Tian Zhang is an independent curator, facilitator and writer based on Dharug Country in western Sydney. Her practice is underscored by conversation, criticality, solidarity and joy. She is the author of 'A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts' (Sydney Review of Books) and a founding co-director of Pari, a collective-run gallery in Parramatta. Tian has participated in documenta fifteen as co-facilitator of Gudskul's collective studies program — living, cooking, eating, cleaning and communing within the Museum Fridericianum for 50 days. She was previously part of the inaugural Artistic Directorate of Next Wave and is currently Chair of Utp.
COLLECTIVES / ARTIST-RUN INITIATIVES
Pari, Parramatta NSW, co-director & co-founder, 2018-current
Firstdraft, Sydney NSW, chair & co-director, 2018-2019
Small Lakes Collective, Brisbane QLD, president, co-director & co-founder, 2011-2012
4C Arts Collective, Brisbane QLD, collective member, 2009-2010
BOARDS & COMMITTEES
Artistic Directorate, Next Wave, 2021-23
Board Member, Utp, 2020-current
Steering Committee, Australia Council Leadership Program Alumni, 2020-2021
Curatorial Committee, Hyphenated Biennial, 2020
SELECTED PROJECTS
Lumbung in Western Sydney, 2023, Pari x Arab Theatre Studios in collaboration with Gudskul, co-facilitator with Marian Abboud, Maissa Alameddine, Naomi Segal & Jeyne Wade.
Constellations, 2023, Blacktown Arts, curator
Undercurrent, 2023, Pari, co-curator with Naomi Segal & Celine Cheung
Season of Care, 2023, Utp, curatorium
Lumbung will continue: practices and reflections from documenta fifteen, 2022, Granville Town Hall, Pari x Arab Theatre Studios, supported by Powerhouse Museum, co-facilitator with Marian Abboud, Maissa Alameddine, Hayley Coghlan, Naomi Segal & Joel Spring.
Sekolah Temujalar, 2022, documenta fifteen, co-facilitator, Gudskul collective studies program
Songlines & Sightlines, 2022, Blacktown Arts, curator
The Way We Eat programs, 2022, Art Gallery of NSW, program curator
Ash, 2022, Pari, co-curator with Hareen Johl @ Naomi Segal
The only thing left is to leave, 2022, Firstdraft, Beirut Art Center & Arab Theatre Studio, project lead (2019-2021)
Ask Asian Aunty UK special, 2022, ‘This is who we are’ festival, Renaissance One, Instagram: @askasianaunty with Sundra Lawrence, Jamie Lewis & Amy Zhang
P2P Ngariung, 2021-22, Pari, co-facilitator & project lead, online workshops with Gudskul
Songlines & Sightlines: Colouring-in Blacktown, 2021, Blacktown Arts, curator
Here: After, 2021, Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, curator
Ask Asian Aunty queer special, 2021, Instagram: @askasianaunty with Anna Hay, Rosie McGowan & Amy Zhang
Ask Asian Aunty, 2021, Instagram: @askasianaunty with Jamie Lewis, Natalie Tan & Amy Zhang
Choose Your Fighter, 2021, Blacktown Arts, co-curator with Justine Youssef & Leila el Rayes
Lemonade, 2020, Pari, co-curator with Kalanjay Dhir, Namika Parajuli & Amy Toma
Rituals for Renewal, 2020, Instagram: @ritualsforrenewal
P2P, 2020, Pari, project lead, online workshops with Gudskul & The White Pube
Sports Show, 2020, Pari, co-curator with Rebecca Gallo & Talitha Hanna
Systems of Care: A virtual roundtable, 2020, artist, Toronto Biennial & OCAD University
Sab D’Souza, 2020, Close Friends: 7 safe words for digital intimacy, Parramatta Artists’ Studios & Art Month Sydney
10 Degrees Hotter, 2019, Pari, co-curator with Kalanjay Dhir
Louise Zhang, Scholar Garden, 2019, Parramatta Lanes, curator
Gallery Warming, 2019, Pari, co-curator with Kalanjay Dhir, Rebecca Gallo, Alexander Tanazefti & Justine Youssef
Kalanjay Dhir, Aruna (Mirror Test), 2019, Parramatta Artists’ Studios, curator
Site of Passage, 2018, Sydney Customs House, co-curator with Claire Field
Justine Youssef, All Blessings, All Curses, 2018, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, curatorial assistant
I Am, You Are, We Are, They Are, 2017, Peacock Gallery & Arts Studio, Auburn NSW, curator
Home Country, 2017, Sydney Festival, producer (Utp)
Alwin Reamillo, Bayanihan Hopping Spirit House, 2015-18, Manila Biennale, Sculpture by the Sea, Blacktown Arts, Peacock Gallery, producer (Utp)
One Day For Peace, 2015, documentary broadcast on ABC 2016, producer (Utp)
Bankstown:Live, 2015, Sydney Festival, project manager (Utp)
Democratic Garden, 2014, Blacktown Arts Centre, project manager (Utp)
