Local artist profile: Dr Kylie Banyard

THIS week we chat with multidisciplinary artist and senior lecturer in visual arts at La Trobe University Bendigo, Dr Kylie Banyard.

What motivated you to become an artist and how did your practice bring you to Bendigo?

When I finished high school, my mum encouraged me to go to art school. I was initially keen on studying primary education but was having second thoughts. I took her advice, I’d always liked making art and by the end of my first week at art school I knew I was in the right place. I never looked back!

Eventually I combined my love of art with education and while undertaking my PhD I started teaching at university in Sydney. This is what bought me to Bendigo. My family and I moved here in 2019 so I could take up a visual arts lecturing position at La Trobe University.

How would you describe your style and how did you develop it?

The way I approach my practice changes all the time; I don’t have a particular style, more an approach to working in the studio. My artwork is the outcome of practice-led research. In the studio I focus on discovery and experimentation. I also spend a lot of time reading, researching archives, and studying art historical references.

Are there any particular themes that you like to feature in your artworks, what draws you to these themes?

My artistic research engages with painting, photography, textiles, and installation practice to explore artists’ capacity to rekindle our relationship with the utopian imagination.

My practice questions and tests how through creative practices we might find the ability to contemplate a hopeful vision of the future – an especially fraught and vital proposition as we become increasingly anxious about what the future holds in the midst of a climate crisis and a global pandemic.

What are some highlights or fond memories you have from your career so far?

Being part of the 2019 National: New Australian Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art was a big career highlight, and being able to travel the world researching and spending time as an artist in residence abroad has been a wonderful privilege.

How has your practice been affected by COVID?

Everything for everyone has been changed by COVID. I’ve had to cancel shows but I’ve also been fortunate enough to continue exhibiting. I also feel very lucky to be able to continue working from home. It’s not easy teaching art over zoom but it can be done in crisis mode. Not everyone has that luxury.

How can people check out your work and, most importantly, purchase it?

I am represented by two excellent commercial galleries, Galerie pompom in Sydney and Nicholas Thompson Gallery in Melbourne. Work from previous exhibitions can be found on their websites.

What would you say to young regional aspiring artists thinking of making a go of the artistic life?

Do what you can when you can. Not everyone has the chance to fully absorb themselves in a creative life and follow their passions full time, but it’s important to carve out that time when you can.

Surround yourself with creative community. The best motivation is often found rubbing up against other artists. Look at lots of art, go to galleries, start your own artist’s run gallery, rent a big share studio with some artist mates, take it seriously. It’s a wonderful and worthy way to live a full and rewarding life.