I acknowledge the Wodi Wodi people of Dharawal Country as the Traditional Custodians of the land where I live and work. I pay my respects to Elders past and present and honour the deep cultural knowledge and care that First Nations peoples have sustained over countless generations. My understanding of care and respect has grown through learning to listen to Country and be respectful of relationships and responsibilities to place and community.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Janine Bailey is an Australian artist, researcher and educator living and working on the unceded lands of the Wodi Wodi people in the Illawarra Region of New South Wales. Through sculptural, participatory and place-responsive art practices, she works with wool felt, natural materials and collaborative processes to explore care, connection and ecological belonging. Her projects emerge through listening, attuning to place and making-with materials and environments over time. Grounded in feminist care ethics, her work considers how creative practice can cultivate responsibility, sustain relationships and support more caring futures for community and Country
EDUCATION
2022 – present PhD Candidate – University of Wollongong
2021 Diploma of Sustainable Living – University of Tasmania
2016 Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours Class 1) University of Sydney – Sydney College of the Arts
2009 Bachelor of Social Science (Emergency Management) – Charles Sturt University
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2026 PhD research exhibtion, Clifton School of the Arts, Clifton, New South Wales
2023 Finalist, Wollongong Sculpture in the Garden Prize, Wollongong Botanic Gardens
2022 Group show, Bushcare Residency, Towri Centre, Wollongong Botanic Gardens
2022 Finalist, Reimagined Sculpture Prize, Hornsby Council, Hornsby
2019 Luminous Landscapes, Wollongong Botanic Gardens & Wollongong Council, Crown Street
2019 Finalist, Reimagined Sculpture Prize, Shoalhaven Council, Nowra
2018 Group show The Committee, Airspace Projects, Marrickville
2017 Finalist Clyde & Co Art Award, Sydney
2015 Group show Bespoke City, UNSW Art & Design, Kensington
2015 Group show Hidden Sculpture Prize, Rookwood Cemetery, Lidcombe
2015 Group show Language Disorder, Interlude Gallery, Glebe
2015 Finalist Sustainable Waste to Art Prize, City of Ryde, North Ryde
2015 Group show Taking Up Space, Articulate Project Space, Leichhardt
2014 Group show Articulate Project Space, Leichhardt
2014 Winner Interfaith Exhibition, Verge Gallery, Sydney
2013 Finalist Verge Gallery Awards, Verge Gallery, Sydney
AWARDS & PRIZES
2022 Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (AGRTP)
2016 University of Sydney Honours Scholarship
2015 Winner University of Sydney – Sydney College of the Arts Dean’s award for sculpture
2015 Winner Verge Gallery Awards – works on paper
2015 Highly Commended Rookwood Sculpture Prize
2014 University of Sydney Academic Merit Prize
2014 University of Sydney Dean’s list of Excellence in Academic Performance
2014 1st Place – Interfaith Exhibition Verge Gallery
2013 University of Sydney Academic Merit Prize
2013 University of Sydney Dean’s list of Excellence in Academic Performance
RESIDENCIES
2006 The Green Room – Creative Studios, Wollonogong City Council
2025 Illawarra Ecological Artists – Wollongong Art Gallery
2022 ARTWARD Artist in Residence – Wollongong City Council
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
2022 Lecturer (Art, Nature & the Environment) – University of Wollongong
2011-2021 Commercial Artist & Printmaker
2019 – 2020 Teacher – Workshop Teacher The Tinkerage Shellharbour
2020 Teacher – Screenprinting National Art School
2020 Printmedia Technical Assistant, Sydney College of the Arts
2019 Artist Assistant & Screenprinter, Richard Dunn
2019 Mentor Disability Student, Sydney College of the Arts
2017 – 2019 Gallery & Committee Member, Airspace Projects Inc, Marrickville
