Ara Dolatian
Artist Profile
Biography
Ara Dolatian’s interdisciplinary practice explores the relationship between cultural landscapes and the natural ecosystem. His ceramic works are hybrid ecosystems models of utopian cities and sculptural experiments. Dolatian’s work is also imbibed with numerous ideas centred upon conceptions of ‘the studio’ and the conceptual domain of socio-environmental politics. His latest exhibition, Mythos of the Island is a body of sculptural ceramic work inspired by archaeological relics.
Mythos of the Island examines cultural ecologies associated with lost and stolen artefacts within the Al- Jazira region, the area between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers also known as Mesopotamia. The work is a tangible visual memory of sculptural deities, architectural forms and vessels, the intentions are not to replicate the pieces but draw from them. The ceramic objects are small enough to hold but are not embraceable. Eccentric forms with peculiar colour schemes, pleasing curves and fragile forms inspired by archaeological figures and decayed architectural sites.
Ara Dolatian was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and now living and working in Melbourne, Australia. His sculptural practice is intimately bound to his Iraqi heritage and its ancient Mesopotamian history. Dolatian holds a Bachelor of Fine Art (sculpture) from RMIT and a Master of Social Science Environment and Planning. He has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally. Among a growing list of accolades, in 2023 Dolatian was a finalist in the Darebin Art Prize and Omnia Art Prize, and in 2022 was a finalist in the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize. In 2021 he was awarded the Incinerator Art Award, as well as receiving a residency as a part of Craft Victoria’s Makers in Residence. In 2023 he was recognised as an important presence in contemporary art in the state of Victoria with his inclusion in Melbourne Now at the National Gallery of Victoria, as well as Craft Victoria’s major exhibition for Melbourne Design Week.
Ara Dolatian’s interdisciplinary practice explores the relationship between cultural landscapes and the natural ecosystem. His ceramic works are hybrid ecosystems models of utopian cities and sculptural experiments. Dolatian’s work is also imbibed with numerous ideas centred upon conceptions of ‘the studio’ and the conceptual domain of socio-environmental politics. His latest exhibition, Mythos of the Island is a body of sculptural ceramic work inspired by archaeological relics.
Mythos of the Island examines cultural ecologies associated with lost and stolen artefacts within the Al- Jazira region, the area between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers also known as Mesopotamia. The work is a tangible visual memory of sculptural deities, architectural forms and vessels, the intentions are not to replicate the pieces but draw from them. The ceramic objects are small enough to hold but are not embraceable. Eccentric forms with peculiar colour schemes, pleasing curves and fragile forms inspired by archaeological figures and decayed architectural sites.
Ara Dolatian was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and now living and working in Melbourne, Australia. His sculptural practice is intimately bound to his Iraqi heritage and its ancient Mesopotamian history. Dolatian holds a Bachelor of Fine Art (sculpture) from RMIT and a Master of Social Science Environment and Planning. He has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally. Among a growing list of accolades, in 2023 Dolatian was a finalist in the Darebin Art Prize and Omnia Art Prize, and in 2022 was a finalist in the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize. In 2021 he was awarded the Incinerator Art Award, as well as receiving a residency as a part of Craft Victoria’s Makers in Residence. In 2023 he was recognised as an important presence in contemporary art in the state of Victoria with his inclusion in Melbourne Now at the National Gallery of Victoria, as well as Craft Victoria’s major exhibition for Melbourne Design Week.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
Whispers from the Floodplain, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne – forthcoming
2024
At The First Flood of Daylight, Bundoora Homestead, Melbourne
2023
Heavenly Bodies, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2022
Entities, Scott Lawrie Gallery, Auckland
Mythos of the Island, James Makin, Gallery, Melbourne
Scott Lawrie Gallery, Auckland New Zealand
Between Two Rivers, Melbourne Design Week, Melbourne
2021
Artefacts. June, Blindside.
2020
Site With No Real Place Jan at C3 Contemporary Art Space.
2019 Heterotopia, Stockroom, Kyneton, Vic.
2018
Narratives- Realties, fictionalising the present and contaminating the fantastical
wilderness. Melbourne
2017
Controlled Instabilities, Contemporary Art Space, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Progress and Passivity, Five Walls, Melbourne.
2016
Hybrid Terrains, Black Centre AADK, Spain
Reflection as Ideological Hallucination, Incinerator Gallery, Melbourne.
Terrains, Seventh Gallery, Melbourne.
2015
Navigating With Uncertainty, C3 Contemporary art space.
