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ABC TV feature:
My Garden Path: Artist Renata Buziak shows us how she creates works of art from decaying plants, available on ABC Archives:

WATCH by clicking on the link
Gardening Australia Series 27 Ep 19



Biochrome time-lapse videos, and artist talk with Vanessa Tomlinson, by Panoptic Press on YouTube:





Renata Buziak photo: Eva Urbanska

Artist Statement

Nature’s vegetation offers an endless supply of organic matter for use in my artworks. I create images by forming alliances between a variety of plants and photographic emulsions. I call these images 'Biochromes' because the natural occurrence of decomposition on the photographic materials results in an array of colourful pigmentation arranged in complex and detailed compositions, aided by natures own creative skill.

The chemical and biological reactions that take place during the process of decay are fundamental to my image making process. This art and science endeavor traces the activities of the microbes; reveals the complex process of decay while addressing its metamorphic power. My work also combines my interests in macro and aerial imaging of the environment.

While my practice builds on the traditions of botanical illustrations and experimental photographic techniques, my 'fertilisation' of photographic materials, using vegetation, directly focuses on the significance of time and change through organic decay and regeneration, pushing the boundaries of the photographic medium.

My recent PhD research project focused on Australian medicinal plants. Resutling artwork created over several years can be viewed in the following albums: Medicinal Plant Cycles, Unfolding Rhythms, TreeLine, and Core Energy

INSTAGRAM: Instagram

Photo above by Eva Urbanska


Renata Buziak, born in Poland, moved to Australia in 1991. In 2006 Renata has completed her Bachelor of Photography with First Class Honours at Queensland College of Art (QCA), Griffith University, Brisbane, and PhD research in 2016. Renata is also a a sessional academic at QCA and Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

Renata’s experimental biochrome work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions, nationally and internationally, including ANCA Gallery in Canberra, Red Gallery in Melbourne, the Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP), the Perth Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), Blender Gallery in Sydney, Photo LA, The Opole Contemporary Art Gallery, Academy of Fine Art in Warsaw and more. Renata was a recipient of a number of art awards including The Thiess Art Prize and the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Art Award; she completed several artist residencies: Botanica at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, TreeLine: People, Art, Science, Nature at the Caloundra Regional Gallery, 100 Futures at the KGSC, Lines in the Sand Arts Festival on North Stradbroke Island. Renata’s work is held in public and private collections (listed below).

In 2014 Renata was invited to exhibit at the 4th Biennale Ars Polonia in Opole, Poland, an international showcase of works by artists of Polish heritage. Her monogram Renata Buziak: Afterimage was launched in 2010 by the QCP, and her research papers published in peer assessed publications, as listed in the TEXT page, and in Artist CV.

EMPLOYMENT

Current or Recent
Previously taught courses:
2007 – 2018: Photography Tutor & Lecturer of courses listed, Sessional Academic, Queensland College of Art (QCA) Griffith University, South Bank Brisbane QLD: Studio Foundations (Photographic Concepts), Studio Lecturer; Studio Foundations (Photographic Concepts), Tutor; Art Infield Project I & Art Infield Project II, Lecturer; Photo Methodologies: Fundamentals, Tutor; Photo Technologies, Tutor; Darkroom Project, Tutor; Art Infield Project I & Art Infield Project II, Tutor; Experimental Photo Techniques, Tutor; Digital Visualisation / Digital Imaging, Tutor (Adobe Photoshop).

Previous Arts Industry Employment:
Visitor Experience Team member (Engagement and Learning), Museum of Brisbane; Alumni Internship, Griffith University Art Museum; Advisory Working Group member, Art in Soil, Soil Science Australia initiative, QLD; Photography Department Administrative Officer, QCA Griffith University; Marketing/Art Consultant, Queensland Centre for Photography, Bulimba QLD; Gallery Manager, Higher Art Gallery, Paddington QLD; Assistant to Curator, Joel Fine Art Auction House and Gallery, Paddington QLD; Activity Assistant Children’s Art Centre, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) QLD; Voluntary Staff Member, Queensland Centre for Photography, QLD.

