E: mszaracollins@gmail.com
W: www.zaracollins.com
born 1974 Adelaide, SA
lives in Sydney, NSW
The flotsam and jetsam of Asian flea markets, op shops and grocery aisles are what inspire me. I see potential in the everyday and ephemeral: colours, textures, patterns and patina that provide the basis for works both lasting and unique. Since visiting Japan on a school exchange, I have been fascinated by Asia. My more recent travel to Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, has fuelled my passion for all things Asian – cuisine, culture, art, fashion and architecture.
My art practice has morphed numerous times and through several mediums; at various times I have worked with glass, silver, textiles, resin and plastic. Treasures scoured from Asian marketplaces continually suggest new forms and functions. These ‘finds’ motivate me to experiment with different techniques and materials. The notion of transformation underpins not only my practice but also my pieces, and is particularly evident in my current focus on contemporary jewellery. Here I have tried to communicate the grace of the commonplace – embedding Japanese rice paper into resin bangles, transforming silver-dipped chopstick ends into drop earrings, and giving the generic Chinese chopstick new life as bracelets, pendents and neckpieces.
ZARA COLLINS 2006
Collins was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) in 2000 from Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney, NSW. Since then she has exhibited widely throughout Australia and internationally and has received many awards and grants, including an artist-in-residency to Beijing by the Australia-China Council in 2004. Collins is currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Visual Arts), through Charles Sturt University.
selected exhibitions
2009
Wearable Art, curated by Denise Orchard, Glass Plus Gallery, Vic
Friends of Breathing Colours, curated by Chloe Waddell, Breathing Colours Gallery, Sydney
2008
From Mao to Now, curated by Catherine Croll, The Armoury, Olympic Park, Sydney
Wearbale Art, curated by Denise Orchard, Glass Plus Gallery, Vic
Showcase, curated by Bridget Kennedy and Melanie Ihnen, Studio 20/17, Dank Street , Sydney
2007
- Le Secret Boudoir, collaboration with Katrina Freene, Jam Factory, Adelaide, SA
- Young Glass 2007, finalist, Ebbeltoft Museum, Denmark
- Hobart Art Prize, finalist, Hobart, TAS
- New from Australia, Chappell Gallery, New York, Australia
2006
- Ranamok Glass Prize 2006, finalist, Ranamok Glass Prize Ltd, Glass Artists’ Gallery, Sydney, NSW – touring to 6 Australian venues
- Baubles, Bangles and Beads, curated by Richard Perram, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, NSW – touring to 8 Australian venues
Embrace, Soda Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2005
- Beijing Takings, solo exhibition, Pyrmont Studios Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2004
- Dreams of Spring, solo exhibition, Jam Factory, Adelaide, SA
- 40, Object Galleries, Sydney, NSW
- Reflections, curated by Damian Kelly, Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga, NSW
- Australian Jewellery Showcase, DFAT Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, China
2003
- Finders Keepers, solo exhibition, Zu Design – jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA
- Cities of Gold & Silver, Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT
selected retail
- Yoshi Jones, Sydney, NSW
- Beaver Galleries, Canberra, ACT
- Queensland Art Gallery Store, Brisbane, QLD
- Glass Plus Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
- Zu Design – jewellery + objects, Adelaide, SA
- Sturt Gallery, Mittagong, NSW
collections
- Private collections in Australia, USA, Japan, Jordan and New Zealand
Spike earring
2002
chopstick ends, silver,
5 x 6cm, photo Andrew Frolows
Old News (Chinese)
2008
perspex, sliver, recycled newspaper, resin
wrist cuffs, courtesy the artist, photo Andrew Frollows
Yesterdays papers (detail)
2009
perspex, sliver, recycled newspaper, resin
neck peice, courtesy the artist, photo Andrew Frollows
Old news (Arabic)
2008
perspex, sliver, recycled newspaper, resin
wrist cuffs, courtesy the artist, photo Andrew Frollows