Ariella Friend is a Sydney based artist. Working in an expanded practice Friend’s work challenges the boundaries between painting, sculpture and space. She is particularly interested in the way art can engage audiences in public spaces. Her practice reflects the tensions that exist between humans and nature.
“By combining the traditional artist techniques of painting, cutting and assembling with non traditional artist materials such as found wood and discarded materials, I create sculptural forms and installations that are bold, multi layered, contemplative and dynamic.”
Selected solo exhibition includes Floating, Branch 3D, Sydney (2014). Group shows include Somewhere Between, Vandal Gallery (2017), The Many, Juniper Hall (2015), Little Things, Saint Cloche Gallery (2015); Useless, The Corner Cooperative, Sydney (2014) and Assemble, Salerno Gallery, Sydney (2013).
Ariella was a finalist in Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize (2017), Chippendale New World Art Prize (2016), Kudos Emerging Artist Award (2014), Meroogal Women’s Art Prize (2014), Outback Open Art Prize (2014), Waverley Art Prize (2014), Sustainable Waste to Art Prize (2014), QT Parlour Art Prize (2014), Willoughby Sculpture Prize (2013) and was the winner of Artbeat, supported by Eva Breuer Art (2012).
Ariella holds a Master of Art with Excellence from UNSW Art & Design (formerly COFA) and a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communications) with Honours from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Her works are included in the Macquarie Group Collection and various corporate and private collections throughout Australia and internationally.
Friend is currently an Artist in Residence through Woollahra Council.