Byron Coathup lives and works on Bundjalung country which intersects with the Qld and NSW state borders. He engages in personal creative activities, which might include collaborating with artists, art cooperatives and design clients. He continues to develop an extensive range of personal projects for public and private spaces.
Byron’s conceptual framework, which is often project-driven, reflects on his surroundings, situated between the Gold Coast and the Northern Rivers. The notion of place and memory holds a pivotal position in his personal work, which extends to his curatorial practice that is frequently sited outside of traditional gallery settings in rediscovered spaces and is often site-specific. Byron's motivation to foster a collaborative and communal spirit through his work is evident in his projects. His experience in graphic design is an integral part of his design and project presentations, which he employs in his artistic and curatorial practice. Byron’s later work as a project curator has led him to understand the importance of providing a supportive role for artists to enable them to reach their full potential. Byron regards this support as a fundamental component in assisting artists to produce conceptually rich and exciting site-specific outcomes.
Byron has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at Testing Grounds (Melbourne), Byron School of Art (Mullumbimby) The Walls Art Space (Gold Coast), Gallery HOTA, M-Arts (Murwillumbah) and Falls Festival (Byron Bay). Byron has undertaken major art projects for Festival 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Bleach* Arts Festival.
See Projects:
Born: Brisbane, QLD. Australia // 1985
Lives + Works: Murwillumbah, NSW
Exhibitions + Projects:
2021 ‘Untitled Untitled’ 2021: Project work collaboration with Mitchel Shultz, Supported by The Walls Art Space, Gold Coast [Medium Rare Project]
2020 / ‘Co-Video: A Collaborative Video Art Project’ Group Show, The Field ARI, Murwillumbah. NSW
2020 / ‘Both|Sides’ Video Work in collaboration with Rebecca Ross, Supported by HOTA , Gold Coast [Rage Against The Virus] ONLINE
2019 / ‘Playgrounds’ with Rebecca Ross | 23 August - 10 September | Byron School of Art (BSA) Mullumbimby, NSW
2019 / ‘Not So Average’ Group Show | September 6th - 18th | Yeah Nice! Gallery, Mullumbimby, NSW
2019 / ‘Borderlands’ Co-Curated with Amelia Reid | Group Exhibition | 7th - 30th June 2019 | M-Arts Long Gallery | Murwillumbah, NSW
2019 / Solo Exhibition | April 16th - May 12th 2019 | M-Arts Precinct | Murwillumbah, NSW.
2018 / 'Super Souvenir | Sunshine Gold’, (Curated with Virginia Rigney) Horizon Festival 2018, Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast. QLD
2018 / 'We Are Gold Coast' (Group Exhibition) HOTA GALLERY, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, QLD.
2018 / 'Super Souvenir | Surface Architecture’, (Curated with Virginia Rigney) Edge Conference: Australian Institute of Architects, Broadbeach, QLD.
2018 / 'Super Souvenir', Festival 2018 Gold Coast's Commonwealth Games, QLD.
2017 / 'Miami/Miami' (Solo Exhibition), The Walls Contemporary Art Space, Miami, QLD.
2017 / Public Art Commision in Collaboration with Rebecca Ross, 2970 Degree's Conference (Curated by David Pledger) Gold Coast Arts Centre, Surfers Paradise. QLD.
2017 / Group Exhibition, 'An Act of Showing: Rethinking Artist-Run Initiatives Through Place' Curated by Anabelle Lacroix, Testing Grounds, Melbourne. VIC // In collaboration with The Walls Art Space, Miami, Gold Coast.
2016 / Group Exhibition, 'Hotelling' Curated by David Pledger & Bleach Arts. QT Hotels, Surfers Paradise. QLD
2016 / Group Exhibition, 'Made In QLD: The Culture Shop', (Pop-Up Souvenir Shop) Bleach Festival, Coolangatta, QLD.
2016 / Group Exhibition, 'Made In Qld: Ode to the Souvenir', Gold Coast City Gallery, QLD.
2014 / Group Exhibition, ‘Fibro Coast’, Gold Coast City Gallery, QLD
2012 - 2015 / Public Art Installation and Design, Bleach* Festival, Gold Coast, QLD
2010 / Solo Exhibition, 'New Paintings' Picnic Cafe, South Yarra. Melbourne, VIC
2008 / Group Exhibition, 'Made in The 80s', Queensland College of Art Graduate Exhibition, Gold Coast City Gallery, QLD
2006 / Group Exhibition, ‘Pop Up!’ ACAD, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2004 / Group Exhibition, ‘Queensland Ministers Award for Excellence in Art’ Traveling Regional QLD Galleries / QAG, Brisbane, QLD
Curatorial:
2022-24 / Public Art Curator on behalf of Artwork Agency: Griffth Street (Stage 2) Upgrade, Coolangatta. QLD
2020 / ‘Co-Video: A Collaborative Video Art Project’ Group Show, The Field ARI, Murwillumbah. NSW
2019 / ‘Borderlands’ Co-Curated with Amelia Reid | Group Exhibition | 7th - 30th June 2019 | M-Arts Long Gallery | Murwillumbah, NSW
2017 - 2018 / Group Exhibition, 'Super Souvenir' Gold Coast, Qld. (Supported by RADF Grant Gold Coast City)
2016 / Group Exhibition, 'Made In QLD: The Culture Shop', Bleach Festival, Coolangatta, QLD. Co-Curated with Emma Collerton from Gold Coast City Gallery.
2013 - Current / Director and Curator, Maverick Hair & Art Space, Coolangatta, Gold Coast, QLD.
Education:
2012 / Graduate Diploma in Graphic Design, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Melbourne, Australia
2008 / Bachelor of Fine Art - Queensland College of Art, Gold Coast, Australia (Major in Painting & Sculpture)
2006 (August - December) - Exchange Studies - Fall Semester, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Canada
Other:
2019-20 – Committee Member of The Walls Art Space, Miami, Gold Coast, QLD
2019-20 – Application Assessor for RADF - City of Gold Coast, QLD.
Awards:
2015 / MAPDA AWARDS; Museums Australia - Multimedia & Publication Design Awards celebrating excellence in design and communication in the museum and collections sector across Australia. Winner: Exhibition Branding // Project: Fibro Coast // Client: Gold Coast City Gallery
2013 / MAPDA AWARDS; Museums Australia - Multimedia & Publication Design Awards. Winner: Multimedia Design Category // Project: ‘Shakin' The Contemporary Kinetic Aesthetic’ Exhibition Online App Catalogue // Client: Gold Coast City Gallery
2003 / Queensland Ministers Award for Excellence in Art, Brisbane, QLD
Collections:
' Luxury' 2017 / Gold Coast City Gallery, Surfers Paradise, QLD
' Index of Life' 2003 / Brisbane Boys College, Brisbane, QLD