Barbara Doran Art
Barbara Doran Art
About the Artist
Barbara Doran works as an artist, art director and university lecturer. She was born in Wagga Wagga, Australia and grew up in Southern African countries Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Known for a diverse mix of skills, studies and experiences, her artwork similarly employs inter-disciplinary mediums including costume, film, photography, installations and food. Her artwork revolves around the voice and intelligence of our bodies in helping us to respond to the dilemmas of personal, collective and environmental health. Barbara probes these questions by exploring ideology and the way macro and micro relationships intersect with physical and symbolic systems. Barbara’s work has been exhibited in several solo and group shows since 2003. In 2013 she was a winner in UNESCO’s Bioethics and Art photography prize and in 2009 and 2010 she was the national winner of the “She” award. She has also been a finalist in other national competitions including the Olive Cotton Award and Westpac Redland’s Emerging Artist exhibition.
Barbara Doran’s work focuses upon the shifting grounds of global understandings, their differences, values, histories and the very ‘real’ realities they bare. Barbara grew up in Africa where these issues were highly visible. Returning to Australia and the so called ‘first’ world only enhanced her awareness that there are 2 sides to every coin.
Barbara’s art is also informed by other life experiences including world travel and studies in architecture, psychology, philosophy and anthropology. She has built a rammed earth house by hand and played a co–ordinating role in community development projects and festivals. She has a MA in Environmental Planning and a PhD in Art.
Along with her art, education and research practice, Barbara has worked as art director in commercial and community based multi media projects including film, television, festivals, photography and music.
Selected Awards and Sponsorships
2021 – Inner West Council, Residency
2021 – Inners West Council, Residency
2020 – Acts of Care, Social impact Grant, UTS
2020 – Artist residence with Carers in residence project, Carers Research Project, UTS.
2019 – The Hive, SPHERE, NHMRC
2016 – Blake prize – director’s cut.
2015 – UNESCO Art and Bioethics Award, ‘Photography, winner
2013 – UNESCO Art and Bioethics Award, ‘Photography, winner
2012 - Redlands Westpac Art Prize emerging artists prize category
2012 - Brother Win International Design Contest, Mongolia.
2012 –University of Sydney – PPRS grant.
2011 - University of Sydney – PPRS grant.
2010 – Walker St Gallery – “She” national competition - winner.
2010 – Walker St Gallery/Deakin University - finalist
2009 – Walker St Gallery – “She” national competition – winner.
2009 – Olive Cotton Award - finalist
2007 – She Who dreams - national selection
2004 - BP Solar (sponsorship) – Solar jacket – sculpture
2000 – Sunrise National – winner best animation.
Collections
UNESCO Texas - ACT Govt. – Peas in a pod – Painting, Paper bark fish, Green peace, collection, Australia Post – Concern for the Trees, United Nations travelling art – Portrait of a Friend * Various private collections
Exhibitions
Contact Me
Barbara Doran is based at the University of Technology Sydney. See profile.
She is the Director of the Creative Intelligence and Strategic Innovation program and the lead curator so the the SPHERE (Sydney Partnership in Health Education Research and Enterprise).
These roles are part of Barbara’s broader practise “The art of living". Through her work in these roles and beyond, Barbara champions the life affirming power of creativity in shaping the primary artwork at hand - our personal and collective lives including those we shhttps://www.drbd.com.auare with ecosystems and worlds beyond the grasp of our imagination.
You can find out about Barbara’s book here.
And her consulting work here:
or see her professional profile here:
