Fire Flowers
About
Katherine Boland is a multidisciplinary artist living and working on the south east coast of Australia. Her practice spans digital media, photography, experimental techniques and non-traditional media and processes. Across these forms, she explores the tension between beauty and vulnerability in the natural world—highlighting both its resilience and its increasing fragility in the face of ecological disruption.
Since the Black Summer bushfires that devastated her region, Katherine's practice has become more focused on environmental themes and the realities of a warming planet. Her recent work incorporates emerging technologies to reimagine landscapes and ecosystems in ways that foster emotional connection, ecological awareness, and a deeper sense of responsibility.
In 2020, Katherine was selected to participate in OUTPUT: Art After Fire, an international pilot project funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which brought together artists from southeast Australia and the American West to respond creatively to bushfire trauma and recovery.
Her work has been featured in global forums including the DigitalArt4Climate Art Award at the 2021 United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow, and Art Speaks Out exhibitions at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 UN Climate Conferences in Egypt, Dubai, and Azerbaijan. In 2023, her work Fire Flower No. 8—created using fire itself—was presented by the Australian Prime Minister as an official gift to President Joe Biden at the White House.
Katherine has received several major Australian art prizes, including the 2023 National Capital Art Prize (Sustainability category), the 2023 Burrinja Climate Change Biennale Art Award, and the 2009 Heysen Prize for Interpretation of Place. In addition to her visual arts practice, Katherine is the author of the memoir Hippy Days, Arabian Nights (Wild Dingo Press, 2017), and holds a Graduate Diploma in Therapeutic Arts Practice from the Melbourne Institute of Experiential and Creative Art Therapies (MIECAT).
CV
1957 Born, Lancashire, England
1961 Immigrated to Australia
1990-91 Certificate of Colour & Design, Bega TAFE, Bega New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2016 Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Arts in Counselling, Chisholm Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2017 Published Hippy Days, Arabian Nights - A Memoir, Wild Dingo Press, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2019 Graduate Diploma in Therapeutic Arts Practice, MIECAT, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Group Exhibitions
2025 Journeys, Spiral Gallery, Bega, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2025 Burnt into Memory, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Windsor, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2025 Threading Lightly, Gallery 76, Embroiderers’ Guild NSW, Concord West, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2025 Forage II, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2024 ArtSpeaksOut Program, COP29 UN Climate Change Conference, Baku, AZERBAIJAN
2024 ArtSpeaksOut, Official Selection, IkonoTV, Berlin, GERMANY
2024 Collectors Show, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2024 Artisans in the Gardens, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2024 Spring Fever Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2023 East Gippsland Small Art Prize, East Gippsland Art Gallery, Bairnsdale, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2023 Kinship with Birds in Flight and Plight, Women Eco Artists Dialog, California, USA
2023 Works on Paper, Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2023 Mission to Seafarers Maritime Art Prize, Finalist, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2023 Collabor8Women, Finalist, Ellipsis Gallery, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2023 Central Desert Digital Art Prize, Finalist, Raft Artspace, Mparntwe, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, AUSTRALIA
2023 Forage, Gallery Lane Cove, Lane Cove, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2023 WAMA Art Prize, Finalist, Ararat Gallery TAMA, Ararat, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2023 Environmental Art & Design Award, Finalist, Manly Art Gallery, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2023 Open Field Arts Festival, Salon Exhibition, Berry, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2023 Lethbridge 2000 Small Scale Art Prize, Finalist, Salon des Refuses, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
2023 Lethbridge Landscape Prize, Finalist, Salon des Refuses, Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
2023 Earth Mother, Finalist, Online Exhibition, Envision Arts, Dallas, Texas, USA
2022 The Power of Empathy, Finalist, Online Exhibition, Women Eco Artist's Dialog, San Francisco, California, USA
2022 Art Speaks Out, Finalist, IkonoTV, COP27 United Nations Climate Conference, Sharm-el Sheik, EGYPT
2022 Meroogal Women's Art Prize, Finalist, Sydney Living Museums, Nowra, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2022 Tree, Urban Forest Project Exhibition, Forty-five Downstairs Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2022 Environmental Art & Design Award, Finalist, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2022 Art for Climate Change, Planet Earth Channel, IKONO TV, Berlin, GERMANY
2022 ICONS Billboard Display, DigitalArt4Climate, Tokyo, JAPAN
2022 ICONS Billboard Display, DigitalArt4Climate, Toronto, CANADA
2022 Mandorla Art Award, Finalist, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA
2022 Fire, Climarte Gallery, Richmond, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2022 Planet Recovery Project Exhibition, Finalist, Labyrinth Gallery, UK
