isabella hone-saunders
b 1992, Tarntanya, Kaurna Yerta (adelaide), Australia.
Photograph by Thomas McCammon
employment history:
2024: Assistant Curator, Art Museums, The University of Melbourne, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023-2024: Director, SEVENTH, Naarm/Melbourne.
2022-2023: Assistant Curator, ACMI, Naarm/Melbourne.
2021-22: Assistant Curator, ACCA (Australian Centre for Contemporary Art), Naarm/Melbourne.
2020-21: Program Manager, Testing Grounds, Naarm/Melbourne.
2019: Engagement Coordinator, Channels Festival 2019, (International Biennial of Video Art).
2019: Assistant Manager, (interim) Maningrida Arts and Culture, Kunibídji country, Arnhem Land.
2018: Gallery Attendant, ACCA (Australian Centre for Contemporary Art), (so-called Melbourne).
2018: Representative for Maningrida Arts and Culture at Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), Darwin, Northern Territory.
2018: Venue Supervisor, Brunswick Mechanics Institute/ Next Wave, Naarm/Melbourne.
2016: Invigilator for ‘barrangal dyara’ by Jonathan Jones, Kaldor Public Arts Projects, Eora (Sydney).
2015-2016: Front of House and Gallery Attendant, Flinders University Art Museum, Tarntanya (Adelaide).
education summary:
2017: Master of Art Curatorship – The University of Melbourne.
2016: Graduate Diploma of Art History – The University of Adelaide.
2013-15: Bachelor of Arts, History Major, double Minor of Art History and Visual Culture and English – The University of Adelaide.
curatorial experience:
2025: Assistant Curator, ‘The Veil’ curated by Hannah Presley, at Buxton
Contemporary, Melbourne.
2025: Assistant Curator, ‘65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art’ curated by Marcia Langton OM and Judith Ryan AM, The Ian Potter Museum of Art, Melbourne.
2024: Curator/ Convenor – Artist in Residence -Amy May Stuart- at Buxton Contemporary, Melbourne.
2024: curator, ‘The Calcified Ear + Sabotage in Seven Acts’ Veronica Charmont, Ena Grozdanic and Carmen-Sibha Keiso, Seventh Gallery.
2024: curator, ‘Circling the plane’, Eleanor Amor and Lorna Quinn, Seventh Gallery, Naarm/Melbourne.
2024: Curator/ Programmer, ‘Writing the field: text and place’ with Mel Deerson. Seventh Gallery, Melbourne.
2023: Curator, ‘Making Through It – Josh Van Eymeren, Nicky Tsekouras and Zeth Cameron’ in partnership with Yarra Youth Services, Seventh Gallery.
2023: Curator, ‘Lots of art forms in madness’ a solo show by Leslie Holding, Seventh Gallery, Melbourne.
2023: Curatorial Reconnaissance, Umoona/ Coober Pedy, faciliated through Watch This Space, Mparntwe/ Alice Springs.
2023: curator, ‘Palimpsest’ solo show by Bejnamin Bannan, Cathedral Cabinet, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: Daniel Jenatsch, ‘The Close World - The Building’ an ACMI Digital Gallery 5 commission and ACMI collection aquisition. Work made in collaboration with Tim Busuttil and Franziska Aigner.
2023: Assistant Curator ‘Goddess – Power, Glamour, Rebellion’, ACMI, Melbourne.
2023: Curator, Art + Film, ‘Xanthe Dobbie and V Barratt on Cyberfeminism’, ACMI.
2023: co-curator; 25 Years of TCB, TCB fundraiser, Naarm/Melbourne.
2022: ‘Huddling, friends with thermal benefits’ group exhibition at Cool Change Contemporary, Boorloo/ Perth.
