Nikki Easterbrook's research-based photographic practice bridges contemporary and historical techniques. She uses durational photogrammetric exposures and 18th-century cameraless processes to create unique, tactile surfaces that expand the medium. Easterbrook critically engages with the environment by blending contemporary and anachronistic methods, reflecting on and scrutinising the world around her. She embraces chance and materiality by challenging traditional conventions of the medium, redefining photographic boundaries and commenting on the intersections of nature, industry, and human influence.
Easterbrook completed her Bachelor of Visual Arts (Hons) in 2017 from the Sydney College of the Arts, the University of Sydney. She has exhibited widely in numerous group exhibitions and has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore. She has undertaken residencies at Bundanon, New South Wales, and King Island, Tasmania. Easterbrook has been a finalist and recipient of numerous prestigious art prizes, including the Fisher’s Ghost Art Prize (2023, 2021), the Gosford Regional Gallery Art Prize (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020), Grace Cossington Smith Biennale, and The Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize.
Education
Master of Teaching (Secondary), University of Wollongong, 2024 - expected completion 2025
Bachelor of Visual Arts, Honours First Class, Sydney College of Art, University of Sydney, Australia 2014-2017
Deans List of Academic Excellence Award, University of Sydney, Australia, 2017
Academic Honour Roll, University of Sydney, Australia, 2017
Certificate IV (Photo Imaging), Sydney Institute of Photography, Ultimo TAFE, Sydney, Australia, 2013
Group & Solo Exhibitions
2023 Fisher’s Ghost Exhibition, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney
2023 Gosford Regional Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2022 Percival Portrait Exhibition, Perc Tucker Gallery, Queensland
2022 Grace Cossington Smith Biennale, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Sydney
2022 Gosford Regional Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2021 Fisher’s Ghost group show, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney
2021 Finalist’s show, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2021 Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize, Ravenswood School for Girls, Sydney
2020 Arts In The Valley, Kangaroo Valley Art Gallery, NSW
2020 Finalist’s show, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2020 The Percivals, Perc Tucker Gallery, Townsville, Queensland
2020 Guizhou Photography Festival, China
2020 Head On, Paddington Reservoir, Sydney
2019 Ilford Salon, Centre of Contemporary Photography (CCP), Melbourne
2018 The Space Between, Georgina Hart Gallery, Sydney
2019 Head On, Parliament House, Sydney
2018 Finalist’s show, Gosford Regional Art Gallery, NSW
2017 SCA Honours Graduate Degree Show, Sydney College of Art, University of Sydney
2017 This Is Sirius, National Trust Gallery, Sydney
2016 Corporeal; Presence & Absence, Regent Street Gallery, Paddington, Sydney
2016 SCA Undergraduate Degree Show, Sydney College of Art, University of Sydney
2016 Traces, Verge Gallery, Camperdown, Sydney
2015 The Point Is, 107 Projects, Redfern, Sydney
Selected Awards & Residencies
2023 Finalist, Fisher’s Ghost Award
2023 Finalist, Gosford Regional Art Prize
2023 King Island Artist in Residence, King Island, Tasmania, Australia
2022 Bundanon Artist in Residence, Bundanon Trust, Illaroo, NSW, Australia
2022 Finalist, Percival Portrait Photography Prize
2022 Finalist, Grace Cossington Smith Biennale
2022 Finalist, Gosford Regional Art Prize
2021 Finalist, Fisher’s Ghost Award
2021 Finalist, Gosford Regional Art Prize
2021 Finalist, Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize
2020 Finalist, Gosford Regional Art Prize
2020 Finalist, Kangaroo Valley Art Prize
2020 Highly Commended, Percival Portrait Prize
2020 Semi-finalist, Head On Landscape Category
2019 Finalist, Ilford Salon
2019 Finalist, Head On, Landscape Category
2018 Highly Commended, Gosford Regional Art Prize
2014 Finalist, Head On, Landscape
2013 Winner, Head On Captured
2013 Winner, Sydney Institute of Photography, Ultimo TAFE, Student Photographic Prize
2012 Semi-finalist, Head On, Portrait
2012 Highly Commended, Moran Photographic Prize
Collections
Private collections, Australia and South East Asia
Workshops
2019 Photopolymer Printmaking Masterclass, Baldessari Press, Victoria
2019 Cyanotype Masterclass, Baldessari Press, Victoria
2018 Cyanotype Processes, Goldstreet Studios, Victoria
2018 Photopolymer Printmaking Processes, Goldstreet Studios, Victoria
2012 Master Class, B&W Darkroom Processes and Advanced Fine Art B&W Printing, Australian Centre of Photography (ACP)
2011 Master Class, Documentary Photography, Australian Centre of Photography (ACP)
Artist Talks & Publications
2016 Traces, Verge Gallery, Camperdown, Sydney
2015 The Point Is, 107 Projects, Redfern, Sydney
Editorial
The Point Is, Daily Telegraph, Sydney (James Gorman)
The Point Is, South Sydney Herald, Sydney (Cara Martinez, Curator)
The Australian National Affairs Editorial (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015)
The Sydney Morning Herald, National Affairs Editorial (2012, 2013 &2014)
BHP Biliton Indigenous Scholarship Editorial (2015)
Commonwealth Bank Reconciliation Plan (2011 & 2012)
The Northern Territory Times, National Affairs Editorial (2010)
Commonwealth Bank Indigenous Employment Program (2009 & 2013)