Kath Fries

Kath Fries is a curator and artist, who lives on Gadigal Wangal Country in the Inner West of Sydney. She has been the curator of HIDDEN Rookwood Sculptures since 2019, focusing on site-responsive practices that engage with layered histories to openup new perspectives, relationships, and interconnections. Kath has a PhD from Sydney College of the Arts, The University of Sydney. Over the past 20 years Kath has been involved in artist-run galleries, community spaces, artist-in-residence programs, local government initiatives, not-for-profit organisations and education institutions, working as an artist, curator, researcher, board member, lecturer, writer, and mentor to emerging artists.

HIDDEN 2022 Judges

Sculptures - Elyse Goldfinch

Elyse Goldfinch is an arts curator and writer with a career focus on advocacy, collaboration, exchange and support for artists across generations. Over the past twelve years, Elyse has worked across a variety of non-profit and independent arts organisations. She is currently the Curator, Public Programs and Publications at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm and Co-Chair of Firstdraft, Gadigal Country. In 2022 she was on the curatorial team for the Australian Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale and lead curator of Artspace’s NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship exhibition held at National Art School.

(Photo credit: Zan Wimberly)

Sculptures - Tim Silver 

Tim Silver is a multidisciplinary artist, who has been exhibiting internationally for more than a decade. Originally from Hobart, Tim is based in Sydney and represented by Sullivan+Strumpf. Exploring the interface of time and decay, Tim’s practice occupies a space between the beautiful, political and poetic, as his work precipitates a poignant awareness of the preciousness and fragility of human life. Tim has a Master of Fine Arts by research from the College of Fine Arts UNSW and a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Sydney College of the Arts, USyd. Tim’s works are held in collections including Artbank, Sydney; Art Gallery of New South Wales; Australia Council for the Arts; Mint Museum, North Carolina, US; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Ten Cubed Collection, Melbourne and University of Queensland Art Museum Collection. Photo Credit: Nick DeLorenzo

Films - Talia Smith

Talia Smith is an artist and curator of Samoan, Cook Island and New Zealand European heritage. Her practice examines themes of time, memory, ruin and the landscape. Talia has recently curated at Artbank Sydney, Centre for Contemporary Photography Melbourne, Ideas Platform Artspace Sydney, Cement Fondu Sydney and is currently the Curator at the Granville Centre Art Gallery, Cumberland Council.

Students - Wendy Ramsay

Wendy Ramsay is a visual arts educator and Director of Professional Learning, Visual Arts and Design Educators Association (VADEA NSW) developing professional learning programs with VADEA executive for visual arts teachers. Wendy has extensive experience in primary, secondary and tertiary education contexts, including head teacher, state consultant, deputy principal, lecturer and tertiary supervisor at UTS.

Additional Award Judges

Western Sydney Artist Award - Kristina Tito

Kristina Tito is an arts and cultural producer and artist living and working on Dharug Land, who works across ceramics, drawing, painting and performance. Kristina has worked in the arts sector for over 15 years and is the Arts and Cultural Projects Producer for Cumberland Council.

Muru First Nations Artist Award - Julie Clarke-Jones

Julie Clarke-Jones is a proud Dharug woman, traditional custodian and knowledge keeper. Julie is also a consultant, educator, mentor, dancer and is the Director of Dharug Strategic Management Group. Having worked extensively across Indigenous early childhood, health, aged care and education, Julie is deeply invested in supporting Aboriginal Culture, its truth, power, ability to heal, continuity and preservation. She is the founder of ‘Gumadah Byalla – Spirits Talking’, sharing unique and authentic experience of walking on Nura (Country) with respect and humility, to foster better relationships and understandings between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. Julie is also the Co-Founder of Bubuwul Gumada Dance and Performance Group, and she works as a cultural representative at several Western Sydney Schools.

Muru First Nations Artist Award - Raelene Billedo Locke 

Raelene Billedo Locke is a Buruberongal woman from Dharug Nation. She was a Director at Dharug Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation for four years. Raelene works in the Early Childhood sector and is committed to ensuring access and equality for First Nation’s children and their families. She is passionate about embedding First Nation perspectives into learning and education, working tirelessly to assist her community. Raelene is a dedicated advocate and enjoys power of storytelling through art and dance.

Elite Funeral Directors Award - Diane Luccitti

Diane Luccitti is the Director of Elite Funerals. Following her own life-changing circumstances 30 years ago, Diane chose to enter funeral service as a new career. Since then Diane has arranged over 3500 funeral services. Understanding the impact of attending a meaningful funeral ceremony, Diane focuses on helping families and friends to bring together personalised elements to compassionately farewell their loved one. It is these evocative reflections on individual life stories, which draws Diane to engage with HIDDEN. She is specifically interested in the ways that artists address conversations around end of life and how we honour our departed.

Cumberland Council Professional Development Award - Michael Brown

Michael Brown is the Gallery Director and Cultural Services Coordinator at Cumberland City Council.

Cumberland City Council has recently opened The Granville Centre, a new multi-purpose cultural centre, with an art gallery, music and recording studios, video studio​s, library, workshops, community and outdoor spaces overlooking Granville Memorial Park.