Anna Schwann works in an expanded sculptural practice that investigates the encounter between art and audience.
Through playful resistance and embracing failure she facilitates a conversation using sensory engaging tactics as means of connection. Taking a D.I.Y approach to technique, Schwann utilises provisional, accessible materials for making and uses everyday objects in her narrative.
Schwann’s work has been exhibited locally and interstate in artist-run spaces, milk bars, subways and toilets.
Alongside her own practice she has worked on live and participatory events most recently with Long Prawn and Punctum INC, worked in theatre producing set design and costumes for shows in Melbourne Fringe Festival , Geelong Arts Centre and La Mama. In 2021 Schwann completed a Masters of Fine Art at RMIT, was recipient of the Evan Lowenstein Award and recently completed the Situate Residency Program 2022.
Lives and works on Jaara land with grateful respect to First Nations peoples as the traditional and rightful caretakers of these lands and waterways.
Upcoming:︎
Bayside Gallery 2025
Elevator ARI 2025
Shows
2024
Barrier Cream, Good Grief, Nipaluna/Hobart
The Children’s Sensorium, Castlemaine Art Museum
Death Posture, Priscilla’s Ship Naarm/Melbourne
2023
Entropical: Prosthetic Park, Platform Geelong
Ultra-Terrestrial, Elevator Lismore
2022
Residency Showcase, First Site RMIT
Archive of Feelings, Big Anxiety Festival
After Walter Hopps, Platform Geelong
Soft in the Middle and everywhere else, Gertrude St Projection Festival
The humbleness and the cut-away, Blindside Mobile
2021
RMIT Masters Graduate Exhibition
OH! We had a time, Backyard bungalow Melbourne, Performance dinner party
Trash Magic, Campbell Arcade Melbourne, group show
2020
QIQ Gallery Volume VI, Online group show
Babespace, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Online group show
SHITSHOW, Melbourne public toilet locations, group show
2019
Casita, Apartment Melbourne, Group show.
COALESCE One Night Stand, Evie’s Disco Diner, Group show
2018
Simply Irresistible, Alternating Current Melbourne
Number 1 milk! Solo show featuring performance by Alan Jones, Hope St Milk bar Melbourne
The moving finger Solo show featuring performance by Emma Caskey, Rubicon ARI
2017
Slow Formation, Tense Apparition, Ours Space Melbourne, Solo Show
Torture tendrils, Black Lake Studios Melbourne, Group show
2016
Horizon
Off the Kerb Melbourne, Solo show
Spirit Food, Ours Space Melbourne, Group show
2015
Lines, Lightspace Brisbane, Group show
2014
Nothing to see here, Loading Dock Brisbane, Solo show
2012
The Box Monthly, The Box Gallery Brisbane, Group show
Education
Experimental Perfume Making, Institute of Art and Olfaction 2023
Masters of Contemporary Art, RMIT 2021
Jewellery and Small Objects, Queensland College of Art
2010
Diploma of Visual Arts in Fine Arts, Southbank Institute of Tafe
2001
Residencies/Awards
Punctum INC Artist in residence 2023/24
SITUATE Residency RMIT Feb-May 2022
Rainbow Residency July 2022
Evan Lowenstein Award 2021
Grants
2024 Artbridge Tasmania
2023 Mount Alexander Shire Council Event Grant
2022 Mount Alexander Shire Council Event Grant
Projects
2023
Installation for DECAY MART: Fast Fashun event
Producer/Designer Flight Dreams
Gender Equity Cup trophy commision for Mt Alexander Falcons
2022
Costume for ‘The Kick Inside’ UK edition
COLOSCENT book launch at NGV Regional Book Fair
2021
Research assistant/Event Producer for Long Prawn
Punctum INC Assistant Producer for Sonic Outcrops
Media and communications for Kultur-all Makaan at Castlemaine State Festival
2020
Punctum INC producer for The way, the water, the walk
GAC ‘Geelong Sweats’ Set/costume design
2019
Creative Director ‘Home Frenzy/Vogue Living’
Set/costume design for ‘The Kick Inside’
2018
Catering/Food styling for Corepret