EDUCATION

2016
    Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland College of Art (QCA) Griffith University, Brisbane QLD
2006
    Bachelor of Photography with First Class Honours, Queensland College of Art (QCA) Griffith University, Brisbane QLD

GRANTS and AWARDS

2019
    Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) in partnership between the Queensland Government and Redland City Council (Collaborative project: In Transitions)
2018
    Queensland Government through Arts Queensland: Queensland Arts Showcase Program (Polish Meadows exhibition at PolArt Festival 2018)
2017
    Queensland Government through Arts Queensland: Individuals Fund (Solo international exhibition in Amsterdam)
2015
2014
    2014 Lethbridge 10 000 Small Scale Art Award, Finalist, Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington QLD
      Moreton Bay Art Awards 2014, Finalist, Pine Rivers Art Gallery QLD
2013
    Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Moreton Bay Regional Council (Habitat project).
2012
    2012 ACTS Sustainability Photography Competition, Third Place, 12th International ACTS Conference, South Brisbane QLD
      Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2012, Finalist, Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD
        Moreton Bay Art Awards 2012, Finalist, Pine Rivers Art Gallery QLD
2011
    Australian Postgraduate Award (APA): PhD scholarship
2009
    Moreton Bay Art Awards 2009, Finalist, Pine Rivers Art Gallery QLD
      Prometheus Visual Arts Award 2009, Finalist, Merrimac QLD
        Wilson HTM National Art Prize, Finalist, Jan Murphy Gallery, QLD
2008
2007
    Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Photography Award, Finalist, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, QLD
      The Churchie National Emerging Art Exhibition, Finalist, East Brisbane QLD
        Prometheus Visual Arts Award 2007, Finalist, Merrimac QLD
2006
    The Thiess Art Prize 2006, Finalist, DELL Gallery@QCA, South Bank QLD
      Ergon Energy CQ Art Award 2006, Finalist, Rockhampton Art Gallery, QLD
        International Print Triennial, Contemporary Art Gallery Bunkier Sztuki, Krakow Poland
2005
    The Thiess Art Prize 2005 - First Prize, Acquisitive, DELL Gallery@QCA, South Bank QLD
      Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Art Award 2005 - First Prize, Acquisitive, Brisbane QLD<>
2004
    Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society Award (ADFAS)- First Prize, QCA, South Bank QLD
      Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Art Award 2004 - First Prize, Acquisitive, Brisbane QLD
        Warwick Art Prize - Highly Commended, Warwick QLD
          National Tertiary Art Prize, Finalist, Academy Gallery, University of Tasmania, Launceston
            Griffith University National Tertiary Art Prize - First Prize, Project Gallery, QCA, South Bank QLD
2002 - 2004
    Griffith Awards for Academic Excellence for studies in the Bachelor of Photography

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2020
    Granite Belt Wildflowers: Out of Oblivion, POP Gallery, Fortitude Valley QLD
2019
    Granite Belt Wildflowers: Out of Oblivion, Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, QLD
      Medicinal Plant Cycles VI, USQ Art Gallery Artsworx, Toowoomba, QLD
2018
    Kontinuum roślin leczniczych, Galeria Neon, Wroclaw Academy of Fine Arts, Poland 2 - 6 August
      Medicinal Plant Cycles V, Roma on Bungil Gallery, Roma QLD
2017
    reveal, Onespace Gallery, Highgate Hill QLD 20 Sept - 21 Oct
      Medicinal Plant Cycles IV, WM Gallery, Amsterdam, 2 Sept - 6 Oct 2017
        Medicinal Plant Cycles III, GAFFA Gallery, Sydney NSW
2016
    The Healing Ribbon, Photography Studio Gallery, Point Lookout, Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island QLD
      Medicinal Plant Cycles Projection, Melbourne City Library Foyer Projections, August 2016, VIC
        Medicinal Plant Cycles display at the 2016 Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival, Saturday 23 July 2016, Point Lookout Community Hall, Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island, QLD
          Unfolding Rhythms II, Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery QLD, A short interview on ABC Wide Bay
            Medicinal Plant Cycles II, Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland QLD
              Flickering Overtones, Artist-in-Residence work in progress display at the premiere performance of Erik Griswold's All's Grist That Comes to the Mill at The Piano Mill, March 2016, Wilsons Downfalls, NSW
2015
    Medicinal Plant Cycles I, PhD final assessment exhibition, POP Gallery, Woolloongabba QLD
2014
    Ogród, Hayward Fine Art, Algester QLD
      Art and Science at The 29th International Horticultural Congress, The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank, Brisbane QLD
        Unfolding Rhythms, Queensland Festival of Photography 5 (QFP5), The Hold Art Space, West End QLD
2013
    Biochromes: North Stradbroke Island Flora, NSI Historical Museum, Lines in the Sand Art Festival, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island QLD
      Afterimage, ANCA Gallery, Canberra ACT
        Work in progress, White Box Gallery, QCA Griffith University, South Bank QLD
2012
2011
    Absence, Ivory 24/7 Artisan, Fortitude Valley QLD
      Renata Buziak Biochromes, The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, Woollahra, Sydney NSW
        Absence, Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP), South Bank QLD
          Afterimage, Red Gallery, Fitzroy VIC
            Renata Buziak Biochromes, Club 88, Level 7 QCA, Griffith University, Brisbane QLD
2010
    Marine Cove, Pine Rivers Art Gallery, Strathpine QLD
      Biochromes, Polonia Milton QLD
2009
    Afterimage, Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP), South Bank QLD
2008
    Decay & Renewal, Brisbane Square Library, Brisbane City QLD
      Biochromes : A Collaboration with Nature, A Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Art Spaces Exhibition, South Bank QLD
2007
    New Works by Renata Buziak, College Gallery, South Bank QLD
2006
    Botanica 2006 – Australian Native Plants, Artist-in-Residence - Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
2005
    Biochrome No 4, The Project Wall, Australian Centre of Photography (ACP), Sydney NSW
2004
    Biochromes My Garden, Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP), Bulimba QLD
      Gardens - Photographic Exhibition, Fat Boys Café, Fortitude Valley QLD

TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS AND PROJECTS

2015
2013
    Doves With Me: Sharka Bosakova & Renata Buziak, Artisan, Fortitude Valley, QLD
2010
2007
    Walter Stahl + Renata Buziak, Joel Fine Art, Paddington QLD

GROUP EXHIBITIONS AND PROJECTS

2019
    Fresh Eyes: New Landscapes of the Moreton Bay Region, Pine Rivers Art Gallery. QLD
      Postcard Salon 2019, JARVIS DOONEY Galerie, Berlin, Germany
        Brisbane International Arts Festival, SunPAC Sunnybank, QLD
2018
    PolArt Festival Brisbane 2018-2019, Grey Street Gallery @QCA Galleries, Southbank, QLD
      Rights of Nature Australia RONA18, national exhibition, Spring Hill Reservoirs, QLD
        In Anna’s Garden, Monash Gallery of Art (MGA), VIC
          The Wrong Kind of Beauty at Art meets Science exhibition, Ecosciences Precinct, QLD
            Loud & Luminous, Brunswick St Gallery, Melbourne VIC
2017
    Scenes of our city, includes a selection of works from the Museum of Brisbane Collection and Gadens Brisbane Collection, Museum of Brisbane, QLD
      Nature Morte - Contemporary artists reinvigorate the Still-Life, National Museum in Wrocław Poland
        The Print Exposed, Gold Street Studios, Trentham East VIC
          Planetary Gardening, PhotoAccess, Manuka Arts Centre Canberra ACT
            The Refuge of Rhythm event, BrisAsia Festival 2017, Brisbane City Hall QLD
2016
    Thoughts Made Visible, Jugglers Art Space, Fortitude Valley QLD, 25 November - 6 December 2016
      BigCi - Bilpin International ground for creative initiatives, Artist Residency 8-29 Nov, Bilpin Blue Mountains NSW, Open Day 27 November 2016
        WEST END Photography Exhibition, HANASHO, West End QLD, 6 - 29 October 2016
          PLENTY, Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm QLD, 28 September - 23 October 2016
            Mundaring Environmental Art Project display, Mundaring Art Centre, WA, 19 August - 25 September
2015
    Nature studied: Trees, plants, gardens, Geraldton Regional Art Gallery, Geraldton WA
2014
    PHOTO COMPENDIUM Launch and Exhibition, Spot81, 81 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale NSW.
      4th Biennale Ars Polonia: Zbiegną się wszystkie świata strony (All Corners of the World Will Come Together), The Opole Contemporary Art Gallery, Poland
        Flux, Hot Island Lines in the Sand / Arts Festival, North Stradbroke Island QLD
          Dérive, Project Gallery, QCA Griffith University, South Bank QLD
            Tabor and Český Krumlov Projections, Husite Museum in Tabor, UMAUMA Gallery in Tabor, Kotnov Urban Festival, Czech Republic
2013
2012
2011
    Shared Vision… Wspólna Wizja…, Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, Poland
      Voicing Concerns, Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP), South Bank QLD
        Three Corners of the Con, Projection/Music/Dance, Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank
          Medium: Vinyl, Hardware Gallery, Enmore Sydney, NSW
            UNDER_SCORED, Juggler’s Art Space, Fortitude Valley QLD
2010
2009
    Synchronicity - Contemporary Queensland Photography, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba QLD
      BOTANIQUE, The Japanese Garden & Richard Randall Studio, Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, QLD
        ART|PLAY|SCIENCE, White Canvas Space, Fortitude Valley, QLD
          Celebrating 40 Years, Brisbane Grammar Art Show, QLD
            Class ACT, Gallery 2 on Edward, Brisbane City, Qld
              New Skin, Queensland Centre for Photography, South Brisbane, QLD
