Elysha Rei
Biography
b.1986 Saudi Arabia | Lives and works on Yaggera and Turrabul Land, in Meanjin (Brisbane), Australia
Elysha Rei (pronounced eh-lee-sha ray) is a Japanese-Australian artist that explores narratives of cultural identity, site-specific history and environmental elements through paper cutting and public art. She predominantly hand-cuts her works out of single sheets of paper, creating site specific installations, and smaller paper cuts, interwoven with references to archival records and historical research.
Rei has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from USQ (2008), a Masters in Business Administration (2018) and is currently undertaking a PhD at QUT exploring how Nikkei Australian identity and history is archived through contemporary paper cutting arts practice. She has exhibited work, curated exhibitions and managed cultural spaces across Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, Thailand and the US. Rei has been an artist in residence at Past Wrongs Future Choices global research project in Canada (2023), Tiffany & Co (2022), Artspace Mackay (2020), Barcaldine Arts Council (2019) and was the inaugural artist in residence at Museum of Brisbane (2017).
Rei is an Asialink Arts Creative Exchange alumni (2018) and has had artworks commissioned by the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Toronto (2023), the Westin Brisbane (2018), BrisAsia Festival (2016 and 2023), QIC Toowoomba (2017), Brisbane City Council (2018, 2020), and Warwick Regional Council (2019), with work in the collection of Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery. In 2022, she became the inaugural Chair of Nikkei Australia.
Before focusing more on her arts practice, Rei founded the international artist residency program, Sam Rit Residency in rural Thailand in 2014, and co-founded the Artist-Run-Initiative Made Creative Space Toowoomba from 2011-2013.
Upcoming in 2024
Artist CV:
b.1986 Saudi Arabia | Lives and works on Yaggera and Turrabul Land, in Meanjin (Brisbane), Australia
Elysha Rei (pronounced eh-lee-sha ray) is a Japanese-Australian artist that explores narratives of cultural identity, site-specific history and environmental elements through paper cutting and public art. She predominantly hand-cuts her works out of single sheets of paper, creating site specific installations, and smaller paper cuts, interwoven with references to archival records and historical research.
Rei has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from USQ (2008), a Masters in Business Administration (2018) and is currently undertaking a PhD at QUT exploring how Nikkei Australian identity and history is archived through contemporary paper cutting arts practice. She has exhibited work, curated exhibitions and managed cultural spaces across Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, Thailand and the US. Rei has been an artist in residence at Past Wrongs Future Choices global research project in Canada (2023), Tiffany & Co (2022), Artspace Mackay (2020), Barcaldine Arts Council (2019) and was the inaugural artist in residence at Museum of Brisbane (2017).
Rei is an Asialink Arts Creative Exchange alumni (2018) and has had artworks commissioned by the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Toronto (2023), the Westin Brisbane (2018), BrisAsia Festival (2016 and 2023), QIC Toowoomba (2017), Brisbane City Council (2018, 2020), and Warwick Regional Council (2019), with work in the collection of Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery. In 2022, she became the inaugural Chair of Nikkei Australia.
Before focusing more on her arts practice, Rei founded the international artist residency program, Sam Rit Residency in rural Thailand in 2014, and co-founded the Artist-Run-Initiative Made Creative Space Toowoomba from 2011-2013.
Upcoming in 2024
- Until 11 February - work in the Linden Postcard Show, 2023-24, Linden New Art, St Kilda, Australia.
- Until 1 May 2024: The Strength in Sixty Sakura, commissioned installation at Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Toronto.
- 25-28 April: Panel presenter in the Association for Asian American Studies Conference, Seattle
- 12 May - 10 October: Global Papier 6, International Paper Biennale, Stadt Deggendorf, Germany
- 2-18 August: Kiri-Edo installation at The Japanese House, as part of PUNQ Festival 2024
- 7 September: Brisbane Matsuri Cultural Display
- 11 October: When you call my name - workshop at BEMAC Queensland Multicultural Centre
- 17 October: Public Art Summit workshop facilitator, Kingston Butter Factory
- 23 November - 2 February, 余白の美: Yohaku no bi (the beauty of empty space), Bomb Shelter Space, The Condensery
- 4-6 December: AAANZ Conference panellist - Asian Art Research in Australia and New Zealand: Past, Present, Possible Futures #2
Artist CV:
| elysha_rei_artist_cv_jul24_2pg.pdf |