Representation
James Makin Gallery in Victoria
Ara holds a Bachelor of Fine Art (Sculpture) from RMIT University (2012) and a Master in Social Science Environment and Planning (2014). This work delves into the cultural ecologies surrounding lost and stolen Mesopotamian artefacts. Through tangible and visual means, it serves as a vivid representation of sculptural deities, architectural forms, and vessels that have been lost to time. Rather than replicating the pieces, the intention is to draw inspiration from them. The resulting eccentric forms boast unique colour schemes, pleasing curves, and delicate edges, inspired by archaeological figures and decayed architectural sites.
Ara exhibited his work at both national and international exhibitions. His work has been supported by organizations such as the Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria, and the City of Melbourne. Ara is represented by James Makin Gallery in Victoria
Education
2013-2014 Master of Social Science, Environment & Planning, RMIT University.
2010-2012 Bachelor of Fine Arts – Sculpture, RMIT University.
Solo Exhibitions
2025 James Makin Gallery - upcoming- July .
2024 At The First Flood of Daylight, Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
2023 Heavenly Bodies, James Makin Gallery
2022 Entities, Scott Lawrie Gallery, Auckland
2022 Mythos of the Island, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2022 The Land Between Two Rivers - By NGV Design Week
2021 Artefacts. June, Blindside.
2020 Site With No Real Place, C3 Contemporary Art Space.
2019 Heterotopia, Stockroom, Kyneton, Vic.
2018 Narratives- Realties, fictionalising the present and contaminating the fantastical wilderness. Melbourne
2017 Controlled Instabilities, Contemporary Art Space, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2017 Progress and Passivity, Five Walls, Melbourne.
2016 Hybrid Terrains, Black Centre AADK, Spain
2016 Reflection as Ideological Hallucination, Incinerator Gallery, Melbourne.
2016 Terrains, Seventh Gallery, Melbourne.
2015 Navigating With Uncertainty, C3 Contemporary art space.
2012 Frame of Reference, RMIT Graduation Exhibition.
Selected Group - Curated Exhibitions
2025 Organic Headphones, Velvet Lobster, Sydney.
2025 Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2024 Placed, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney
2024 Pride, ANZ Gallery, Melbourne
2023 Melbourne Now, National Gallery of Victoria
2023 Jugs, Craft Victoria, part of Melbourne Design Week, collaboration with NGV Melbourne.
2023 Fred International, NGV Design Week
2023 Pride, ANZ Gallery, Melbourne, curated by Camille Klose
2023 Vessels, Craft Victoria, Melbourne
2023 Summer Show, James Makin Gallery
2022 Amazon / Amazon, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney curated by Ashleigh Jones
2022 Sensations, Scott Lawrie Gallery, Auckland
2022 Aotearoa Art Fair, Auckland
2022 Conners Conners, Melbourne, curated by Vincent Alessi
2022 Alter, Divisions Gallery, Melbourne, curated by Charlotte Watson
2022 Summer New, James Makin Gallery
2021 Darlings, group exhibition, Curatorial +Co, Sydney
2021 Notfair Art Fair, Melbourne, Curated by Sam Leach and Tony Albert
2021 Stockroom, group exhibition
2020 Firstdraft, Online Auction, Sydney.
2019 Tiny World Reunion, group exhibition, curated by the Wandering Room. Melbourne
2018 Utopian Tongues, Seventh Gallery, curated by Jake Treacy, Melbourne.
2018 In Motion 2018: Rhythm, presented by AIRspace Projects, Sydney.
2018 Biotic & Apparatus, Stanthorpe Regional Gallery, QLD.
2017 Art in Soil, POP Gallery, Brisbane
2017 Waves, curated by Charlotte Cornish, The Honeymoon Suite, Melbourne.
2017 Notfair, Melbourne.
2017 Anthropoetics of Space, Stockroom, Kyneton.
2017 thing in itself // das Ding an sich , curated by Elyse Goldfinch, Wellington St Project, Sydney.
2017 Stockroom Travels Cremorne Opening, curated group show.
2016 Imagined Worlds, curated by Kent Wilson, Town Hall Gallery Melbourne
2015 Moreland Summer Show, Science Friction, Counihan Gallery Brunswick, curated group Exhibition
2015 Convergence, Kings Artist-Run, Melbourne.
2015 The Lost One's Gallery, curated group Exhibition, Ballarat
2015 Freak of Nature, curated group exhibition at Mailbox.
2014 Assemblages, curated group exhibition at Manningham Art Gallery, Melbourne.
2013 Territories, First Site Gallery, Melbourne.
2012 Crème, curated group exhibition at RMIT School of Art Gallery, Melbourne.
Prizes - Grants - Commissions - Residencies
2024 Winner, Bundoora Homestead prize, Midsumma Australia Post Art Prize.
2024 Creative Australia, Arts Projects For Individuals and Groups
2024 Environmental Art & Design Award, Sydney, Hornsby Art Prize, Sydney, Omina Art Prize, Melbourne.
2024 Darebin Art Prize, Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
2023 Omina Art Prize, Melbourne
2022 Finalist, Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Sydney
2022 Arts Projects For Individuals and Groups, Australian Council for the Arts
2022 Finalist, Lake Art Prize, NSW
2021 Incinerator Art Award - Winner.
2021 Creative Victoria Grant
2021 Craft Victoria, Makers in Residence, online Residency.
2020 Covid-19 Quick Response Arts Grant - City of Melbourne.
2020 - 2024 City Of Melbourne, external assessor for Council’s funding programs.
2019 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize.
2019 Career Development Grant, Australia Council for the Arts.
2019 Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Awards.
2017 Art in Soil, Queensland Branch of Soil Science Australia, residency & commission. Brisbane.
2017 Exhibition development grant, Contemporary Art Space, Uruguay, Montevideo.
2017 Highly Commended, Notfair 2017.
2016 Centro Negra, AADK Spain, Residency.
2016 Spring Fashion Week, installation, commission.
2015 Navigating with Uncertainty, Darebin Art Prize Finalist.
2015 ArtStart Career Development Funding Recipient. Australia Council for the Arts
2015 Nomad, Commission for Beaumaris Library.
2014 Assemblages, Toyota Art Prize Finalist.
2013 Territories, The Substation Contemporary Art Prize Finalist.
2013 Nomad, Commission for Midsumma Festival and Moreland City Council
2012 RMIT University School of Art Collection.
Private collections and commissions.
