Between each layer of solid discrete colour, there is a history that cannot be undone. Yet the shapes quicken with every new look, and if you hold their gaze then things start to hum. The modernists thought motion meant progress; these works show how much motion is needed just to stay true to the one place.

This sentiment echoes true with the works of Melbourne-based visual artist Kirra Jamison. Using expressive techniques to create her fantastically captivating modern visuals, Jamison’s compositions of line, form and pattern play are all part of the curious charm of the native artist. Using a mixture of treated papers, acrylic, gouache, vinyl and polyester to create her designs, Jamison has, since her 2006 debut, disputed the concepts of the generic and limited approaches to modern art through her harmoniously stimulating replications of colour, shape and motion, qualities displayed in excerpts from her Locomotor and Still Point collections. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing and self-expression that landed Jamison a native favourite. Hard work and determination played its part as well.

After graduating with honours (first class, thank you very much) from the Queensland College of Art, Jamison relocated to sunny California for a residency and post-graduate degree at the California Institute of the Arts. Exhibiting independently in galleries across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and participating in group exhibitions in the far-away lands of Tokyo and the US, not to mention a stint alongside the legendary Ben Quilty at the Jan Murphy Gallery, it won’t be long before this darling of the local art scene starts popping up beyond Australian borders. And with accolades like the Yen Young Australian Artist Award and the Anne and Gordon Samstag Scholarship under her belt, Jamison’s work is something we predict you’ll be seeing a whole lot more of.

http://www.kirrajamison.com/