Student Profile

Elizabeth Delfs

Visual artist
BA Fashion and Textile Design

I chose to study at Curtin because it had the reputation of having the best visual arts program in Perth.

The fashion degree as I understand is quite different to when I studied it, however my impression was that it was aiming to be to comparable in practical and theoretical content to other significant international fashion programs, as well as being very broad and conceptual allowing students, like myself to explore ideas and techniques, with a constant emphasis on innovation and excellence. As such, though I studied fashion, upon graduating I found myself pursuing a practice that was more aligned with a visual artist in terms of outcomes, and subsequently this is now how I practice.

In 2005 I was nominated by lecturers at Curtin to be one of several students whom submitted work to Talente in Munich, an international survey of the best emerging art, craft and design practitioners. My work was selected for exhibition and I was lucky though the financial support of the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Faculty of Built Environment, Art and Design at Curtin to attend the exhibition. It was the first exhibition I was involved in and gave me the confidence to pursue a visual arts practice.

Since graduation I have worked consistently in the arts administration in Perth and as a visual artist. Upon graduation I got a job at Artsource: The Artists Foundation of WA as the Coordinator Admin and Membership, a position which I held for a year and a half before being promoted to Coordinator of Studios and Residencies which I held for a year. During this time I also began teaching in art and fashion at Curtin. I also worked on the Artopia arts festival. I became a panellist for the Department of Culture and the Arts funding program for the Young People and the Arts, a position which I held for three years. Then I decided to quit my jobs and go to New York to complete two internships with mid-career visual artists based in New York, working a Research Assistant for one and as a Studio Assistant for the other. After this I returned to Perth and worked at a commercial gallery called Perth Galleries in North Fremantle. During this time I also initiated and managed an artist run space in Perth city called Alda's Gallery and Project Space which exhibited the work of unrepresented WA artists. This operated as a gallery attached to café/bar Alda's. I created a series of solo and group shows which lasted for a month each, 6 in total, as well as facilitated artist talks and various other events. The space closed after operating for 8 months as the business was sold. I then went on to work at the Fremantle Arts Centre as the Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award Coordinator, which Australia's leading exhibition for contemporary print.

Parallel to my career in arts administration I was also developing my practice as a visual artist. After graduation I held an exhibition in Melbourne which was included as a part of the Cultural Program for the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival - Australia's premier fashion and culture festival. I have continued to exhibit in WA in group and solo shows, with a few shows in Melbourne and internationally. In 2011 I spoke at the prestigious AGIdeas International Design Week in Melbourne as one of 40 international creatives who were identified as being leaders in their creative field. I gave a 20 minute artist talk to over 2500 people. In 2011 I am in the midst of completing residencies in Iceland and Berlin.

I never would have thought I would end up pursuing the career path I have, and I think the solid grounding I received in visual culture, developing my visual literacy and creative abilities at Curtin enabled me to do this.

I would recommend doing visual arts at Curtin. The facilities are excellent and the program has a broad approach to arts and culture and guides students through a well round entry into visual arts historically, theoretically and practically in a supportive environment.