Biography

Amelia McLeish is a contemporary visual and sound artist, administrator and researcher based in Meanjin. She is currently on the board of Outer Space, helps run Wreckers Artspace (downstairs) and is one third of Brisbane Visual Arts Advocacy (BVAA). Amelia's work examines the role of community within her local visual arts ecology of Meanjin/Brisbane. She produces work utilising a 'post production' methodology which appropriates, parodies and utilises mass media, culture and collectibles in order to contextualise the art and artists of her region. A core function of her practice is building opportunities for artists to practice, such as including other artists in her shows, or organising events for artists to experiment and explore their artistic practice. Notable examples include Collectible Trading Cards (2021) which featured 80 artists as part of the project and distributed freely to the public. Additionally, she maintains a strong personal archive of exhibition ephemera, which she has previously displayed as part of her Master's exhibition Labour of Love (2021).

Amelia supports the experimental nature of contemporary art and, during her time at Wreckers Artspace, adopted a hands-off approach to managing the space. She allowed artists complete freedom, even permitting them to create nothing if they wished. By removing expectations and giving artists space to reflect and engage with their work without pressure, she hoped to foster the best outcomes for their creative process. Her goal was to create an environment where artists could think, experiment, and document their work without constraints.