Dr Zoe Veness

Zoe Veness is a designer/maker and researcher working at the intersection of art and design specialising in contemporary jewellery and objects. Her research draws from interrelated theories including psychoanalysis to explore relationships between objects and the body; anthropology to examine material-making, craft practice and place-based making methods; and contemporary jewellery to investigate notions of adornment, commemoration and material value.

Her work contributes to the contemporary jewellery field through an expanded approach to jewellery practice that is multidisciplinary incorporating sensibilities and processes from textiles, sculpture, architecture, photography and graphic design. Evolving over 15 years of research and experimentation, Veness’ self-devised and idiosyncratic methodologies valorise craft skill while questioning traditional readings of jewellery as valuable and ‘precious’ commodities due to the material’s rarity and monetary expense. Her work is recognised for illuminating beauty through everyday, ‘non-precious’ materials.

Veness has produced 10 solo exhibitions, co-curated 5 exhibition projects and participated in 72 national and international group exhibitions. Her work has been selected for prestigious international award exhibitions including Talente in Germany and Itami International Craft Exhibition in Japan, and acquired by the Art Gallery of South Australia, Griffith Regional Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia. She has been an artist-in-residence at Bundanon NSW (2010) and the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland (2006). 

Veness is currently Director of Education at the School of Art & Design and convenor of Object Design courses. Previous to Art & Design, Veness was Co-ordinator of Object Design at the University of Tasmania, School of Creative Arts and Media, and the Design Lead for the new Bachelor of Design at UTAS.