Aldona Kmieć Artist

Aldona Kmieć (b. 1977 Poland) is a photographic artist based in Melbourne. Graduating from the London Metropolitan University with an Advanced Diploma in Photography in 2008, Aldona settled in Australia in 2009.

Encompassing mixed media, installation, conceptual and documentary photography, her work explores migrant narratives, primarily within the Polish diaspora and asylum seeker community.

Key projects include participatory street project We R You (2013) where hundreds of Ballarat residents were featured on street posters, pasted up on buildings around town; Under the Floorboards (2012-13) where she spent weeks with Ballarat Uniting Care staff and volunteers, creating life-size mosaic portraits based on her experience with the agency; and In the Process of Healing (2017), an immersive site-specific installation of photography and sound that shed light on the experiences of a Tamil family seeking asylum in Australia. Aldona has kept a close friendship with this Ballarat-based family, continuing to tell their story of hope and survival with dedication and sensitivity. 

Between 2020 and 2022 Aldona worked on two photography commissions documenting the effects of bushfires and the Covid-19 pandemic in regional communities of Ballarat and East Gippsland. These photographs are now in the collection of oral histories and photographs for the Rural and Regional Commission 2020-2023 at State Library of Victoria.

She is the recipient of numerous awards, she exhibits regularly and is currently Artist-in-residence at Gasworks Arts Park, undertaking a 3-month artist development and mentorship program.

Artist Statement

My art practice reflects my cross-cultural experience as an outsider and explores migrant narratives and human subjects whose sense of displacement – cultural, linguistic, social, geographical – connects to my own. It draws on the foundational event of radical change and dislocation which gave me the experience of living in two worlds simultaneously, an enduring sense of dissonance and instability that has been reinforced by having lived abroad for most of my adult life.

My recent work focuses on long-exposure photographs of myself, dancing. Producing this series involved labour-intensive repetition of the body movement and wearing layers of colourful compositions. This kind of repetitive and physical effort required to create a photograph is a form of contemplation itself and it helps to increase the awareness of my body and mind. All the colours that I choose are connected to my emotions, the red and white Polish flag and historical Polish cultural motifs such as the monument to the Heroes of Warsaw, also known as the Warsaw Nike, in Greek mythology a goddess who personified victory.

Capturing the intended shape and movement in just one photographic frame is complex yet fulfilling, like creating a painting with your own body.

For new commissions and assignments – please contact me to discuss your needs, or visit my studio at Gasworks (by appointment).

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and make work: Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung, Wurundjeri and Gunaikurnai people of Victoria.

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ARTIST CV
COLLECTIONS

State Library of Victoria [Collection of oral histories and photographs for the Rural and Regional Commission 2020-2023], St John of God Art Collection, Ballarat Arts Foundation, Museum of Democracy at Eureka + private collections

EDUCATION  

2008 Advanced Diploma in Photography | London Metropolitan University

ARTIST RESIDENCIES

2024 Gasworks Arts Park, Melbourne (March 1–May 30)
2024 Mungga Artist Studios, Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub (Jan 27–Feb 18)
2018 BOAA Biennale of Australian Art, Ballarat Mining Exchange (22 – 26 October)
2013 We R You Community Engagement Project Facilitator, Ballarat (Jan – May 2013)
2012-2013 Under the Floorboards, Uniting Care Ballarat (Aug 1 – Sept 15)

AWARDS

2024 Winner | Linden Postcard Show  – The Fitzroy St Traders Play Award   
2023 Winner | Public Choice Award – Eureka Prize Ballarat Arts Foundation 
2023 Finalist | Head On Portrait Award 
2023 Finalist | Nyland Photography Prize
2022 Finalist | Maggie Diaz Photography Prize 
2018 Finalist | Cambridge Studio Gallery Portrait Prize
2018 Finalist | Art Lovers Australia Prize, Gold Coast
2018 Finalist | Contemporary Art Awards, Brisbane
2017 Finalist | Maggie Diaz Photography Prize 
2017 Winner 3rd Prize | Airbnb, Fear of Flying story
2016 Finalist | Eureka Art Prize, Ballarat Arts Foundation
2015 Finalist | Maggie Diaz Photography Prize
2014 Winner | Eureka Art Prize Ballarat Arts Foundation
2014 Finalist | Bowness Photography Prize MGA Gallery, Melbourne
2014 Finalist | Head On Photo Festival Portrait Category Sydney
2013 Winner | Leica Salon Most Humorous Image, CCP Melbourne

2013 Winner | Eureka Art Prize Ballarat Arts Foundation 
2012 Honourable Mention – Fine Art category Cafe in Soler 7th Black & White Spider Awards, London
2012 Published Finalist ‘My migration. Moja Emigracja’ book 

2011 Finalist | Cafe in Soler AOP OPEN International Photography Awards, London
2011 Longlist | Terry O’Neill Photography award, London 
2008 Winner | End of Year Best Photo Competition, AOP Gallery London 

ART GRANTS / COMMISSIONS

2023 Hospitals as a Place, St John of God Art Collection, Perth   
2022 State of Change: documenting COVID-19 pandemic State Library Victoria
2020 Focus on Country Victoria: Regional & rural stories State Library Victoria
2017 Paste up Photography Project Grant, East Gippsland Council
2013 We R You Paste-up Project Facilitator, City of Ballarat Council
2012 Under the Floorboards Photography commission, Uniting Care Ballarat
2011 Photography Grant, BAF Ballarat Arts Foundation

