘Walking Zero: Nakahashi Katsushige’, Art Monthly Australia #155, November 2002. A collaborative project with artist Kate M Murphy to review the performance of Japanese artist Katsushige at the sight of the Cowra prisoner of war camp on 29th September 2005.

Representations: text, print and online

  • Aura: Repetition, Reproduction, and the Mark of the Artist, catalogue, curated by Ben Rak, essay by Glen Barkley, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, 2017.

  • Payne, Patsy, 'The Lady Botanist - Erica Seccombe,' Imprint Magazine, May 2, 2017, online http://imprint.org.au/printmaking/the-lady-botanist-erica-seccombe/

  • Visualisations merge art and science to reveal details of larval growth, National Computational Infrastructure, NCI, Research Highlights http://nci.org.au/research/visualisations-merge-art-science-reveal-details-larval-growth/

  • Sellah, Anna, 'Mungbeans like you have never seen them before', ABC Science online article, posted, 18 January, 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-18/x-ray-vision-shows-seeds-sprouting/6900460

  • Jayhoon, W., ‘ANU School of Art PhD Candidate wins $20K Art Prize’, Woroni, March 10, 2015

  • Pryor, Sally. ‘Art versus science’ The Canberra Times, Saturday, February 21, 2015

  • Ferris, D.; Jolly, M.; Riddle, A.; ‘Utopia within, across & beyond the university’, Real Time, issue #116 Aug-Setp 2013 pg.6

  • Dawkins, Urszula, 'The science and art of tangible things’, RealTimeArts Magazine 7-16 June 2013, This article first appeared on RT's ISEA2013-in RealTime blog

  • Broker, David, ‘Science Fiction’, exhibition catalogue and essay, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, 2013

  • Time & Vision, publication to commemorate 30 years of the Australia Council for the Arts London Studio, Published by ACME, London, 2012

  • Clark, Deborah, Imitation of Life: Memory and Mimicry in Canberra Region Art, Exhibition Catalogue entry, ‘Erica Seccombe’ 2011, pp. 12-14.

  • Rann, Kirsten, ‘To see what we don’t yet know what we are seeing’, Art Monthly Australia, issue #237 March, 2011, pp.12-14

  • Cosmos Magazine, ‘Lateral Selection,’ NO 39, 2010, pp.32

  • Broker, David, ‘Nanoplastica’, exhibition catalogue and essay, Canberra Contemporary Art Space, 2008

  • Smith, Russell, ‘place face down to copy.’ Eyeline, No: 54, Winter 2004, pg 50.

  • Burtt, Cliff. ‘Place made – Fifth Australian Print Symposium.’ Artlink, Vol 24 No2. 2004 p.91.

  • Mann, Allan. ‘No Muttering Print Symposium’ review. Imprint Summer 2001, Volume 36, No:4. pg 8.

Documentary, features & interviews

  • ABC Landline, 2016. PhD Research, "Grow: experiencing nature in the fifth dimension.'

  • TED X Canberra. Erica Seccombe, Experiencing Nature in the Fifth Dimension, online Youtube, pubished 2014

  • ABC 7.30 Report, 29 September 2013, Beautiful Monster

  • Art Monthly Australia #254, August 2013, Cover,

  • Benson, Tracey M. ‘All about X,O and 1 – an interview with Erica Seccombe, http://mediakult.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/all-about-x-0-and-1-an-intervi... 2011

  • Damien McDermett, ‘Artbreak' 5 Part documentary series, Series 4, featuring Erica Seccombe and Professor Tim Senden, SBS, STVDIO channel, aired DEC 2011, SBS television and Youtube,

  • From Research to Reality (Season 1, Episode 3) Part 1 of 3, Queensland University of Technology