2022 Women See Change, Visual Petition, Parliament House, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AUSTRALIA
2022 The Next, Online Exhibition, Li Tang Gallery, New York, USA
2022 Platforme Planet Earth, Online Exhibition, Finalist, New York, USA
2022 Ivy Hill Gallery, Wopengo, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2022 Art Lovers Australia Prize, Finalist, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2021 DigitalArt4Climate Art Competition, Finalist, COP26 United Nations Climate Conference, Glasgow, UK
2021 Environmental Art and Design Prize, Finalist, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2021 Waverley Art Prize, Finalist, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2021 Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Prize, Finalist, Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
2021 Manyung Gallery, Malvern, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2021 Milburn Art Prize, Finalist, Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
2021 Lethbridge Landscape Prize, Finalist (Salon des Refuses) Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
2020 NOW Contemporary Art Prize, Finalist, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2020 Ivy Hill Gallery, Wopengo, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2016 Beth Hume Gallery, Fitzroy, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2015 Beth Hume Gallery, Fitzroy, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2013 Form Studio and Gallery, Queanbeyan, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2012 Redland Art Awards, Finalist, Cleveland, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
2012 Covering Ground, Dark Horse Experiment Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2011 Izmir Biennale, Izmir, TURKEY
2011 La Verne University, Los Angeles, USA
2011 Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA
2011 Wilson Street Gallery at Danks St, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2010 Essence Of St Kilda Photography Prize, Finalist, St Kilda, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2010 Gallery One, Southport, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
2010 BMGart, Adelaide, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
2010 Limestone Coast Art Prize, Finalist, Keith, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
2007 Corangamarah Art Prize, Finalist,Otway Estate Winery, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2004 Norvill Art Prize, Finalist, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2003-05 The State of Art – Peace, Manly Art Gallery Touring Exhibition, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2002-03 SKEGGS Darlinghurst Art Show, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2003 McGivern Art Prize, Finalist, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2002 Contemporary Asian Art Fair, Aust High Commission, SINGAPORE
2002 Treasury Place, Artefact, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2000 Fleurieu Art Prize, Finalist, Regional Gallery, McLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
2000 McLaren Vale Art Prize, Finalist, Regional Gallery, McLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
2000 Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Finalist, Mosman, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
1999 Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Finalist, Mosman, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Solo Exhibitions
2023 Where There's Still Life, Manyung Gallery, Malvern, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2022 Renascent, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, Eden Cultural Centre, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2020 Full Circle, Online Exhibition, Bega Regional Art Gallery, Bega, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2019 New Work, Ivy Hill Gallery, Wopengo, Bega, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2017 Book Launch, Soho Galleries, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2010 Writing On St Kilda, St Kilda Town Hall Gallery, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2010 Shield Me, Catherine Asquith Gallery, Collingwood, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2009 Writing On The Wall, Catherine Asquith Gallery, Collingwood, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2008 Writing On The Wall, Gadfly Gallery, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA
2008 Horizons II, Catherine Asquith Gallery, Flinders St, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2007 The Shape Of Things To Come, Gadfly Gallery, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA
2007 The Shape Of Things To Come, Catherine Asquith Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2006 Near & Far, Soho Gallery, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2006 Campagna, Artefact, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2005 Horizons, Soho Gallery, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2005 It’s Not Just Black & White, Artefact @ Gallery 101,Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2004 In Her View, Artefact, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2003 On Fire, Artefact, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2002 Lineage, Soho Galleries, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2001 Fields of Bliss, Soho Galleries, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2000 Oceanic, Bulle Galleries, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2000 Landmarks, Soho Galleries Leichhardt, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
1998 Fragments, Old Bank Gallery, Pambula, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