2012
Frame of Reference, RMIT Graduation Exhibition.
2011
Perceptual, First Site Gallery, Melbourne
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
Under the Big Blue Sky, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney
Organic Headphones, Velevet Lobster Gallery, Sydney
Omnia Art Prize finalist exhibition, Melbourne
2023
Masterworks, Auckland, New Zealand
Sydney Contemporary, James Makin Gallery, Carriageworks, Sydney
Omnia Art Prize finalist exhibition, Melbourne
Jugs, Craft Victoria, Melbourne Design Week, Melbourne
The Artist’s Residence, Fred International, Melbourne Design Week, Melbourne
Melbourne Now, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
pride, ANZ Gallery, curated by Camille Klose
2022
Amazon//Amazon, Michael Reid Sydney, Sydney
Same, Same, But Different, Scott Lowrie Gallery, Auckland NZ
Sensations, Scott Lowrie Gallery, Auckland, NZ
Alter, Divisions Gallery, Melbourne
Summer New, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne2021 Darlings, group exhibition, Curatorial +Co, Sydney
2021
Notfair Art Fair, Melbourne
Stockroom, group exhibition
2020
Firstdraft, Online Auction, Sydney.
2019
Tiny World Reunion, group exhibition, curated by the Wandering Room. Melbourne
28 Beasts, group exhibition, curated by Jake Treacy and Ben Taranto. Melbourne
2018
Utopian Tongues, Seventh Gallery, curated by Jake Treacy, Melbourne.
In Motion 2018: Rhythm, presented by AIRspace Projects, Sydney.
Biotic & Apparatus, Stanthorpe Regional Gallery, QLD.
2017
Art in Soil, POP Gallery, Brisbane
Waves, curated by Charlotte Cornish, The Honeymoon Suite, Melbourne.
Notfair, Melbourne.
Anthropoetics of space, Stockroom, Kyneton.
thing in itself // das Ding an sich , curated by Elyse Goldfinch, Wellington St Project, Sydney.
Stockroom Travels Cremorne Opening, curated group show.
2016
Imagined Worlds, curated by Kent Wilson, Town Hall Gallery Melbourne
2015
Moreland Summer Show, Science Friction, Counihan Gallery Brunswick, curated
group Exhibition
Convergence, Kings Artist-Run, Melbourne.
The Lost One’s Gallery, curated group Exhibition, Ballarat
Construct, Trocadero Art Spac, Melbourne.
Freak of Nature, curated group exhibition at Mailbox.
2014
Assemblages, curated group exhibition at Manningham Art Gallery, Melbourne.
2013
Territories, First Site Gallery, Melbourne.
2012
Crème, curated group exhibition at RMIT School of Art Gallery, Melbourne.
2011
Utopian Slumps, group show, Melbourne.
Living Space. group show. Mr Kitly, Melbourne.
Living Space 2. Platform Art Spaces, Melbourne
AWARDS, GRANTS & PRIZES
2025
Finalist, Omnia Art Prize, Melbourne
Finalist, Ripper Art Award, Melbourne
2024
Finalist, Hornsby Art Prize, Sydney
Finalist, Omnia Art Prize, Melbourne
Winner, Bundoora Homestead Prize, Midsumma Australia Post Art Prize
2023
Darebin Art Prize, Melbourne
Omina Art Prize, Melbourne
2022
Finalist, Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Sydney
Arts Projects For Individuals and Groups, Australian Council for the Arts
Finalist, Lake Art Prize, NSW
2021
Incinerator Art Award – Winner
Craft Victoria, Makers in Residence, online Residency.
2020
Covid-19 Quick Response Arts Grant – City of Melbourne.
2020 – 2024
City Of Melbourne, external assessor for Council’s funding programs.
2019
Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize.
Career Development Grant, Australia Council for the Arts.
Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Awards.
2017
Art in Soil, Queensland Branch of Soil Science Australia, residency & commission.
Exhibition development grant, Contemporary Art Space, Uruguay, Montevideo.
Highly Commended, Notfair 2017
2016
Centro Negra, AADK Spain, Residency.
Spring Fashion week, installation, commission.
2015
Navigating with Uncertainty, Darebin Art Prize Finalist.
ArtStart Career Development Funding Recipient. Australia Council for the Arts
Nomad, Commission for Beaumaris Library.
2014
Assemblages, Toyota Art Prize Finalist.
2013
Territories, The Substation Contemporary Art Prize Finalist.
Nomad, Commission for Midsumma Festival and Moreland City Council
2012
RMIT University School of Art Collection.