2021-22: ‘to listen, not to preserve’ co-curated with Sebastian Henry-Jones at The Living Museum of The West, co-presented by West Space, Naarm/Melbourne. Group exhibition with: Archie Barry, Snack Syndicate, Kevin Diallo, V Barratt, Akil Ahamat, Debris Facility Pty Ltd, Jesse Gall. 2021: 6-month Curatorial research residency with co-curator Sebastian Henry-Jones at the Living Museum of the West supported by West Space.
2021: WRITING & CONCEPTS x Testing Grounds, present Shoshana Rosenberg; ‘Swirling: Queer Hermeneutics and Jewish Thought’. (click to listen)
2021: Continuously Under Construction; Eel Trap, led by Aunty Bronwyn Razem and RMIT Design, at Testing Grounds.
2019: ‘Spring show/ a fundraiser’ – group exhibition, Alsace St, Brunswick East, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: ‘A sinking feeling (the politics of risk)’ – group exhibition at Blak Dot Gallery, Brunswick, Naarm/Melbourne. Group exhibition with: Moorina Bonini, Niharika Senapiti, Dean Cross, Aida Azin, Luke O’Donnell, Arini Byng, Madeleine Mills.
2018: Presenter/guest speaker at Public Galleries Association Victoria (PGAV) 2018 Curatorial Intensive held at Buxton Contemporary.
2017: ‘Who speaks for a community?’ – Sister Gallery, Tarntanya/Adelaide. Group exhibition with: Kate Power, James Tylor, Eugene Choi, Sebastian Henry-Jones, Ellen Davies, Grace Marlow, Angela Schilling.
2017: Curatorial Assistant to Kimba Thompson- at Blak Dot Gallery for an exhibition by Annie Moors and Amani Tia, Naarm/Melbourne.
2016: Superformance – Format Systems, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: Neue Pinakothek – The Mill, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2014: Bekitzor – Adelaide Fringe Festival, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
exhibition history:
2024: B-SIDE, BLINDSIDE 20 year fundraiser.
2024: TCB fundraiser, TCB, Naarm/Melbourne.
2024: ‘Kin’, West Space fundraiser, West Space, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: B-SIDE fundraiser exhibition, BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: shortlisted finalist for Incinerator Art Prize, Art for Social Change, Incinerator Gallery, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: shortlisted finalist for Footscray Art Prize, Footscray Community Arts, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: ‘CC: ALL’, group exhibition at Cool Change Contemporary, Boorloo, Perth.
2023: West Space, 30 years of, Fundraiser Exhibition, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: solo exhibition at FELTspace, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide.
2023: exhibiting artist in ‘Recreation’ at project8, curated by Cūrā8 (Dr Sean Lowry and Dr Kim Donaldson), Naarm/Melbourne.
2022: B-SIDE, fundraiser exhibition, BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2022: ‘Ritual Slaughterer’ solo exhibition at BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2020: Exhibiting artist in ‘Rain Dance’ fundraiser show for national fire relief, Grey Gardens, Fitzroy, Naarm/Melbourne.
2019: Exhibiting artist in ‘Connecting in the grey zone’ curated by Anador Walsh at BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2019: Exhibiting solo artist at Firstdraft, Eora (Sydney) June 2019.
2018: Exhibiting artist in ‘Presence’ curated by Brigid Hansen and Zoë Bastin at BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: Exhibiting artist at Trocadero Art Space, Footscray, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: ‘Who speaks for a community?’, Sister Gallery, Tarntanya (Adelaide).
2017: FELTdark street cinema – FELTspace, Tarntanya (Adelaide).
2016: Wildstyle 6 – Ancient World, Tarntanya (Adelaide).
residencies/ internships/ writing/ panels/ and workshops:
2023-24: Curatorial mentor to Teagan Ramsay, MADA 2023 Curatorship Graduate.
2023: ‘Distribution Forum: Artist Run Initiatives’ panel discussion, Melbourne Art Library.
2022: ‘Domesticus Venus: what if they were toys?’ a conversation with Victoria Pham for KINGS Artist-Run.
2022: The Water We Swim In workshop, training delivered by Arts Access Australia.
