Michael Carney
Artist's Statement
Michael Carney works from his studio on Kaurna Yerta (Adelaide), exploring a multidisciplinary practice that spans painting, ceramics, 3D printing, installation, and virtual reality. His paintings often depict distorted landscapes composed of symbolic and fragmented elements, offering viewers multiple interpretive pathways. Rooted in the sublime Romantic tradition, his work engages with nature as a dual force – capable of evoking both beauty and terror, often simultaneously. At times, the work becomes a meditation on melancholy; at others, it adopts a cinematic, neo-noir sensibility. Regardless of intention, Carney hopes each viewer brings their own perspective, finding a personal meaning in the ambiguity.
Biography
Michael Carney (b.1983) is an interdisciplinary installation artist, based on Kaurna Country, working across painting, ceramics, digital media, and installation. His practice explores ontological and metaphysical questions through a blend of traditional craftsmanship and technological experimentation. Carney holds a Master of Visual Arts (Research) in 2016 and a Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours in 2012, from the University of South Australia. For this, he was awarded the National Campus Art Prize for Painting and runner-up for Sculpture. Post-graduation, Carney completed a residency in Jindezhen, China, and an Associateship at the Jam Factory, South Australia. In 2022 he was awarded the catapult mentorship from the Guildhouse, a finalist in the National Emerging Art Prize and the recipient of the Arts SA grant for Touring Exhibition. In 2024, his work was collected by Artbank. Carney’s work has been featured in several art publications, including Artlink and the Journal of Australian Ceramics.
