Kristen Radge is a Sydney based sculptural ceramic and textile artist that responds to her experience entering new sites as a post-colonial settler on traditional lands. Her inquiry is through onsite field work as she examines her agency through methods that speak of her practice and making process while working on sites that are historically imbedded in colonial land ownership, conflict and struggle. As Kristen surveys a dialogue with found clay in country that is crucial to remain on site, it is through investigating materiality that her translation of country can be considered.
Kristen returned to UNSW Art and Design to complete her Masters of Fine Arts 2020, to then continue her research with an Honours degree 2021. Her first solo exhibition Corrode 2020 had two painting purchased for the permenant collection of St Vincent’s Hospital and her Final Honours exhibition Encounter Sites Disrupted 2021 being selected as a Finalist in the Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize 2022. Kristen’s group exhibitions have included Gaffa gallery Sydney, AD Space UNSW, UNSW Galleries Annual exhibition and Depot gallery sydney. Kristen is continuing her onsite research art practice to further continue with higher degree research study in Art.
Kristen’s art practice is concerned with discourses of disruption, touch, encounter, and trace being key components she considers with her onsite practice in connection to the Australian context of Country. These elements have assisted situating her body in place in connection with historical events politically, culturally, industrially, and environmentally. Kristen’s inquiry is through onsite field work examining clay to identify a dialogue that communicates a historical context of community and culture in Place and Time. The concept of touch with foraged clay is essential in Kristen’s art practice as she examines her agency through methods that speak of her experience and making process while working on sites that are historically imbedded in colonial land ownership, conflict and struggle.