                Sharing... Wespół..., Traveling exhibition throughout Poland: Academy of Fine Arts (ASP) Warsaw; UMCS Lublin; UMCS Kazimierz Dolny, Gallery Schron Sztuki Rzeszów, Poland
                Art on Record Vol 2, APW Gallery, Long Island, NYC
                  Photo LA, International Photographic Art Exposition, Los Angeles
                    Rehash, Brisbane Square Library, Brisbane City, QLD
2008
    Summer Moments, Art Moment Gallery, Bondi Beach, NSW
      19 KAREN Artists + Guests, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast QLD
        Tales from the Cold Ghost II, tinygold, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast QLD
          Pure Passion, The 2008 Brisbane Grammar School Art Show, Brisbane QLD Downlands College Art Show, Toowoomba QLD
            Capture, The Town Hall Gallery, Hawthorn VIC
              Art Brisbane, Art Fair
                Art Melbourne, Art Fair
2007
    Photo LA, International Photographic Art Exposition, Los Angeles
      Look Small Think Big, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, QLD
        Gadens: Top Ten, Gadens Lawyers Annual Art Exhibition, Brisbane City QLD
          The Micro-Macro Show, College Gallery, South Bank QLD
2006
    Neo Eco, Part of the Queensland Festival of Photography, Redland Art Gallery, Capalaba QLD
      Hot Pool, Queensland College of Art Griffith University, Honours Graduating Exhibition, Brisbane QLD
        Four Points of View, Queensland Centre for Photography, Bulimba QLD<>
2005
    Perception: the Daryl Hewson Photographic Collection, Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP), Bulimba QLD
      Diversity, Gold Street Studios, Collingwood VIC
        HATCHED 05, National Graduate Show, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), Perth WA
          Photographic Skin, Soapbox Gallery, Fortitude Valley QLD
            Tango, Grammar School Art Exhibition, Brisbane QLD
              The Current Crop: Revealing the Region, Brisbane Square QLD
2004
    56, Queensland College of Art (QCA) Griffith University Graduating Photography Students Exhibition, South Bank QLD
      Another Viewpoint –camera less, Queensland Centre for Photography (QCP), Bulimba QLD
        Take 1, Still Photography for Film and TV, Student Group Exhibition, QCA South Bank, Brisbane QLD
2003
    Superb Moon Chips Photographic Art Practice Group Exhibition, Queensland College of Art (QCA), South Bank QLD

COLLECTIONS

    City of Swan Art Collection, Midland WA
      The Macquarie Group NSW
        The National Museum in Wrocław, Poland
          Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, South Brisbane
            University of Queensland, St Lucia
              Griffith University, Gold Coast
                Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (UMCS), Lublin, Poland
                  Academy of Fine Art, Warsaw, Poland
                    Brisbane Grammar School
                      Queensland Centre for Photography, South Brisbane
                        Redland Gallery, Redlands
                          The Americas Biennial Exhibition Archive
                            Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital
                              Mater Hospital, Brisbane
                                Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha,Brisbane
                                  Sunsuper, Brisbane
                                    Thiess Pty Ltd, South Bank, Brisbane
                                      Southbank Corporation, Brisbane
                                        Gadens Lawyers, Brisbane
                                          Private Collections

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

2011
2010
    Look: Contemporary Australian Photography since 1980, A. Marsh, Macmillan Publishers, pp. 195, 379.
      Photo Review Australia, Renata Buziak: Me and the Microbes, S. Packer, Issue 46, Dec 2010-Feb 2011, pp. 24-30. Download Article as a PDF
        Untamed Gardens, Vivienne Kelly & Renata Buziak, Judy Anderson, Independent Press #2 Spring 2010
          Brisbane News, 'sumofus', L. Brook, Friends in deed, Issue 796, Aug 2010
            GNN Griffith News Now, T. Preece, Renata Buziak, Movers and shakers, July 2010
              Renata Buziak: Afterimage, V. Garnons-Williams, Floribundum in extremis, QCP, April 2010
                Renata Buziak: Afterimage, L. Rexer, Foreword, QCP, April 2010
                  Silvershotz, Renata Buziak, Vol 6, Ed 3, 2010, pp. 34-39
                    Redland Art Gallery Collection 2003-2009, L. Martin-Chew
                      Invisible Realities: Finding the hidden dimensions in art, L. Marshal, p. 68-69
2009
    2009 Queensland Centre for Photography, M. Ortega, Exhibition Catalogue, April 2009
      Sharing... Wespół… QCA International Traveling Exhibition Catalogue. 2009 p. 19
        Style Mini, M. Kropkowski, Life after Death, April 2009 p. 10
          Prometheus Visual Arts Award 2009, Exhibition Catalogue
2008
    GNN Griffith News Now, T. Preece, Magic Naturally, Edition 16 Sept 2008
      MX, Phipps, J. Artist is truly getting back to nature, Aug 27, p. 4
        Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Photography Award, Exhibition Catalogue
2007
    Joel Fine Art Report, Walter Stahl + Renata Buziak, Summer 2007, p. 10
      Gadens Top 10, Exhibition Catalogue Gadens Lawyers, Queen Street Brisbane p. 4
        Brisbane News, P. Brown, Exterior motives, Oct 3-9, p. 31
          City News, Art, The Vibe, p. 32
            Westside News, Creative images made with plants, Sept 19, p. 26
              Australian Art Collector, Image: ‘Brachichyton populneus subsp trilobus’, Issue 40, April-June 2007
                Prometheus Visual Arts Award 2007 Exhibition Catalogue, Merrimac QLD
                  The Courier Mail, T. Turner, Stretching the boundaries, Today, May 24, p. 59
2006
    Botanica 2006 Australian Native Plants, M. Drew, The beautiful and the decomposed, Artist-in-Residence, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt. Coot-tha QLD
      The Thiess Art Prize 2006 Exhibition Catalogue, DELL Gallery@QCA, Brisbane QLD
        Hot Pool, Exhibition Catalogue Queensland College of Art Griffith University, Fine Art and Photography Honours 2006
          Saving Daylight, Exhibition Catalogue Queensland College of Art Griffith University Graduating Photography Students
            Craft Arts International Issue 67, 2006, p. 84
              Australian Art Review, A. Lopez, Artists of Tomorrow, Issue 10, March-June 2006, p. 73
                Four Points of View Exhibition Catalogue, V. Rigney, Botanica Wanderlands, QCP, QLD
                  The Courier Mail, R. Sorensen, Botany of the beautiful, April 1-2, 200, p. 46
                    Griffith Gazette, D. Marshall, 2005 Thiess Art Prize, Issue 1, 2006, p. 7
2005
    The Courier Mail, R. Sorensen, Prize has backyard focus, BAM, Feb 4-5, 2006, p. 7
      The Thiess Art Prize 2005 Catalogue, DELL Gallery, QCA, Brisbane, QLD Craft Arts International Issue 64, 2005, p. 72
        Diversity Exhibition Catalogue, The Institute of Photographic Technology Inc., Melbourne VIC
          HATCHED 05 Catalogue, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth, WA
            Xpress Magazine, eye 4: arts, Grade Expectations, 2nd June 2005, WA
              Prometheus Visual Arts Award 2005 Exhibition Catalogue, Merrimac QLD
                BEMAC NEWS, P. Davies, Visual Artist Profile, Issue 2, 2005, pp 8-9, QLD
2004
    56, Queensland College of Art Griffith University Graduating Photography Students Exhibition Catalogue
      Photofile #73: Summer 2005, Exhibition Review, p. 77
        Colour Box, Dawn Issue, QCA, Brisbane QLD
          Colour Box, Old School Issue, QCA, Brisbane QLD
            2005 Refugee Cultural Calendar, Brisbane Ethnic Music and Art Centre Inc., Brisbane QLD
              Griffith Gazette, B. Layton, Brass and biochromes combine for charity, Vol 19 No. 8, Summer 2004/2005, p. 5


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