Dr Christian Thompson AO is a Bidjara/Irish/Chinese-Australian contemporary artist whose work explores notions of identity, cultural hybridity & history. Formally trained as a sculptor, Thompson’s multidisciplinary practice engages mediums such as photography, video, sculpture, performance & sound. His work focuses on the exploration of identity, sexuality, gender, race and memory. In his live performances and conceptual portraits he inhabits a range of personas achieved through handcrafted costumes & carefully orchestrated poses & backdrops.
Thompson has exhibited all over the world during his career that spans across the last two-decades. His work is held in major collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art and Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; National Gallery of Victoria; Queensland Art Gallery and the University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane; and the Aboriginal Art Museum, Utrecht. In 2018 Thompson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for distinguished service to the visual arts as a sculptor, photographer, video and performance artist, and as a role model for young Indigenous artists.
About the Curators
Thea-Mai Baumann joined 4A as Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer in February 2023. She is a creative executive, artist, creative technologist and producer of Vietnamese-Swiss heritage.
Con Gerakaris is Curatorial Program Manager at 4A. He is a curator, arts administrator and writer. His areas of interest frequently revolve around social phenomena, subcultures, contemporary urban experiences and our relationship to the built environment.