2022: ‘And Seb started thinking about the birds’ curatorial response to ‘to listen, not to preserve’ published West Space Offsite.
2022: ‘Immortality, neoliberalism and popup windows: Xanthe Dobbie on The Long Now’ published online for ACMI.
2021/22: Referenced writer in ‘Care Ethics and Art’ 2022, edited by Jacqueline Millner, Gretchen Coombs.
2021: Contributor to ‘Lieu Journal’ Issue 3; Peace – August 2020.
2020: Curatorial research intern for West Space.
2019: Contributor to ‘Favour Economy, Volume 4. 2018-19’
2018: Internship with Liquid Architecture for ‘Why Listen to Plants?’ project in collaboration with RMIT Design Hub, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: Delegate for the ArtsFront U30 Symposium, Mulubinba (Newcastle), NSW.
2018: Research, curatorial and conservation internship at Maningrida Arts and Culture, West Arnhem Land, NT.
2018: Internship with Kimba Thompson at Blak Dot, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: Internship with Susannah Day for Klub Korporate at Brunswick Mechanics Institute/ Next Wave, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: Internship at Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, Yuendumu, Northern Territory.
2016: Participant/performer in Aeon residency through Vitalsatistix, Port Adelaide, SA.
2016: Participant in ‘Body of Work’ workshop by Atlanta eke- Presented by Adelaide Festival and Adelaide College of the Arts, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: contributor to fine-print, contemporary art magazine- issue #3.
2012: Participant at Impulstanz Festival- Vienna, Austria.
volunteer experience:
2022 - 2023: TCB Board member, TCB Brunswick, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017-2020: gallery volunteer- Blak Dot Gallery, Brunswick, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: gallery volunteer- ACCA, Southbank, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: gallery volunteer- SEVENTH gallery, Fitzroy, Naarm/Melbourne.
2016: gallery volunteer- FELTspace, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2016: gallery volunteer, curator, install assistant and gallery committee – Format, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: volunteer Adelaide Festival of the Arts, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: volunteer Adelaide Writers Week, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2014: volunteer Adelaide Film Festival, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2014: volunteer Alliance Française French Film Festival, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2019: ‘Spring show/ a fundraiser’ – group exhibition, Alsace St, Brunswick East, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: ‘A sinking feeling (the politics of risk)’ – group exhibition at Blak Dot Gallery, Brunswick, Naarm/Melbourne. Group exhibition with: Moorina Bonini, Niharika Senapiti, Dean Cross, Aida Azin, Luke O’Donnell, Arini Byng, Madeleine Mills.
2018: Presenter/guest speaker at Public Galleries Association Victoria (PGAV) 2018 Curatorial Intensive held at Buxton Contemporary.
2017: ‘Who speaks for a community?’ – Sister Gallery, Tarntanya/Adelaide. Group exhibition with: Kate Power, James Tylor, Eugene Choi, Sebastian Henry-Jones, Ellen Davies, Grace Marlow, Angela Schilling.
2017: Curatorial Assistant to Kimba Thompson- at Blak Dot Gallery for an exhibition by Annie Moors and Amani Tia, Naarm/Melbourne.
2016: Superformance – Format Systems, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: Neue Pinakothek – The Mill, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2014: Bekitzor – Adelaide Fringe Festival, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
exhibition history:
2024: B-SIDE, BLINDSIDE 20 year fundraiser.
2024: TCB fundraiser, TCB, Naarm/Melbourne.
2024: ‘Kin’, West Space fundraiser, West Space, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: B-SIDE fundraiser exhibition, BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: shortlisted finalist for Incinerator Art Prize, Art for Social Change, Incinerator Gallery, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: shortlisted finalist for Footscray Art Prize, Footscray Community Arts, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: ‘CC: ALL’, group exhibition at Cool Change Contemporary, Boorloo, Perth.
2023: West Space, 30 years of, Fundraiser Exhibition, Naarm/Melbourne.
