About.
Joel Tonks is an Australian visual artist currently based in Orange NSW, working across painting, ceramics, interactive media and photography. Graduating from the University of Wollongong in 2014 with a Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours, his multifaceted practice explores the intersections between science, art, and everyday life.
Discovery and empiricism are recurring threads in Tonks' artworks, whether it be the classification and taxonomy of the natural world, or interaction of virtual and physical worlds.
CV.
Education
2014
Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours (Class 1)
University of Wollongong
Awards / Residencies
2022
9x5 Landscape Prize
Finalist
Waverly Wollahra Art School, Bondi NSW
Heysen Prize for Landscape
Finalist
Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf SA
Cementa22
Participating festival artist
Cementa, Kandos NSW
2021
National Captial Art Prize
Finalist
Federation Square, Nicholls ACT
Lachlan Valley Biennial Art Awards
People's Choice Award
Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Cowra NSW
Cementa21
Artist in Residence
Wayout Art Space, Kandos NSW
2020
Heysen Prize for Landscape
Finalist
Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf SA
2018
Fifty Squared Art Prize
Finalist
Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy VIC
Heysen Prize for Landscape
Finalist
Hahndorf Academy, Hahndorf SA
2017
Agendo Art Award for Young Emerging Artists
Finalist
The David Williams Gallery, Canterbury VIC
2015
Lloyd Rees Memorial Youth Art Prize
Finalist
Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney NSW
2013
William Fletcher Foundation
Student grant recipient
Lloyd Rees Memorial Youth Art Prize
Finalist
Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney NSW
Calleen Art Award
Finalist
Cowra Regional Gallery, Cowra NSW
2011
Countryscapes
Youth Encouragement Award
Bathurst Regional Gallery, Bathurst NSW
Exhibitions
2020
Forged by fire, shaped by time
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, Bathurst NSW
[ceramics]
2016
When you weren't watching
Delmar Gallery, Ashfield NSW
[painting]
2014
Transcendence
DMC Gallery, Innovation Campus, Fairy Meadow NSW
[Honours project: interactive installation]
2013
Australian Daydream
Parkview, Orange NSW
[painting]
2012
Light, Life & Perspective
Jayes Gallery, Molong NSW
[painting]