Nici Cumpston facts for kids

Nici Cumpston is an Australian artist born in 1963. She is well-known for her photography and also works as a painter, writer, and teacher. She plays an important role in organizing art shows, especially those featuring Indigenous Australian art.

About Nici Cumpston's Early Life

Nici Cumpston was born in Adelaide, Australia. Her family has a rich background. This includes Barkindji Aboriginal people from New South Wales. She also has Afghan, Irish, and English family roots. Nici studied art at the University of South Australia. There, she earned a degree in Visual Arts.

Nici Cumpston's Art Career

Nici Cumpston creates unique photographs. She starts by taking pictures using black-and-white film. Then, she scans these photos into a computer. After that, she prints them onto canvas. Finally, she adds color by hand, making each piece special.

Art Exhibitions and Residencies

In 2014, Nici Cumpston had an art show called having-been-there. This exhibition was held at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection. This collection is part of the University of Virginia in the United States. During this time, Nici also worked as an artist-in-residence for two months. This means she lived and created art there.

Working at the Art Gallery of South Australia

Since 2008, Nici Cumpston has worked at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA). In 2015, she became the artistic director of Tarnanthi. This is a big art festival in Adelaide. It celebrates the art of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Tarnanthi exhibitions are held at several places. These include AGSA, the South Australian Museum, and the JamFactory. The South Australian School of Art also hosts parts of the festival. In 2016, Nici became the Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at AGSA. She continues to be the artistic director for Tarnanthi.

Jury Service for National Gallery

In 2024, Nici Cumpston helped choose designs for a big project. She was on the jury for a $60 million plan. This plan is to update the sculpture garden at the National Gallery of Australia. She worked alongside other experts like Philip Goad, Nick Mitzevich, and Teresa Moller.

Awards and Recognition

Nici Cumpston has received special honors for her work. In the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was given the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This award recognized her "service to the museums and galleries sector, and to Indigenous art." It shows how important her contributions are.

Selected Artworks

Nici Cumpston's photographs are displayed in major art galleries.

Works in the National Gallery of Victoria

• Flooded Gum, Katarapko Creek, Murray River National Park, 2007
• Nookamka – Lake Bonney
• Tree stumps, western shoreline – Nookamka

Works in the National Gallery of Australia

• Campsite V, Nookamka Lake