Statement Profile GlogauAIR Project CV Summary

Statement

James Lemon, born in 1993 in Aotearoa (New Zealand), has been based in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia, since 2012. He’s a sculptor with a focus on clay. Lemon explores clay’s historical and ecological aspects, looking into its role in developing civilisations and connecting with other life forms.

Lemon’s work evokes religious elements, pop culture, and insects. While clay is his primary medium, Lemon often adds unconventional elements like bricks, precious stones, and discarded items to enrich his artistic language. His ongoing project, “SPHEXISHNESS,” addresses ecological concerns, specifically insect population decline and climate collapse. Through intuitive making, Lemon’s sculptures act as memorials for declining life forms, offering a commentary on the interconnectedness of human and natural worlds.

Profile

GlogauAIR Project

Inside GlogauAIR, I’ll fashion a nest objects within the space using raw clay and sound. It’ll be a temporary, site-specific work. I’ll throw and hand-build forms to create these nests. The work uses the architecture of the site as a bee hive would within a ceiling. A multilayered process where the making, and constructing are performed in the same space. This work is sculptural in form but performative in process.

CV Summary

James Lemon
Born Te Awamutu, Aotearoa / New Zealand, 1993
Residing and working in Naarm Melbourne, Australia

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Te Auaha Gallery, Wellington/ Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Aotearoa, New Zealand
The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne/ Narrm, Australia

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 CARPE, BABES, Oigall Projects, Naarm
2023 Sphexishness, Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney/ Gadigal Land
2021 CANNIBALS, Oigall Projects, Melbourne
2021 The Nature of An Island (in collaboration with Dale
Hardiman), James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2020 Worm Charming, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Queer Objectification, ANZ Centre, Naarm/Melbourne
2024 Hard, Melbourne Naarm
2023 Sydney Contemporary, Sullivan + Strumpf, Sydney/
Gadigal Land
2023 Melbourne Design Fair, Melbourne/Naarm
2023 Swarming, Melbourne Now, The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne/Naarm
2022 Tree Log Paper Book, Bus Projects, Melbourne 2022
The Chair, Craft Victoria, Melbourne
2022 QUEER, National Gallery of Victoria
2022 SELECT, NGV Design Fair, Melbourne
2022 Self-Portrait, Friends and Associates, Melbourne
2021 Radiant Dreams, Modern Times, Melbourne/ Narrm
2021 Grotto, Saint Cloche, Sydney/ Gadigal Land
2021 Cup Runneth Over, Michael Reid Northern Beaches, Sydney/ Gadigal Land
2021 Third, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne/ Narrm
2021 Fluid, Wyndham City Gallery, Werribee
2021 Ceramica Maxima, Jam Factory, Adelaide
2021 Summer New, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
2020 Talismans, Rafts, Momentos, Modern Times,
Melbourne/ Narrm
2020 Contemporary Sculpture, James Makin Gallery,
Melbourne
2020 Life and Death, Friends and Associates and NGV
Design Week, Melbourne/ Narrm
2020 The Backbone of Things, Te Auaha Gallery, Glenn Barkley, Wellington/ Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand
2019 Artisan Handmade, Craft Victoria, Melbourne
2019 Fold Vessels, Big Boom, Geelong, Victoria
2019 Fold Vessels, Hall and Wilcox Emerging Artists Exhibition
2019 A.G.M. Expo, Melbourne/ Narrm
2019 Welcome to Wasteland, Friends and Associates and
NGV Design Week, Melbourne/ Narrm
2017 New Textures, Port Jackson Press, Melbourne/ Narrm
2016 Object Therapy (In collaboration with Dale Hardiman),
Nishi Gallery, Canberra/ Ngambri.

SELECTED COMMISSIONS
2022 BYO Plate Set,Powerhouse Museum, Sydney/ Gadigal Land 2022 PeeHive, Craft Victoria, Melbourne Narrm
2022 Text Blocks, NGV Design Store, Melbourne/ Narrm
2022 KIln Brick Wall, ACE Hotel, Sydney/ Gadigal Land
2019 Limoncello,Tantri Mustika, Heidelberg Museum of Modern Art Design Store, Melbourne/ Narrm
2018 Relativity, NGV Design Store, Melbourne
2016 Rock Barrel Lamp, Dowel Jones, Melbourne/ Narrm

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2024 Grant Panel, Creative Victoria, Melbourne/Naarm
2023 Guest Curator, Craft Victora, Melbourne/ Narrm
2023 Guest Judge, Fresh!, Craft Victoria, Melbourne Naarm 2022 Guest Judge, Fresh!, Craft Victoria, Melbourne Naarm
2020 NGV Teen Connections, Melbourne/ Narrm
2019 Guest Tutor, The Ceramics House, Brisbane/ Meanjin
2018 Guest Tutor, UNSW Ceramics, Sydney
2018 Guest Tutor, Wellington Potters Association,
Wellington/ Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa/ New Zealand
2018 Guest Tutor, The Ceramics House, Brisbane/ Meanjin
2017 Guest Tutor, The Australian Catholic University, Melbourne/ Narrm.

PHILANROPY
2024, 2023, 2022 Founder of ‘Lemon Award of Exellence’ for
FRESH – CRAFT VICTORIA

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2023 Elle Decor Magazine, France 2023
2023 Rose Leake. “James Lemon –Cool Hunters.”
Art Collector, Jan-Mar 2023
2022 Ursula Briar. “Introducing –James Lemon.” Sullivan+Strumpf
Magazine, 2022
2022 Artichoke Magazine July, 2022
2022 Elias Redstone. “‘By queers for queers’: NGV hosts largest ever show of queer art in Australia.”
Wallpaper* Magazine, 22 July, 2022
2022. Jake Millar. “Meet the creative minds and artists behind
Ace Hotel Sydney.” Vogue Living Australia, May 22
2022 Susan Owens. “New Melbourne Design Fair waves the flag
for ‘Australian made.” Australian Financial Review, 4 March 2022
2021 Fatima Measham. “Chapter VI: The Making of a People’s Gallery.” Wyndam Art Gallery 2011-21 Decade, 2021
2021 “Five Minutes with… James Lemon.” Marmalade, Jam
Factory. (Last updated June 2021)
https://www.jamfactory.com.au/marmalade/five-minutes-with-
james-lemon
2021 “The Nature of an Island by Dale Hardiman
and James Lemon at Melbourne Design Week.” Yellowtrace, 7
April 2021
2020 “Queer.” National Gallery of Victoria Exhibition Catalogue,