The Guardian Australia: Fiona Foley’s art of the uncomfortable: ‘I wanted to provoke a conversation about racism’

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The Guardian Australia: Fiona Foley’s art of the uncomfortable: ‘I wanted to provoke a conversation about racism’

2020-01-08

by Danielle Neely

Article by Larissa Behrendt

“The 30-year career of this soft-spoken but fiercely intellectual artist is one of reclaiming Indigenous identities and rewriting history”.

NAS alumna Dr Fiona Foley speaks with The Guardian Australia and unpacked the meaning behind her work in the lead up to the opening of Who are these strangers and where are they going? at National Art School.

Image: Fiona Foley, The Oyster Fisherman 1, 2011, Ultrachrome print on paper edition of 15, 60 x 80cm © the artist. Courtesy the artist and Niagara Galleries, Melbourne

Introducing Jasmine Greenwood, Bethany Hardidge, Paige Hottwagner, and Mel Jhey, four of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

—
Jasmine Greenwood, `From Frida, 2025`, buff raku earthenware saggar fired with rock salt, steel scourer, eggshell, seaweed, onion skin, oyster shell, coconut fibre, avocado, garlic peel, coffee ground, hair, banana skins, approx. 30 x 26 x 14 cm

Bethany Hardidge, `Oh Em Gee`, earthenware paper clay, underglaze, 7 x 30 x 17 cm

Paige Hottwagner, `Morphogene`, glaze on stoneware paper clay, 21 x 18 x 18 cm

Mel Jhey, `Big Mouth`, stoneware, glaze, 77 x 18 x 21 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@jasmine.greenwood
@beths.artstuff
@paigeceramics_25
@meljheyart

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Nov 13

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Introducing Jasmine Greenwood, Bethany Hardidge, Paige Hottwagner, and Mel Jhey, four of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

—
Jasmine Greenwood, 'From Frida, 2025', buff raku earthenware saggar fired with rock salt, steel scourer, eggshell, seaweed, onion skin, oyster shell, coconut fibre, avocado, garlic peel, coffee ground, hair, banana skins, approx. 30 x 26 x 14 cm

Bethany Hardidge, 'Oh Em Gee', earthenware paper clay, underglaze, 7 x 30 x 17 cm

Paige Hottwagner, 'Morphogene', glaze on stoneware paper clay, 21 x 18 x 18 cm

Mel Jhey, 'Big Mouth', stoneware, glaze, 77 x 18 x 21 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@jasmine.greenwood
@beths.artstuff
@paigeceramics_25
@meljheyart

Introducing Cristelle Cabrera and Caitlin Galvez, two of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

—
Cristelle Cabrera, `Vengo a darte un abrazo, pero amam waqachiwankicho!/ I come to give you a hug, but don’t make me cry!`, terracotta clay with underglaze, glaze and cotton string, 126 x 50 x 36 cm

Caitlin Galvez, `Don’t mess with the Yakult`, unglazed porcelain, 31 x 20 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@crissygunieart
@caity_gal

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Nov 13

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Introducing Cristelle Cabrera and Caitlin Galvez, two of our graduating students in Ceramics.

Celebrate the future of contemporary art at The Grad Show Opening Night, Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

—
Cristelle Cabrera, 'Vengo a darte un abrazo, pero amam waqachiwankicho!/ I come to give you a hug, but don’t make me cry!', terracotta clay with underglaze, glaze and cotton string, 126 x 50 x 36 cm

Caitlin Galvez, 'Don’t mess with the Yakult', unglazed porcelain, 31 x 20 cm

Portrait: @soybased_snack
Documentation: Peter Morgan

@crissygunieart
@caity_gal

The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of the 2025 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduate students.

Join us for the opening night on Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

The Grad Show
5–14 December 2025

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Nov 12

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The National Art School is proud to present The Grad Show, our major end-of-year exhibition showcasing the work of the 2025 Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) graduate students.

Join us for the opening night on Thursday 4 December.

RSVP link in bio.

The Grad Show
5–14 December 2025

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate our 2025 cohort at last night`s opening of The Postgrad Show.

The Postgrad Show is now on view across the NAS campus until 16 November.

Learn more and visit the online exhibition at the link in bio.

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Nov 7

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Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate our 2025 cohort at last night's opening of The Postgrad Show.

The Postgrad Show is now on view across the NAS campus until 16 November.

Learn more and visit the online exhibition at the link in bio.

Opening tonight, The Postgrad Show.

Join us from 6–10pm to celebrate the work of our graduating Master of Fine Art (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Art (DFA) students, exhibited throughout the NAS campus.

RSVP link in bio.

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Nov 6

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Opening tonight, The Postgrad Show.

Join us from 6–10pm to celebrate the work of our graduating Master of Fine Art (MFA) and Doctor of Fine Art (DFA) students, exhibited throughout the NAS campus.

RSVP link in bio.

Tickets are selling fast for the upcoming NAS Gala | National Treasures on Friday 21 November!

The NAS Gala is an unforgettable evening of music and art, with the opportunity to bid on exceptional works by NAS Fellows and alumni in our unmissable auction.

Get tickets via our link in bio.

1. Rosemary Lee, `25-3-2 (everything reminds me of him)`, graphite, charcoal, oil and wax-based pigment on paper, 28 x 1.5 cm (framed)
2. Lucy O`Doherty, `Umbrella reflections in Ischian pool`, oil on linen, 61 x 91.5 cm
3. Wendy Sharpe, `Man on Bed`, pastel and charcoal on Stonehenge, 85 x 80 cm (framed)
4. Reg Mombassa, `Nocturne: a robot polishes a carbone`, pen and ink on paper, 40 x 55 cm

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Nov 5

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The Guardian Australia: Fiona Foley’s art of the uncomfortable: ‘I wanted to provoke a conversation about racism’