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024 Winterbloom | Loft 275 Gallery, Ivanhoe Library & Cultural Hub 
2017 In the process of Healing | Ballarat International Foto Biennale
2015 Dreamscapes | Ballarat International Foto Biennale 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023

2023 Linden Postcard Show | Linden New Art Gallery, St Kilda 
2023 EGAG Wrap Prize | East Gippsland Art Gallery, Bairnsdale
2023 Eureka Art Award | Fairbanks Gallery, Ballarat 
2023 Head On Portrait Award finalists | Bondi Pavilion Sydney 
2023 Hospitals as a Place | St John of God Health Care HQ, Perth 
2023 PAF Contemporary Drawing Biennale | No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne
2023 Echoes of a Gaze | Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2023 Winterbloom | Ballarat International Foto Biennale, RACV Goldfields Gallery (commissioned)
2023 The Real Thing | Core ProgramBallarat International Foto Biennale (commissioned)

2022

2022 CCP Summer Salon | Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
2022 Head On Photography Festival ‘Add On’ | Bondi Pavilion Sydney
2022 Borders | Polish Art Foundation, Victorian Artists Society, Melbourne
2022 Maggie Diaz Photography Prize Finalists | Brightspace Gallery, St Kilda
2022 State of Change: Regional & rural stories of 2020 touring exhibition (Colac, Bright, Geelong)
2022 Banyule Art Salon | Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub, Melbourne

2021

2021 Faces of the Polish Community | Polish Art Foundation, VAS Melbourne
2021 Regional bushfires and COVID recovery | State Library Victoria, Melbourne
2021 STAGES: life in lockdown | Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne
2021 CCP Salon | Centre of Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
2020 Vibes | Victorian Artists Society, Melbourne 
2020 Members Group Exhibition | Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne
2019 Colours of World Cultures | Backspace Gallery, Ballarat
2019 Beyond 50% | Backspace Gallery, Ballarat
2018 Pol-Art Festival QCA Galleries South Bank, Brisbane
2018 BAF Eureka Art Award Finalists | Post Office Gallery, Ballarat
2018 Mixed Blessings | Mercure Hotel & Convention Centre, Ballarat
2018 Open studio ArtWalk | Soldiers Hill Artist Collective, Ballarat  
2018 Portrait Prize | Cambridge Studio Gallery, Collingwood 

2017

2017 Our Place – Soldiers Hill Artist Collective | Backspace Gallery Ballarat
2017 Maggie Diaz Photography Prize for Women | Brightspace Gallery, St Kilda

2017 BAF Eureka Art Award Finalists | Ballarat Art Gallery

2016

2016 BAF Eureka Art Award Finalists | Post Office Gallery, Ballarat
2016 Impressions Polish Arts Foundation | Victorian Artists Society, Melbourne
2016 Linden Postcard Show | Linden New Art Gallery, Melbourne
2016 Self Portraits to Selfies | The Lost Ones Gallery, Ballarat

2015

2015 Pol-Art Festival | Steps Gallery, Melbourne
2015 Maggie Diaz Photography Prize finalists | Brightspace Gallery, St Kilda

2014

2014 Eureka Art Prize Finalists | Post Office Gallery, Ballarat
2014 Bowness Photography Prize Finalists | Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne
2014 Head On Finalists | Paddington Reservoir Gallery, Sydney

2013 Under the Floorboards | Art Gallery Ballarat
2012 Pol-Art Festival | Perth
2011 Transient | Ballarat Intl Foto Biennale | Craig’s Royal Hotel Ballarat
2011 Lost in Translation collaboration with painter Casey Tosh, Portico, Ballarat
2011 AOP Open Awards Finalists | Truman Brewery Bricklane, London

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/SERVICE

2018 Gippsland Community Leadership Program (scholarship)
2015-16
2015 Presentation Artist Talk: Renata Dąbrowska, Paweł Roman i Aldona Kmieć o portrecie, Galeria Odwach, Czestochowa Poland
2014 Ballarat Community Leadership Program (supported by a scholarship from Ballarat City Council)
2013 Lecture/Presentation “On moving from communism to democracy” M.A.D.E  Museum of Democracy at Eureka, Ballarat 15.05.2013
2012-2014 Culture Diversity Advisor, Intercultural Ambassador, Ballarat City Council, Volunteer position
2009-2015 Festival Production Team | Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Volunteer position
2013- current Member Soldiers Hill Artist Collective 
2012-2015 Board Member | Ballarat Arts Alive

INTERVIEWS/FEATURES

2024 Radio Interview with Darek Buchowiecki, SBS Polish Radio
2020 Interview Publication by Anthea Dorsett for University Brief

2016 Artist Interview “A developing vision – Aldona Kmiec”, by Caleb Cluff, The Ballarat Courier
2015 Radio Interview 26 June 2015, Fiat FM, Czestochowa Poland
2015 Artist Feature The Design Files – Aldona Kmiec by Lucy Feagins
2015 TV Artist Feature “Tara meets an inspirational Ballarat artist”, Better Homes and Gardens
2015 “Photos take audience to the land of dreams” Dellaram Vreeland,
2013 Artists Catalogue “Under the Floorboards”, Uniting Care Ballarat
2012 Artist Interview “Everyone’s journey is different”, Dominic Brine, ABC Radio Ballarat