Melinda Young Abridged Curriculum Vitae
Selected Education
2020 – present PhD Candidate (APA Scholarship) Geography & Sustainable Communities, University of Wollongong, NSW
2000-2002 Master of Visual Arts, (Jewellery and Object Design), Sydney College of the Arts (SCA)
1995-1999 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Honours, (Jewellery and Object Design), SCA, University of Sydney
Selected Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2024 the other side, Everywhen Art, Whistlewood, Shoreham, VIC (with Emily McCulloch-Childs)
2019 #putaplantonit, Radiant Pavilion, Melbourne (with Lauren Simeoni)
2018 Landlines (I-Land Home), Atta Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand; Landlines, Ihnen Atelier, Sydney
2016 New Work, Off the Wall @ Atta Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
2015 silver city dreams, Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill, NSW & Studio 20/17, Sydney
2014 Scent & Scentability, Personal Space Project, Canberra, ACT
2013 The world is a pearl… Studio 20/17, Sydney; unnatural Tendencies, The National, Christchurch, NZ & Studio 20/17, Sydney (with Lauren Simeoni); Fruitopian Dreams, gaffa Gallery, Sydney
2012 unnatural Tendencies, Craft, Melbourne (with Lauren Simeoni)
2011 Unnatural Tendencies, Fingers, Auckland, New Zealand; unnatural, Naturally, JamFactory, Adelaide (with Lauren Simeoni)
2010 threadworks, Pablo Fanque at the Sherman Art Foundation, Sydney; unnatural, Naturally, Quoil, Wellington & Masterworks, Auckland, New Zealand & Pieces of Eight, Melbourne (with Lauren Simeoni)
2009 unnatural, Naturally, metalab, Sydney (with Lauren Simeoni); Take a ball of thread... Craft Victoria, Melbourne & Zu Design, Adelaide
2008 Take a ball of thread... Pablo Fanque, Sydney
Selected Exhibitions since 2010 (participant in over 250 group exhibitions in Australia & overseas since 1997)
2025 Poetics of Place, ATTA Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand; Profile, Australian Design Centre, Sydney
2024 petite, Wangaratta Regional Art Gallery, Vic; Second Look, Barometer Gallery, Sydney; Recirculate, McGlade Gallery, ACU, Strathfield, NSW; Veneer, Rubicon ARI, North Melbourne, VIC (w/ Zoe Brand & Claire McArdle); remade/reloved, Australian Design Centre (ADC), Sydney
2023 remade/reloved, curated by Bridget Kennedy, Australian Design Centre; Frame, Munich, Germany with Atta Gallery; Objects of Desire, Sturt Craft Centre, NSW; Speculation Nation; Craft ACT, Canberra; Transformed: Shirts Reimagined, Sturt Craft Centre, NSW & Barometer Gallery, Paddington; Pin 9, ANCA Gallery, Canberra ACT
2022 Finalist Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, Sydney Living Museums Meroogal House, Nowra, NSW; Profile, Australian Design Centre (ADC) & Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery; petite, Wangaratta Regional Art Gallery; Lobe, Fingers, Auckland, NZ; Second Look, Barometer Gallery, Sydney & Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, NSW; twelve, ATTA Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand; Hope, Gallery of Small Things, Canberra, ACT; remade/reloved, Bridget Kennedy Project Space, North Sydney
2020 – 2021 Finalist Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, South Australian Museum & National Archives of Australia,
2021 The Neck, Craft ACT, Canberra; Transformations, Craft ACT, Canberra; Second Look, Barometer Gallery, Sydney
2020 isolate/make – Creative Resilience in a Pandemic, ADC, Sydney; design/isolate, ADC, Sydney
2019 The Neck, Bridget Kennedy Project Space; Finalist Profile 2019, ADC, Sydney
2018, 2020 & 2022 Finalist Seed Stitch Textile Award ADC, Sydney & Tamworth Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2018 - 2026 Island Welcome, craft, Melbourne; ADC, Sydney; Migration Museum, Adelaide; Gallery Central, Perth & Regional Gallery Tour, South Australia
2018 - 2021 Seashape, Bridget Kennedy Project Space, Sydney; craft, Melbourne; Black Room, Flinders, Vic
2018 Pin of Interest, Atta Gallery, Bangkok; reminiSCENT, May Space, Waterloo, NSW
2017 Finalist Pro Hart Outback Art Prize, Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Broken Hill
2017, 2019, 2022 & 2024 Finalist, National Contemporary Jewellery Award, Griffith Regional Art Gallery & Sturt Craft Centre, NSW
2017, 2019, 2021 & 2023 Finalist, Contemporary Wearables, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, QLD (works acquired 2019 & 2023)
2016 Mari Funaki Contemporary Jewellery Award, Gallery Funaki; Grow Your Own, Craft ACT; Six, Atta Gallery, Bangkok
2015 R.A.W. (Reactions after Wunderrama), Gallery One Oh Eight, Auckland, NZ
2014 - 2016 A Fine Possession: Jewellery and Identity, MAAS Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
2014 Intimately Connected, .M Contemporary, Sydney; 10th Anniversary Group Show, The National, Christchurch
2013 Over here from over there, Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland, NZ; Year of the Snake, The National, Christchurch, NZ; Unsettled: Recent Acquisitions of Australian Art, Art Gallery of SA
2012 - 2013 Life in your hands: Art from solastalgia, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, Booragul, NSW and National Tour; Once more, with love, Workshop Bilk, Manuka, ACT; Studio 20/17, Waterloo; Northcity4, Melbourne
2012 20 Years: Rhianon Vernon-Roberts Collection, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
2012 - present Fingers Annual Group Show, Fingers, Auckland, NZ
2011 - 2014 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Artisan, Brisbane, QLD and National tour
2011 - 2013 Unnatural Acts, Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco; craft, Melbourne; The National, Christchurch; Artisan, Brisbane; Studio 20/17, Sydney
2011 - 2012 New! Contemporary Australian Decorative Arts, Art Gallery of South Australia; Woohooh! Contemporary Jewellery, Hong Kong, Sydney, Taipei & Bangkok
2011 The Art of Engagement, Objectspace, Auckland, NZ; Made in the World, Norwegian Museum of Art, Architecture & Design, Oslo, Norway and Touring Norway
2010 Blue, Object Gallery, Sydney; By Example, The Museum of Arts and Crafts, Itami, Japan
Selected Recent Professional Experience
2023 Board Member, Australian Design Centre
2021 - present Editorial Board Member/Story Keeper, Garland Magazine
2018 - 2024 Workshop Facilitator for MakeShift Non-Profit Community Creative First Aid Provider
2017 - 2020 Co-curator & Education Kit Author made:Worn Australian Contemporary Jewellery Touring exhibition, ADC
2017 - present Associate Lecturer, School of Art & Design, Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, University of NSW
2015 - present Jewellery Workshop Teacher for The Indigenous Jewellery Project; Ernabella Art Centre, APY Lands, SA; Jewellery Workshop Teacher, Bulayi Project, Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre, Yirrkala, NT; ANU for Craft ACT & IJP; Gab Titui Art Centre, Thursday Island; Walgett IJP & Australian Design Centre, NSW; Bawrrungga Nyami Gawbarrigam, Bowraville IJP & Australian Deign Centre
Selected Individual Grants, Awards & Residencies
2024 Highly Commended National Contemporary Jewellery Award, Griffith Regional Art Gallery
2022 Highly Commended Profile – JMGA NSW, Australian Design Centre;
2021 Gunyah Artist Residency, NSW;
2020 Highly Commended Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, South Australian Museum;
2019 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, UNSW Art & Design;
2015 Australian Design Honouree, Australian Design Centre, Sydney;
2014 Artist in residence, Broken Hill City Art Gallery, Broken Hill, CASP Grant, Regional Arts NSW;
2008 Profile Award 2008 - Established Artist, Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia NSW
Public Collections
The Art Gallery of South Australia; Griffith Regional Art Gallery, NSW; Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery; Broken Hill City Art Gallery, NSW; Norwegian Museum of Art, Architecture & Design, Oslo, Norway, National Maritime Museum (in collaboration with Djuwakan 2 DJ Marika); State Library NSW
Selected Publications & Media
- Julie Power, ‘Lockdown: measuring your life in morning teas, photos and a stitch in time’, 4 September
2021 https://www.smh.com.au/national/lockdown-measuring-your-life-in-morning-teas-photos-and-astitch-
in-time-20210902-p58o72.html
- Meredith Hinchcliffe, ‘Provocative, inspiring exhibition exploring the neck’, Canberra City News , 7 June
2021 https://citynews.com.au/2021/provocative-inspiring-exhibition-explores-the-neck/
- Emily McCulloch Childs, The meeting of two rivers – Walgett Jewellery Project
https://australiandesigncentre.com/object-platform/essay-meeting-two-rivers-walgett-jewellery-project/
- Hannah Francis, ‘Wearable treasures sprouting in city laneways’ The Age, 9 September 2019, p. 2-3
https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/wearable-treasures-hidden-in-citylaneways-
20190905-p52oea.html
- Megan Backhouse, https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/plotlines-preciousweeds-
20190829-p52m6p.html
- Emily McCulloch Childs, Emily Beckley, Susueri
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0002/2206/8795/files/Emily_Beckley_essay_FINAL.pdf?514
- Kevin Murray, http://garlandmag.com/article/discover/
- Emily McCulloch Childs, Bulay(i): The Indigenous Jewellery Project and Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka
https://australiandesigncentre.com/media/uploads/files/Bulayi._Emily_MCulloch_Childs_October_2017..p
df Mari Gold; https://garlandmag.com/article/not-for-sale/
- Emily McCulloch Childs, Bulay(i): Contemporary Yolŋu Jewellery: The Indigenous Jewellery Project
meets Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka http://garlandmag.com/article/bulayi/
- Kevin Murray; https://garlandmag.com/article/%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BFin-ernabella-doors-open-foraboriginal-
jewellery/
- Kerry-Anne Cousins, ‘Review: Citizens of Craft and Grow Your Own at Craft ACT’, The Canberra Times,
26 September 2016
- Debbie Pryor, Grow Your Own catalogue essay to accompany exhibition at Craft ACT
https://www.languageoflabour.com/home/2017/6/18/debbie-pryor
- Kristin D’Agostino, Artist Interview, Overview, July 2015, Published by the Jewellers Guild of Greater
Sandringham; Print version & available online at http://www.jewellersguildofgreatersandringham.com
- Artist Profile – Regional Arts NSW – April 2015 http://regionalartsnsw.com.au/2015/05/artistprofilemelinda-
young/
- Vanessa Low; Featured Artist October/November 2014 The Monday Issue
http://themondayissue.com/featured- artist/
- Suzanne Boccalatte & Meredith Jones (eds), Blood – Trunk Book Vol. 2, Boccalatte, Surry Hills, 2012 - -
- Stephanie Wood, ‘High Five – Handmade Jewellery’, The Sydney magazine – Sydney Morning Herald,
28 April 2011, p.32
- Louise Schwartzkoff, ‘Hang in the Balance’, Spectrum – Sydney Morning Herald, 16-17 April 2011, p.26
- Louise Schwartzkoff, ‘A Bit on the Slide’, Spectrum – Sydney Morning Herald, 7 August 2010, p.16-17
- Audio Design Museum: artist interview, profile and image. Curators Kate Rhodes & Vivianne
Stappmanns for Object, Australian Centre for Craft & Design. Accessible online at:
http://www.audiodesignmuseum.com/#/sydney/surry_hills_&_darlinghurst/
- Zoe Walker, ‘Sisterhood of the Travelling Sketchbook’, Viva – The New Zealand Herald, 17 February
2010, p.21 Susan Kasson Sloan, 500 Plastic Jewellery Designs, Lark Books, Asheville NC, USA, 2009
- Alice Blackwood, ‘Getting Hands On’, DQ (Design Quarterly), June/July 2009
- Kelly Robson (ed), gaffa Book Part One, Published by gaffa Gallery, Sydney, 2009
- Suzanne Boccalatte & Meredith Jones (eds), Hair – Trunk Book Vol. 1, Boccalatte, Surry Hills, 2009
- Damian Skinner, The Icky and the Crappy – Considering Jewellery by Lisa Walker & Melinda Young,
March 2009 http://pauadreams.co.nz/texts/the-icky-and-the-crappy/
- Andy Lim (ed), The Compendium Finale of Contemporary Jewellers, Darling Publications, Cologne &
New York, 2009
- Emily Howes, ‘Refashioning the Fashion’, object, #57, December 2008
- Louise Martin-Chew, ‘The Great Materials Double Dip’, object, #46, pp.16-23
Selected Research/Written Work
2022 Education Kit Author - Sixty: The Journal of Australian Ceramics 60th
Anniversary 1962-2022, Australian Design Centre Touring exhibition
Commissioned essay Design Isolate Book, Australian Design Centre
2020 Commissioned essay for You are doing it again Zoe Brand solo exhibition, Craft
ACT https://craftact.org.au/blogs/news/you-are-doing-it-again-1
Commissioned Article, Mapping the Tideline, Garland magazine
https://garlandmag.com/loop/mapping-the-tideline/
also published at https://australiandesigncentre.com/object-digital/article-mel-youngmapping-
tideline/
Catalogue essay “Everything and nothing – jewellery beyond adornment”
Made/Worn Contemporary Australian Jewellery, Australian Design Centre Touring
Exhibition
https://artjewelryforum.org/library/everything-and-nothing-jewellery-beyond- adornment
Education Kit Author - Made/Worn Contemporary Australian Jewellery,
Australian Design Centre Touring Exhibition
https://australiandesigncentre.com/media/uploads/files/MADEWORN_
2019 Sydney Craft Week commissioned essay – Play, Australian Design Centre, Sydney
https://www.sydneycraftweek.com/news/pressing-play-sydney-craft-week-2019/
https://garlandmag.com/loop/sydney-craft-week-2019-%e2%9c%bf-learning-to-playplaying-
to-learn/
Education Kit Author – Living Treasures : Masters of Australian Craft - Prue
Venables, Australian Design Centre Touring Exhibition
https://australiandesigncentre.com/prue-venables/education/
2018 Education Kit Author – Obsessed : Compelled to Make, Australian Design Centre
Touring Exhibition
https://australiandesigncentre.com/media/uploads/files/REDUCED_Obsessed_EdKit_FIN
AL.pdf
2016 – Present Researcher, Curatorial Advisor and Workshop Convenor - The Indigenous
Jewellery Project
2010 Education Kit Author – Excessory Contemporary Jewellery Touring Exhibition,
Museums and Galleries NSW
2005 Research Assistant, Living Treasures – Les Blakebrough Ceramics & Woven Forms –
Contemporary basket making in Australia, Object, Australian Centre for Craft and Design
touring exhibition