isabella hone-saunders
b 1992, Tarntanya, Kaurna Yerta (adelaide), Australia.
Photograph by Thomas McCammon
employment history:
2024-present: 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:
2025: current PhD candidate, Curatorial Practice – MADA,
Monash University.
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:
2026: MADA Curator-in-residence with Paul Boyé, MADA Gallery.
2025: Facilitator of A Hope Reading Group, supported by Seventh Gallery and Collingwood House. (With guests Lucreccia Quintanilla, Audrey Pfister and Archie Barry.)
2025: Curator, Cantos #7 ‘Weight of the Earth’ with presentations by Archie Barry, Gabriella Imrichova (with Jo Lloyd, Phillip Adams, Thomas Woodman, Daniel Ward), Sylvie Nehill and Paul Dalla Rosa, at Collingwood House.
2025: Assistant Curator, on ‘the veil’ curated by Hannah Presley, a group exhibition with works by Glenda Nicholls, Lisa Waup, Lena Yarinkura, Hayley Millar Baker, Aneta Grzeszykowska and Hannah Gartside at Buxton Contemporary, 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’.
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:
2026: Exhibiting artist in ‘How to dismantle the world (and still feel good about yourself in the morning’ Verge Gallery, Sydney.
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:
2026: Contributor to Runway Magazine - upcoming.
2026: ‘Commit to the bit, The Enduring Pathos and Wit of R.A.I.N’ comissioned response to Harrison Ritchie-Jones’ ‘R.A.I.N’.
2025: Panelist on ‘Artistic freedom in creative practice’ at the Deakin Law School Symposium on Artistic Freedom and Human Rights at Abbotsford Convent. Chaired by Professor David Cross, Head of Academic Group Art and Design, Deakin University.
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:
2025-ongoing: Artist Advisory Board member, Seventh Gallery, Naarm/ Melbourne.
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:
2026: Exhibiting artist in ‘How to dismantle the world (and still feel good about yourself in the morning’ Verge Gallery, Sydney.
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:
2026: Contributor to Runway Magazine - upcoming.
2026: ‘Commit to the bit, The Enduring Pathos and Wit of R.A.I.N’ comissioned response to Harrison Ritchie-Jones’ ‘R.A.I.N’.
2025: Panelist on ‘Artistic freedom in creative practice’ at the Deakin Law School Symposium on Artistic Freedom and Human Rights at Abbotsford Convent. Chaired by Professor David Cross, Head of Academic Group Art and Design, Deakin University.
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:
2025-ongoing: Artist Advisory Board member, Seventh Gallery, Naarm/ Melbourne.
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.