2023: solo exhibition at FELTspace, Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide.
2023: exhibiting artist in ‘Recreation’ at project8, curated by Cūrā8 (Dr Sean Lowry and Dr Kim Donaldson), Naarm/Melbourne.
2022: B-SIDE, fundraiser exhibition, BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2022: ‘Ritual Slaughterer’ solo exhibition at BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2020: Exhibiting artist in ‘Rain Dance’ fundraiser show for national fire relief, Grey Gardens, Fitzroy, Naarm/Melbourne.
2019: Exhibiting artist in ‘Connecting in the grey zone’ curated by Anador Walsh at BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2019: Exhibiting solo artist at Firstdraft, Eora (Sydney) June 2019.
2018: Exhibiting artist in ‘Presence’ curated by Brigid Hansen and Zoë Bastin at BLINDSIDE, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: Exhibiting artist at Trocadero Art Space, Footscray, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: ‘Who speaks for a community?’, Sister Gallery, Tarntanya (Adelaide).
2017: FELTdark street cinema – FELTspace, Tarntanya (Adelaide).
2016: Wildstyle 6 – Ancient World, Tarntanya (Adelaide).
residencies/ internships/ writing/ panels/ and workshops:
2023-24: Curatorial mentor to Teagan Ramsay, MADA 2023 Curatorship Graduate.
2023: ‘Distribution Forum: Artist Run Initiatives’ panel discussion, Melbourne Art Library.
2022: ‘Domesticus Venus: what if they were toys?’ a conversation with Victoria Pham for KINGS Artist-Run.
2022: The Water We Swim In workshop, training delivered by Arts Access Australia.
2022: ‘And Seb started thinking about the birds’ curatorial response to ‘to listen, not to preserve’ published West Space Offsite.
2022: ‘Immortality, neoliberalism and popup windows: Xanthe Dobbie on The Long Now’ published online for ACMI.
2021/22: Referenced writer in ‘Care Ethics and Art’ 2022, edited by Jacqueline Millner, Gretchen Coombs.
2021: Contributor to ‘Lieu Journal’ Issue 3; Peace – August 2020.
2020: Curatorial research intern for West Space.
2019: Contributor to ‘Favour Economy, Volume 4. 2018-19’
2018: Internship with Liquid Architecture for ‘Why Listen to Plants?’ project in collaboration with RMIT Design Hub, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: Delegate for the ArtsFront U30 Symposium, Mulubinba (Newcastle), NSW.
2018: Research, curatorial and conservation internship at Maningrida Arts and Culture, West Arnhem Land, NT.
2018: Internship with Kimba Thompson at Blak Dot, Naarm/Melbourne.
2018: Internship with Susannah Day for Klub Korporate at Brunswick Mechanics Institute/ Next Wave, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: Internship at Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, Yuendumu, Northern Territory.
2016: Participant/performer in Aeon residency through Vitalsatistix, Port Adelaide, SA.
2016: Participant in ‘Body of Work’ workshop by Atlanta eke- Presented by Adelaide Festival and Adelaide College of the Arts, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: contributor to fine-print, contemporary art magazine- issue #3.
2012: Participant at Impulstanz Festival- Vienna, Austria.
volunteer experience:
2022 - 2023: TCB Board member, TCB Brunswick, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017-2020: gallery volunteer- Blak Dot Gallery, Brunswick, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: gallery volunteer- ACCA, Southbank, Naarm/Melbourne.
2017: gallery volunteer- SEVENTH gallery, Fitzroy, Naarm/Melbourne.
2016: gallery volunteer- FELTspace, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2016: gallery volunteer, curator, install assistant and gallery committee – Format, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: volunteer Adelaide Festival of the Arts, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2015: volunteer Adelaide Writers Week, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2014: volunteer Adelaide Film Festival, Tarntanya/Adelaide.
2014: volunteer Alliance Française French Film Festival, Tarntanya/Adelaide.