Nicola Moss’s work observes how people connect, shape and interact with the natural environment through development, conservation and culture. Moss celebrates the uniqueness of flora and habitat, and aims to raise awareness of the natural environment by looking at issues of balance between human and environmental dependence and domination. Moss develops her work through numerous site visits and engagement with community groups. The work provides visceral references alongside personal, social and heritage stories of the environments connected history and ecology. The portable and tactile qualities of paper allow Moss to capture elements of actual place, in geological rubbings, textured frottage and staining, incorporating burnished sand, fire ash and ochres from site visits.
BIOGRAPHY
Nicola Moss was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1968. She now lives and works on the Gold Coast hinterland. Moss’s artistic practice is highly awarded in 2014 she recieved highly commended at The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, Commended at the Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Highly Commended at the Noosa Art Award, Finalist in the Calleen Art Award and Highly Commended at the Milburn Art Awards. In 2012 Moss won the Moreton Bay Region Art Award. Moss has also been a finalist in numerous art awards prior to 2014 including: The Gold Coast Art Prize (2013), the Geelong Contemporary Art Award (2012), Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize (2012), The City of Albany Art Prize (2011) and The Clayton Utz Art Award (2011). She has also completed several residencies including: The BigCi, New South Wales (2012); Hill End Residency, New South Wales (2012) and Montsalvat Artist Colony, Victoria (2011). She has also completed a year long residency at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha (2009).
In 2012 Moss was commissioned to work on a public art feature for the new Griffith University Gold Coast Hospital. Moss’s work is included in public collections around Australia, including: Moreton Bay Regional Art Collection, Bathurst Regional Art Collection, Gold Coast University Hospital, Redland Art Gallery, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mater Adults’ Hospital (Brisbane), Mater Mothers’ Hospital (Brisbane), Greenslopes Private Hospital (Brisbane), and Montsalvat Artist Colony, Victoria. Her work is also represented in various corporate collections throughout Queensland including: Sealy of Australia, Gadens Lawyers (Brisbane), BDO (Brisbane), the Social Securities Appeals Tribunal (Brisbane) and Suncorp (Brisbane).
For more information please visit the – Artist Website
Image: Synergy – Roots, 2015, 35 x 37.5cm. Hand cut and pieced papers, natural ochre, synthetic polymer paint, rust stain, charcoal frottage