Nathan Beard is a multidisciplinary artist who draws from his Australian-Thai heritage to unpack the porous and precarious influences of culture and memory. In exploring the slippery intersection of family history, archives and broad cultural signifiers of ‘Thainess’, Beard’s work articulates the complexities surrounding authenticity and diasporic identity.
Recent exhibitions include A Puzzlement, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (2023) and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (2022), Husk, Futures (2022), Low Yield Fruit, sweet pea (2022), White Gilt 2.0, Firstdraft (2020), A dense intimacy (with Lindy Lee), Bus Projects (2019) and WA Focus: Nathan Beard, Art Gallery of Western Australia (2017).
In 2022 he completed an Australia Council residency at ACME Studios, London. He has been a finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize (2021) and the churchie emerging art prize (2020), and participated in the 4A Beijing Studio Program (2017). He is currently participating in the Gertrude Studio Program (2023-25). Nathan is represented by sweet pea, Boorloo/Perth, and FUTURES, Naarm/Melbourne.
Contact via nathanstephenbeard@gmail.com
Selected Studies:
2010 Bachelor Art (Art) (Honours)(First Class), SODA, Curtin University of Technology, WA
Selected Solo/Duo Exhibitions:
2023
A Puzzlement, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, NSW
2022
Husk, FUTURES, VIC
A Puzzlement, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, WA
Low Yield Fruit, sweet pea, WA
2020
White Gilt / Siamese Smize, Antidote Festival, Sydney Opera House, NSW
White Gilt 2.0, Firstdraft, NSW
2019
White Gilt, Cool Change Contemporary, WA
A dense intimacy, with Lindy Lee, Bus Projects, VIC
2018
Siamese Smize, Turner Galleries, WA
2017
WA Focus: Nathan Beard, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, WA
Alone and Palely Loitering, with Elise Harmsen, Firstdraft, NSW
2015
Ad Matres, Artereal, NSW
2014
Anemone, Soy Sauce Factory, Bangkok, Thailand
Obitus, MOANA Project Space, WA
2013
Obitus, Speedy Grandma Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2024
A Moment in Extended Crisis, UTS Gallery, NSW
To Forever Ebb and Flow: Queer Time/Migrant Time, MADA Gallery, VIC
2023
Gertrude Studios 2023, Gertrude Contemporary, VIC
Figuring Ground, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW
Jardín Secreto, Interior 2.1, Guadalajara, Mexico
2022
The Salt of the Earth, Singapore International Photo Festival, Singapore
A Physical Reader, Caves, VIC
A Gentle Misinterpretation, Fremantle Arts Centre, WA
52 Actions, Penrith Regional Gallery, NSW
Mellow Thoughts, Aster + Asha at Art-Work Agency, QLD
2021
We will all eventually return to earth, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Ballarat, VIC
8 Easey Pieces, FUTURES, VIC
Anima vs Animus, Gallery25, ECU Galleries, WA
Asian Takeaways, Indian Ocean Craft Triennial: IOTA21, Early Work Gallery, WA
Gotham Gets Pickled, Holmes à Court Gallery @ no.10, WA
Bunbury Biennale 2021 - HE | SHE | THEY, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, WA
Fluid, Wyndham Art Gallery, VIC
2020
Here&Now20: Perfectly Queer, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, WA
PEEK, Parliament House, Perth, WA
2019
And Repeat., Fremantle Arts Centre, WA
Queer Nations, RMIT Intersect Project Space, VIC
The Elders Project, Art on the Move Gallery, WA
Queer Economies, ‘On Top of the World’ series commission at Bus Projects, VIC
Since 1989: PICA 30 Gala, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, WA
2018
In a world of wounds, Artbank Gallery, NSW
Biennale of Australian Art (BOAA), Ballarat, VIC
Infinite Conversations, National Gallery of Australia, ACT*
Transcendence, Firstdraft, NSW
Venn Zero One, Down Under Space, NSW
2017
Always there and all a part, BLINDSIDE, VIC
2016
Dead Centre, Spectrum Project Space, WA
Radical Ecologies, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA
2015
E S T A T E S, 55 Sydenham Road, NSW
Future Archaeology, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, NSW
2014
Memento Mori, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, WA
Dear William: A Dedication to William Street, PUBLIC 2014. Multiple public sites, Northbridge, WA
2013
Interregna, MOANA Project Space, WA
2012
Artefacts from the Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, Artereal, NSW
The Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, 2012 Next Wave Festival – the space between us wants to sing, NGV Studio, Federation Square, VIC *
2008
HATCHED 08 National Graduate Show, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA), WA
Selected Awards/Grants/Residencies:
2024
Debra Porch Award, Creative Australia
Darebin Art Prize, Winner
National Photography Prize, Murray Art Musuem Albury (MAMA), Finalist
2023
Woollahra Small Scupture Prize, Judge’s Award
Gertrude Studio Program (2023 - 2025)
2022
Australia Council ACME Studio Residency , London, UK
Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund Award
2021
Ramsay Art Prize, Art Gallery of South Australia, Finalist
Runway Journal 43: Divine, Guest Editor and curator of Runway Journal presentation at No Show, Carriageworks, NSW
Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund recipient
52 Artists 52 Actions web commission for Artspace, NSW
The City of Joondalup Invitation Art Prize, Finalist
Art on the Move Activating Collections Residency, Museum of the Goldfields, Kalgoorlie
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize, Best 3D Works Award
2020
churchie emerging art prize, Institute of Modern Art, Finalist
Form Pilbara Residency, South Hedland, Western Australia
The City of Joondalup Invitation Art Prize, Finalist
2019
The City of Joondalup Invitation Art Prize, Finalist
2018
Artsource Residency, Grey Projects, Singapore
Fremantle Art Centre Print Award, Finalist
2017
4A Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing Studio Program, China
John Stringer Prize, Finalist
Fremantle Art Centre Print Award, Highly Commended
2016
The Pottery Workshop, Jingdezhen Residential Studio Program, China
Fremantle Art Centre Print Award, Finalist
2015
The City of Joondalup Invitation Art Prize, Winner – Award for Excellencce
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery and Royal Pavilion Residency, Brighton, United Kingdom
Fremantle Art Centre Print Award, Finalist
IRIS Award, Perth Centre of Photography (PCP), Finalist
2014
Soy Sauce Factory Studio Residency, Bangkok, Thailand
Hong Hub Studio Residency, Bangkok, Thailand
PICA Studio Residency, Clock Tower Studio
Victoria Park Art Award, Finalist
2013
JUMP Mentoring, Australia Council for the Arts (with Michael Shaowanasai)
Speedy Grandma Residency, Bangkok, Thailand
2012
ArtStart, Australia Council for the Arts
2011
Next Wave Kick Start Development*
Selected Media/ Bibliography:
2023
Yang, Jennifer. A Puzzlement. Memo Review
Black, Holly. How a Photographer Connects with his Thai Australian Heritage. Aperture.
2022
Kale, Neha. Nathan Beard on the puzzlement of personhood. Art Guide November/December 2022.
Nott, Nanci. Exhibition review: A Puzzlement and Las Hormigas/The Ants. Artshub
Fox-Martens, Ella. Dispatches from the End of the Earth. Curatorial Affairs
A Puzzlement - Nathan Beard. PICA short.
Kok, Jenevieve. Low Yield Fruit by Nathan Beard at sweet pea Gallery. The Artling
Tender Ruin (photographic portfolio). Elephant Spring/Summer 22.
Nicholls, Andrew. 50 Things Collectors Should Know Curator’s Pick - Nathan Beard. Art Collector Issue 99 January-March 2022
Victor Ehikhamenor + Benin bronzes, pottery in a midnight garden and Nathan Beard's tropical fruit. The Art Show with Daniel Browning.
2020
Tan, Teresa. With coronavirus shutting art galleries, Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets Perth's Nathan Beard stage a virtual exhibition. ABC Arts Online.
2017
Black, Holly. The artist questioning cultural identity with family photos. AnOther Magazine (5/6/17).
Diamantes and death: the work of Nathan Beard. Interview with Claire Nichols for ABC Radio National Books and Arts.
Nicholls, Andrew. 2017 Undiscovered Artists - Nathan Beard. Art Collector Issue 80 April-June 2017. pp. 104-6
Kelleher, Travis. Fragile flesh: The works of Andrew Nicholls, Nathan Beard and Susan Flavell. The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 56 No. 1 , April 2017: The Body Issue
2015
Nathan Beard. Interview with Georgia Francis King published in Kinfolk Issue 17: The Family Issue. September 2015. pp. 144-5.
Forrest, Nicholas. Nathan Beard’s Crystal Conceits at Artereal Gallery. Blouin Artinfo (22/2/15).
Remember Death. Conversation with James Bradbury and Waleed Aly. The Drawing Room on ABC Radio National
Martin, Lucy. Confronting death through art. 7.30 WA, ABC Arts| ABCnews for The Mix.
Perth Artists, S01E07: Nathan Beard. Documentary Series.
Snell, Ted. Artist to Watch: Nathan Beard. Scoop Homes and Art 40, Autumn 2014, pp 256-7
2013
DasPlatforms. Interregna: Abdul Abdullah, Casey Ayres and Nathan Beard.
Wilson, Laetitia. Keeping glitz under control. West Australian Weekend West. p. 67. (26/01/13).
Nicholls, Andrew. 50 Things Collectors Need to Know – The Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Art Collector Issue 63. (23/01/13).*
2012
Mayo, Lewis. The Idea of Literacy in the Asian Century. The China Story.*
Next Wave artists bring opulent pan-Asian embassy to Melbourne, ABC Arts Online*
Northover, Kylie. Oriental embassy takes tongue-in-cheek approach to cultural stereotyping. The Age, 16/05/12 (p.15) *
Coleman, Sheridan. The embassy will be open. Realtime, Issue 108 Aril/May 2012 (p.15 + cover) *
Coleman, Sheridan. The men in gold. Frankie,Issue 46 Mar/Apr 2012 (p.36) *
Jorgensen, Darren. Diverse art of identity. West Australian Weekend West. p. 63. (14/04/12).
* Activity related to The Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, with Abdul Abdullah and Casey Ayres