Angela Casey
The creative industries were always most appealing to me. While drawing was enjoyable since childhood, my early career was in cartooning, graphic design, book illustration and photography. I then found creating to a brief restricting and evolved into my current practice.
Art is a way of living. From the large decisions made when producing a new body of work to the micro decisions that occur hundreds of times a day. Like an automatic rhythmic act, I consider colour placement and compositional balance all through my home and right down to the dishes drying on the sink.
While working as a diversional therapist in a Melbourne hospital. I found that drawing portraits of people diverted their attentions from worry and stress, having a portrait to keep was something special. There were so many magic moments and interactions within the art stream.
Sawtooth re-established my art career in 2011 with a show "Engaged - A Collection of Public Toilet Drawings and Words". At this point in my life, I had recently returned home to Launceston after living in Melbourne for 16 years, during which time I hadn’t had a solo show for over 10 years. I was distracted by nursing, doing loads of shifts and saving for a home. I feel that Sawtooth validated me as an artist and that is was more than ok to express that truth.
Biography
Casey’s arts practice is primarily photography. Her still subjects float within a deep black cloak of space and silence, providing sanctuary for the viewer to contemplate the visual narrative within.
Currently developing a theatrical installation Dance with the Diemen for the 2025 festival, Ten Days on the Island.Co-collaborators include IO Performance, Mudlark Theatre, Tasdance, Assembly 197 and artist Samantha Dennis. Directed by Paige Rattray and Nathan Maynard.
Solo shows of her works have been held at Devonport Regional Gallery, Moonah Arts Centre, a survey show at Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and Gallerysmith in Melbourne.
Her work is held in several collections including: Rajamangala University of Technology (Thailand), Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery (NSW), Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (TAS) and Poh Chang Academy of Arts (Thailand).
She has been shortlisted for several art prizes including Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize (NSW), The Blake Prize (NSW and the national touring show), Still: National Still Life Award (NSW), Bay of Fires Art Prize (TAS) and Hutchins Australian Contemporary Art Prize (TAS).