Sarah Contos’ practice forms an intimate meditation on identity and self, offering unrestrained, personal and emotional dialogue. Theatrical narrative and drama define her assemblages. Contos is fascinated by the relationships between objects and one’s autonomous associations with them. Exploring the dual nature of “things”, her tantalising sculptural installations play on the friction that exists between seduction and repulsion.

Sarah Contos was recently selected as a finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize 2017 for her work The Long Kiss Goodbye, 2017. Earlier this year, Contos was included in THIS IS NOT A LOVE SONG at Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne. Contos has also been commisioned by ‘The Preatures’ to produce the artwork for their new album, due for release in 2017. In 2016, Contos presented a major solo exhibition The Revenge of Alexis Colby at the Australian Experimental Arts Foundation, Adelaide (2016). Contos produced a significant collaboration with contemporary Australian fashion house ‘Romance Was Born’ this same year.

Sarah Contos has held solo exhibitions in Sydney at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Gallery 9, Firstdraft and Mop Projects. She has been included in Sydney Contemporary (2013) and Spring 1883 (2014). Group exhibitions include Streetwise: Contemporary Print Culture, NGA Contemporary, Canberra (2015), 21st Century Heide The Collection Since 2000, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Victoria (2015) Express Yourself: Romance was Born for Kids, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne (2014), Future Primitive, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Victoria (2013). Contos was awarded the Artspace Studio Residency from 2012-13, and the 4A Beijing Residency in 2013.

In 2018, Sarah Contos will present a major commission at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

Press release courtesy Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery.