"Photography is my oxygen, the conduit for my innate curiosity, the way I make sense of the world and myself. It is not just what I do; it is how I understand, connect, and exist in the world. It’s more than a passion; it’s an unyielding compulsion to describe the world as I experience it, gasping in moments and translating what words often can't."
Vanessa Harper-Mathews is an internationally exhibited, award winning Australian photographer and interdisciplinary visual artist. Her arts practice reflects a diverse range of subjects, from documentary to the conceptual. Vanessa is interested in documenting and storytelling, the psychology of what is unseen and perceptions of the human mind that shape our experiences and existence, including the complex interplay between place, objects & artefacts, memory and time. Her expanded documentary photography approach incorporates the development and use of diverse and innovative representational & conceptual strategies, treating the relationship between art and documentary as a sliding scale, not a distinction.
She holds six university degrees, including three Masters level degrees, that act as a framework to underpin her approach to photography to critically examine, explore and deeply understand beliefs and contemporary concepts in reference to her experiences.
After completing a Masters of Documentary Photography from Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University, 2010, then a Graduate Diploma in Art History, she went on to develop bodies of work centred around the landscape & social collective memory. Vanessa continued her professional arts education in Australia, the United States and Europe, specialising in historical photographic printing processes. Her unique arts practice integrates contemporary digital photography and18th and 19th century antiquarian photographic processes. The result is an intersection between the material nature of these one of a kind, precious and historical articles and the ephemeral nature of the digital image in the Information Age. Her work continues to explore the landscape, and the Anthropocene epoch, including non-human futures.
​Vanessa is a highly experienced and versatile photographer with the ability to shoot across a broad range of styles and subject matter. Her work has been awarded, published and exhibited both locally and internationally and is held in overseas collections, including university museums and by private collectors. She also incorporates other artistic mediums such as painting, drawing & collage into her visual vocabulary.
Complimented by a successful executive leadership and coaching career spanning over 30 years, Vanessa's journey as a photographer/creative has been enriched by her exceptional professionalism, alongside a broad range of capabilities gained in senior executive leadership roles, such as strategic planning, team leadership and collaboration, and stakeholder relationship management in highly competitive and large scale commercial, corporate and public sector settings. Vanessa is also an executive coach to a range of elite, high performing CEOs and senior leaders across multiple industry sectors in Australia. The depth of these skills not only complement her artistic abilities but enable her to deliver exceptional results and consistently exceed client expectations.
In addition to her visual storytelling, expanded documentary and photojournalism practice, she is also an experienced and passionate travel photographer, researcher and writer, bringing extensive technical and professional experience with her vibrant, enigmatic narratives. Through her visual narratives she invites others to see the world through a perspective that fosters a deep connection and appreciation for the beauty and diversity that exists across our world.​
BIO
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EDUCATION ​
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2017 Master of Science, Coaching Psychology, Sydney University, Australia
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2013 Graduate Diploma in Art History, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
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2010 Master of Documentary Photography Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University, Australia
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2006 Master Business Administration (MBA), Charles Sturt University, Australia
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2001 Graduate Certificate Safety/Risk Sciences, University of NSW, Australia
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2000 Bachelor Adult Education, University Western Sydney
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EXHIBITIONS/ RESIDENCIES (SELECTED)
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2023 Residency The Scuola Internazionale di Grafica di Venezia, Venice, Italy
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2019 Residency Chateau Orquevaux (recipient of the Denis Diderot Grant), Orquevaux, France
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2021 Group Exhibition Birds, Gallery 3, Byron Bay, NSW
2018 Solo Exhibition Bella Venezia Gold Street Studios, Trentham, Victoria, Australia
2017 Group Exhibition Another Possibility, Dali International Photography Exhibition, Dali, China
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2017 Group Exhibition Maggie Diaz Photographic Award for Women Finalist Exhibition Space galleries,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2016 Group Exhibition Shades of Blue Contemporary Cyanotypes, Potter Gallery, Missouri Western State University
2012 Group Exhibition State of Art Gallery, Hong Kong
2012 Group Exhibition International Art Festival, Museum of Russian Art, Jersey City, NJ, USA
2012 Group Exhibition Pro'jekt LA, MOPLA, (Month of Photography Los Angeles) Chop House, California, USA
2012 Solo Exhibition All Roads Lead to Isis & Beautiful Carnival, Brunswick Street Galleries, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2012 Solo Exhibition Beautiful Carnival, ArtHouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2011 Group Exhibition SCA, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, NSW, Australia
2010 Group Exhibition Graduate Exhibition Sydney College of Arts, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
AWARDS / PRIZES
2024. Vienna International Photo Awards 2024 Honourable Mention, 'Our World’
2024 The Australian Photography Landscape Awards 5 Awards - Highly Commended/Commended
2018 Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize Finalist
2017 Maggie Diaz Photographic Award for Women 1st place, Finalist (across multiple categories)
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2013 5th Edition Julia Margaret Cameron Awards Finalist, (Cityscape & Street Photography)
2013 5th Pollux Awards 1st place, 3rd place & finalist, Alternative, 2nd place, finalist, Still Life
2012 International Art Festival 1st place + finalist, Alternative Photography
2012 Creative Asia Photography Awards Gold Award, Illustrative
2012 2nd International Donkey Art Prize Finalist, Photography & Digital Media
2012 Pro'jekt LA, MOPLA, Finalist
2011 The International Loupe Awards Bronze, Abstract / Illustrative Category
2011 The International Loupe Awards Bronze, People & Portrait Category
2009 Silvershotz International Journal of Contemporary Photography,2009, International Folio Finalist
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PUBLICATIONS (SELECTED)
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2019 Art Edit Magazine #22
2018 The Hand Magazine
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2017 The Hand Magazine
2016 The Hand Magazine
2011 Exposure
2010 Photofile Issue 90
2010 Photofile Issue 91
2010 Broadsheet Contemporary Visual Arts & Culture Vol 39.3 September 2011
2009 Silvershotz International Journal of Contemporary Photography
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