Jody Graham

Materiality and Mark Making are at the core of Jody Graham’s multidisciplinary art. She relentlessly explores new materials and investigates contemporary drawing techniques. To do this she builds on and then moves beyond conventional drawing processes in search of new methods and tools that connect drawing with the fundamental need to make symbolic marks.

From the earliest days visiting scrap metal yards and her father’s factory in Western Sydney – inspired by the action of machinery and the draftsmen’s tables where they drew designs for machinery by hand – the recurring themes in Jody’s work have centred on the broken, the displaced and the forgotten.

Whether expressed in drawing, sculpture, installation or performance, this speaks to her long-nurtured urge to rescue and restore, with the objective of recycling and re-purposing both materials and techniques.

Jody has had over twelve solo exhibitions and exhibits frequently in important group exhibitions. She won the Adelaide Drawing Prize in 2022, the Open Greenway Art Prize in 2017 (and the local prize again in 2020) and has been a finalist in many major art prizes, including the 66th Blake Prize, ‘Sculptures at Scenic World’ in Katoomba, and at the Muswellbrook, Paddington, and NSW Parliament’s Plein Air painting prizes.

Her work as been selected twice for the Kedumba Drawing Award Collection, and for the Jacaranda and Swan Hill Drawing Awards; and she has been a finalist in the Dobell, Rick Amor, and Adelaide Perry drawing prizes.

Jody’s work is held in the Kedumba Collection of Australian Drawings, The Adelaide Perry Drawing Collection in Waverley and Blacktown City Council collections, at the Western Sydney Institute, in the Nepean Arts and Design Centre, and in private collections nationally and in the UK, USA, and New Zealand.

Jody Graham is represented by Nanda/Hobbs and Lost Bear Gallery.

Current work

Jody is currently working on a body of work, titled ‘Voila’ inspired by a recent trip to France. The artworks in this series concentrate on drawing and exploring a wide variety of mark making approaches which are connected to contemporary drawing practice and her creative vision of France. She is encouraged by Brett Whiteley’s trip to Paris in June, July 1989 where he explored his artistic inspiration and made a drawing a day for 60 days. This endeavour resulting in the “Paris Regard de Côté” collection of drawings that showcase his virtuosity as a draftsman.

While in France Jody created a drawing a day - now back in her Marrickville studio she is using those drawings to build upon a create a suite of larger scale artworks that will be exhibited at Nanda/Hobbs in Chippendale, 2 – 18 March 2023.

Jody's arts practice consists of several ongoing projects; some include collecting discarded material to make sculptures and implements to draw with. Occasionally, these drawing tools are used in performances with musician Mark Cauvin. Together they form Sound Drawing and explore the relationship between drawing and sound.

In essence they are interested in drawing what sound looks like and creating noises that represent the sound of a drawing. They will be showcasing their artworks and live performances at Chrissie Cotter Gallery, 6 – 19 December 2022.

Upcoming shows and workshops

Jody's constant daily stride walking around the Inner West has impacted her arts practice. For several years, she has been recording a written inventory about something she could have done better, what it’s like living in the Inner West, her arts practice and recognizing a good thought or deed by herself or another. This is a significant project that continues to provide her with gratitude and a clearer insight into where she lives, herself and others. This venture can be seen at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, 15 - 11 April 2023.

Jody will also be running a two day workshop with Art Est, Drawing Bootcamp | Let's Draw all Weekend with Jody Graham, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October, 10am - 4pm, bookings essential.

Sound Drawing Exhibition - Jody Graham & Mark Cauvin - Chrissie Cotter Gallery 6 - 19 December 2022. French Collection of Drawings - Nanda/ Hobbs Gallery 2nd March 2023. Spirit Journey - group exhibition - Hawkesbury Regional Gallery - 15 April - 11 June 2023.

Live Performance - Sound Drawing Exhibition - Chrissie Cotter Gallery, December 2022. Artist talk - Nanda/Hobbs Gallery 4th March 2023. 

Website: www.jodygraham.com.au