Geoff Kleem is an artist and educator with extensive experience in teaching and research supervision. His practice though primarily photographic is conceptually driven and multidisciplinary, often encompassing installation, sculpture and other areas of practice.
He has exhibited nationally and internationally since 1982 with works held in the collections of the Art Gallery of NSW, Queensland Art Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria, South Australia Art Gallery, National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Contemporary Art plus institutional and private collections.
He has had over 30 Solo exhibitions and participated in over 100 group exhibitions. Notably at the Art Gallery of NSW Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney, Artspace Sydney, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Monash University Gallery Melbourne, Australian Centre for Photography Sydney, The Centre for Contemporary Photography Melbourne, Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne, The Suburban Chicago USA, Yale University USA, University of Technology Gallery Sydney, PS1 Museum New York USA and the MAK Museum Vienna Austria. His work has also been included in many institutional exhibitions touring Asia and Australia.
Geoff Kleems work has been broadly discussed and reviewed in publications such as Art and Australia, Australian Art Collector, Artforum Magazine, Art+Text, Broadsheet, Eikon and Eyeline Magazine.
Awards include Professional Development and New Work grants from the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council, Residency Fellowship at PSI Museum New York USA, Artist Residency at the Chinati Foundation Marfa Texas USA, Visiting Artist University of Tennessee USA, Visual Arts Board studio residency Tokyo Japan and the University of Sydney Power Fellowship at the Cité Internationale des Arts Paris.
He is represented by Kronenburg / Wright Artists Projects.
About
The National Art School’s renowned Photomedia faculty offers Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) and Master of Fine Art (MFA) students in-depth instruction in the technical skills and theoretical understanding across the broad spectrum of contemporary fine art photography and photomedia.
The BFA program introduces students to all aspects of photographic practice, from traditional analogue camera and darkroom techniques to contemporary digital imaging processes, advanced digital printing and moving image workshops using Adobe Photoshop and Premier software.
Study is integrated with studio demonstrations, tutorials, critiques and excursions to relevant exhibitions. Students are encouraged to broaden their practical skills and their understanding of the broad history and theory supporting photographic practices. As well as exploring the boundaries of photography in contemporary visual art, students are encouraged to find their own path and identity as an emerging practicing artist. As students progress through their degree, increasing emphasis is placed on individual experimentation and investigation, which fosters the artistic development, creative confidence and critical awareness needed to successfully pursue a career in visual art.
To support and facilitate their development, each student is provided with an individual working and studio space equipped with a personal computer and imaging software. Facilities include individual studios, a well-equipped lighting studio and extensive analogue darkroom facilities. Student projects are supported by digital or analogue camera and lighting equipment that can also be borrowed for off-site work. NAS also has a professional onsite digital print service, The Print Lab, with large-format print capability and managed by a highly experienced fine art printer.
The faculty team is led by Head of Photomedia Geoff Kleem, an artist and educator with extensive experience in teaching and research supervision. His practice, though primarily photographic, is conceptually orientated and multidisciplinary. He has exhibited and worked nationally and internationally, with his works held in public and private collections around Australia.
All Photomedia lecturers are experienced practicing artists, dedicated to engaging, supporting and challenging their students. NAS is renowned for its studio-based, hands-on model of learning, and all Photomedia students receive intensive face-to-face teaching in small classes. Postgraduate students also are provided their own studio space on campus in the new Postgraduate Centre.
In the BFA program, all first year students at NAS take Photomedia in first semester alongside electives in ceramics, painting, printmaking and sculpture, as well as the core subject of drawing. In second semester students choose to specialise in two electives, to explore in more depth. In second year, students focus fully on a chosen elective such as Photomedia, however there are always opportunities for cross-disciplinary work.