1996 I Above, Narek Gallery, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AUSTRALIA
1995 New Work, Hidden Valley Art Gallery, Bodalla, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
1993 Supra Natural, Gorman House Arts Centre, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AUSTRALIA
1991 New Work, Bilyara Gallery, Bournda, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Awards
2024 River of Art Art Prize, Highly Commended, Narooma Gallery, Narooma, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2024 International Photography Awards, Honourable Mention, Special Category, Los Angeles, California, USA
2024 Mono Awards, 5 Commended Awards - People Category x 1, Animal Category x 2, Place Category x 2
2024 Australia’s Top Emerging Photographers, Commended Award, Art Category
2023 National Capital Art Prize, Winner, Sustainability Category, Aawun Gallery, Nicholls, Australian Capital Territory, AUSTRALIA
2023 International Photography Awards, Honourable Mention, AI Generated Images Category, Los Angeles, California, USA
2023 International Photography Awards, Honourable Mention, Deeper Perspective Category, Los Angeles, California, USA
2023 Australasia's Emerging Photographers Award, Highly Commended, Art Category, Capture Magazine, AUSTRALIA
2023 Reimagine Art Prize, People's Choice Award, Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, Hornsby, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2023 Photographer of the Year, Highly Commended, Creative Category, Australian Photography Magazine, AUSTRALIA
2022 Australasia's Emerging Photographers Award, Top 10 finalist, Art Category, Capture Magazine, AUSTRALIA
2022 The Heat Is On, Winner, Burrinja Climate Change Biennale, Burrinja Cultural Centre, Upwey, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2022 Photographer of the Year 2021, Highly Commended, Australian Photography Magazine, AUSTRALIA
2009 Heysen Art Prize, Winner, Hahndorf Art Academy, Hahndorf, South Australia, AUSTRALIA
2000 Bega Valley Art Awards, Major Award – Acquisitive, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
1999 Bega Valley Art Awards, Major Award – Acquisitive, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, Bega, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
1997 Bega Valley Art Awards, Best Abstract, Regional Gallery, Bega, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Grants
2021 Covid Development Grant, Create NSW, Sydney New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2020 Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program, Output - Art After Fire Project, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
2020 Artist Benevolent Grant, NAVA, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2020 Micro Grant, South East Arts/ Regional Arts NSW/Bega Valley Regional Gallery, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Residencies
2010 International Artist’s Symposium, Luxor International Studio, Ministry of Culture, Luxor, EGYPT
2010 Studio Residency, DRAWinternational, Caylus, Lot, FRANCE
2010 Scholarship Residency, Arts Student’s League of New York, Vytlacil Campus, NEW YORK
2005 Studio Residency, Rigalto Studios, Perugia, Umbria, ITALY
2002 Studio Residency, Glebe Chamber of Commerce, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
2001 Studio Residency, NSW Ministry of the Arts, Gunnery Studios, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Publications
2024 We Are The Possible: The Land of Fire – 12 Stories for 12 Days of COP29, Exeter University, UNITED KINGDOM
2023 The Guardian, Art & Design, Australian Edition, 25 October
2023 Small Data is Beautiful, Dr Tyne Daile Sumner, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
2023 Landscape to Earthscape: Practice and Aesthetics in a Time of Environmental Crisis, Stella Clarke,
Master of Visual Arts Thesis, Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Podcasts
2025 Decarbonisation Dialogue, Salix Finance, London, UNITED KINGDOM
Collections
The White House, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, USA
Hyatt Regency Orlando, Florida, USA
Modera Golden Triangle, Denver, Colorado, USA
Quay West Suites Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Phoenician Resort and Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Bellagio Tower Suite, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Kimpton Midtown Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Mandale Heights, SINGAPORE
American Euro Centre, Hangzlon, CHINA
Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Marriott, Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Sheraton On The Park, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Chelsea Hotel, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Conrad Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Sheraton Hotel, Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Reflections, Gold Coast, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Kirra Surf, Gold Coast , Queensland AUSTRALIA
Q1 Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Crown Casino, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Ministry of Culture Collection, Cairo, EGYPT
South East Centre for Contemporary Art, Permanent Collection, Bega, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Maddocks Collection, Melbourne,Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Doug Menzies Collection, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Western Mining Corporation Collection, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
City of Port Phillip Collection, Melbourne,Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Private Collections in Europe, Asia, USA & Australia
Representation
Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
