Biography
Nina lives and works on the land of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin nations (so called Melbourne). Her practice draws on individual experiences to interrogate the use of visual and textual language within political and personal spheres using video, performance, photography and text.
Nina has an extensive collaborative practice which includes cofounding Artists’ Committee, Artists’ Subcommittee and Imagining a Future Collective, as well as producing a survey for Australian visual artists and art workers to provide a picture of the sectors socio-economics during the Covid pandemic lockdowns.
Since 2017 Nina has conducted research with artists Jessie Scott and Lizzy Sampson that proposes practical ways galleries and the arts industry can support working artists who are also parents, which developed out of a working group of Melbourne based artists called Art/Mum (including Hanna Tai, Gabrielle De Vietri, Eugenia Lim, Clare Rae, Clare Needham, Tai Snaith, Claudia Phares and Jessie Scott.
Previous to this, Nina worked as a sessional teacher at RMIT and Photography Studies College, as well as a commercial photographer, photography assistant, stylist and photography studio manager in Melbourne, Sydney and Norway. Some freelance clients included; Tibe Republic (Advertising agency Norway), Bergens Tidende (National Norwegian newspaper), Vang/Rudolph Productions (Melbourne/Sydney), Murdoch books (Australia), Costume magazine (Denmark), Murdoch books (Australia), Elle Decoration magazine (Denmark), Marie Claire (Australia), Target (Australia), Agent K (Karen Gjelsvik, Norway).
Exhibitions
Solo (selected)
That takes balls, Centre for Contemporary Photography Melbourne (2019)
That takes balls, MARS Gallery curated by Brie Ternary (2019)
State of the Union (Artists’ Committee), Ian Potter Museum Melbourne University (2018)
Baby Gesture, May Space Sydney (2017)
Post Baby Belly, Seventh Gallery Melbourne (2016)
Untitled #1 (pregnancy), Mars Gallery Melbourne (2016)
Language acquisition: learning through conversation, Bus Projects Melbourne (2015)
Language and the Body, Brenda May Gallery Sydney (2015)
The language between us, One Night Only Oslo/Norway (2014)
The language between us, Northern Centre for Contemporary Art Darwin (2014)
The language between us, Perth Centre for Photography (2014)
The language between us, First Draft Sydney (2013)
Finding a voice, One Night Only Oslo/Norway (2012)
Finding a voice, Screen Space Melbourne (2012)
The foreignness of language, Peloton Sydney (2012)
Finding a voice, Felt Space Adelaide (2012)
Finding a voice, Screen: Art from the Archive Monash University Faculty Gallery (2012)
The foreignness of language, Bus Projects Melbourne (2011)
Strangers to ourselves, C3 contemporary art space Melbourne (2011)
Strangers to ourselves, Queensland Centre for Photography (2011)
Group (selected)
Forthcoming: TEXT with Lizzy Sampson, Jessie Scott and Hanna Tai, City of Yarra: Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library (2024)
Real Job, curated by Madeleine Thorton-Smith, Seventh Gallery and Counihan Gallery (2023)
Australian Tapestry Workshop artists in residence exhibition (2020)
The Essayist, The Cross Arts Projects, curated by Jasmine Stepehens (2019)
Converse, Boxcopy Brisbane, curated by Simone Hine (2018)
Tongue Tied, Flux Factory New York (2017)
Mouthfeel, curated by Megan Fizell Visual and Performing Arts Gallery University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (2017)
Word, INSTITUT FÜR ALLES MÖGLICHE Berlin (2017)
Kitchen Studio curated by Megan Fizell May Space (2017)
Mum curated by Clare Needham, Stockroom Gallery Kyneton (2016)
Spatial Awareness, curated by Michael Dooney, Jarvis Dooney Galerie Berlin (2016)
Mouthfeel, curated by Megan Fizell Northern Centre for Contemporary Art Darwin (2016)
Becoming language, Watch This Space ARI Alice Springs (2015)
Video Stage, curated by ACMI for Art Stage Singapore (2015)
Location, curated by Laura Hanlon/Critical animals/This Is Not Art at The Lock up Newcastle (2015)
F Generation, curated by Dr Juliette Peers, Caroline Phillips and Veronica Caven Aldous George Patton Gallery/University of Melbourne (2015)
Proxemics, curated by Michael Meneghetti and Melissa Edwards for Channels festival
Linden Art Prize finalist exhibition, Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts Melbourne (2014)
Finding a voice, The Ferry Gallery Bangkok (2014)
Breaking Control, Modern Art Projects NSW (2014)
In Motion (kinetic art and moving image), AirSpace Projects Sydney (2014)
Flawed Symmetry, Parer Place/Urban Screens- QUT Queensland (2014)
Is This Art?, DLUX Media Arts and Artereal Gallery Sydney (2014)
I’m Trying to Talk to You, The Substation Melbourne (2014)
Direct action, INSTITUT FÜR ALLES MÖGLICHE/Month of Performance Berlin (2014 and 2016)
PERSPEKTIV A2.0, College of Fine Arts University of NSW Sydney (2013)
Speak to me, Experimenta 5th International Biennial of Media Art (traveling exhibition): Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, Queensland University of Technology, Albury Library Museum (2014), ISEA, Bendigo Art Gallery (2013), RMIT Gallery (2012)
Substation Contemporary Art Prize, finalist exhibition 2012
Strange loop, MIA screen California/USA (2012)
Guarda Prato! Prato research residency exhibition, Monash University Caulfield campus, Melbourne (2012)
Publications
No One Here Talks About Class by Nina Ross, Lizzy Sampson and Jessie Scott in The Relationship is the Project edited by Jade Lillie and Kate Larsen, New South Publishing (2024)
Soiling the White Cube: Artists Parent Experiences by Nina Ross, Lizzy Sampson and Jessie Scott in Care Ethics and Art Edited By Jacqueline Millner, Gretchen Coombs, Routledge (2021)
Women’s Art Register Bulletin #68, April 2020 - May 2021 by Nina Ross, Lizzy Sampson and Jessie Scott (2021)
Grants/Awards/Residencies/Conferences (selected)
Doing Feminism, Women’s Art and Feminist Criticism in Australia by Anne Marsh, Melbourne University Publishing (2021)
City of Port Phillip Cultural Development Fund grant (2019/2020)
AAANZ: Women, Art and Feminism in Australia since 1970 Symposium VCA Melbourne (2018)
Doing Feminism/Sharing the world, Artists residency with Art mums, Melbourne University/Anne Marsh (2018)
You’ve got mouth, ACCA Unfinished Business round table discussion curated by Veronica Caven Aldous (2018)
Aesthetics, Politics and histories; The social context of Art, AAANZ Conference, RMIT University (2018)
Art/Politics/Action, Centre of Everything Residency (2017)
Finalist 54th Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Sydney (2016)
Creative Victoria Grant (2015)
Art Start Australian Council for the Arts Grant (2014)
Finalist Linden Art Prize, Linden Arts Melbourne (2014)
Finalist 52nd Fishers Ghost Art Prize Award, Sydney (2014)
Winner Head on Photo Festival multimedia Award, Sydney (2014)
Recipient Vice-Chancellor's Commendation for Master's Excellence award, Monash University (2013)
Winner Best Video, Centre for Contemporary Photography Kodak Salon (2012)
Finalist Substation Contemporary Art Prize, Melbourne (2012)
Monash University Travel Grant (2011)
Education
2013 Master of Fine Art (Research), Monash University
2011 Certificate IV in training and assessment (TAE 40110) RMIT University
2006 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art (Photography) RMIT University
2004 Bachelor of Arts, Media Arts, RMIT University