Brisbane Experimental Arts Festival, 2012, Metro Arts, sound program co-curator with Adam Stuart Rothwell
Red Fives, 2012, Brisbane Artist Run Initiatives Festival, Judith Wright Centre, co-curator with Kate Mary Palella and Adam Stuart Rothwell (Small Lakes)
Mr Maps, You Are Here, 2011, Brisbane Festival, Metro Arts, creative producer
Stones Corner Street Party, 2010, creative producer
Artist’s Dozen, 2009 & 2010, King George Square, Brisbane, curator
FACILITATION, SPEAKING & MENTORSHIP
Curating & Care, 2024, Kala Kulo, Nepal, guest speaker
A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts, 2023, Curating through Conflict with Care symposium, Berlin, Germany, workshop facilitator
Embassy: Exchange, 2023, Richard Bell’s Embassy, Tate Modern, guest speaker
Nice to meet you: Tian Zhang, 2023, ACE Open, guest speaker
Love Me Long Time reading group, 2023, 4A, co-facilitator with Dorcas Tang
Long distance relationships: on friendships and collaborations across borders, 2022, speaker and organiser, ALL SCHOOL, Next Wave
Common Culture, 2022, Fine Print x ACE Open, Adelaide, guest speaker
So you want to write about art? 2022, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, panellist
A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts, 2022, An institute for curatorial inquiry, Agnes Etherington Arts Center, Kingston, Canada, workshop series
A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts, 2022, Hopscotch Reading Room, Berlin, talk
Joel Spring: In Conversation, 2022, Digital Arts Resource Centre, Canada, facilitator
Digital Young Writers’ Mentorship, 2022, National Gallery of Australia, mentor
Regional Arts Mentorship Program, 2022, Cementa, mentor
Curatorial and collective practice as care methodology, 2021, AAANZ conference, paper presentation
ArtsLab, 2021, Shopfront, mentor
Racism in the Arts: Reform or Revolution? 2020, Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group (SAMAG), panellist
Visiting International Curators Program, 2020, Australia Council for the Arts, facilitator
After everything has been dipped, Kamias Triennial, 2020, Manila, Philippines, panellist
Between Asia and Australia: Curating Asian-Australian identities at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, paper, AAI7 conference, 2019
Ritual & Reverence, 2019, Parramatta Artists’ Studios, moderator
Curating for the Future, 2019, AGYU & Critical Distance, talk & round-table
Independent Curating: Concepts, Challenges, Collabs symposium, 2019, Verge Gallery, panellist
Strategies of Curatorial Resistance – Socially-engaged practices in the Asia-Pacific, AAANZ conference, 2018, convenor & paper presentation
Decolonising the Gaze - Lux Eterna, 2018, Peacock Gallery, Interview with Lux Eterna & participatory discussion
Feminist Futures in Colour: Beyond White Feminism, Women, Art & Feminism in Australia since 1970 symposium, 2018, chair/facilitator
Feminism x Culture x Art, 2017, Doing Feminism/Sharing the World & Favour Economy, participatory discussion
Re-Imagining Equality, 2017, National Association of the Visual Arts, panellist
AWARDS, PROGRAMS & RESIDENCIES
Leo Kelly OAM Arts & Culture Award, 2022, for Songlines & Sightlines
Parallel Fellowship, 2022-23, UNSWA&D, SCA, WSU & MAMA, fellowship for structural change
International Curators Program, 2022-23, Australia Council for the Arts
’Curatorium’, Deer Lake Residency, 2022, Vancouver, Canada
Curators Intensive, 2021-22, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art
Digital Diasporas, 2021, Gendai, China Residencies & Australia Council for the Arts, online residency
MGNSW Imagine Award, 2020, for Gallery Warming (Pari)
Creative Fellowship, 2020, City of Sydney
Contingencies of Care, 2020, OCAD University & Toronto Biennial, online residency
Dhaka Art Summit, 2020, delegate with Australia Council for the Arts
INTERSECT, 2019, British Council Australia & Diversity Arts Australia, program for arts changemakers
AGYU Visiting Curator, 2019, Art Gallery of York University, Toronto
Critical Distance, 2019, Toronto, residency
Parasite: Experimental Arts Laboratory w/ Gabi Ngobo & Ema Tavola, AAANZ, All Conference & West Space, 2018
Future Leaders, 2018, Australia Council for the Arts, arts leadership program
ZEST Award 2017 for Home: Country (Utp)
ZEST Award 2016 for Bankstown: Live (Utp)
FBi SMAC Award 2015 for Bankstown: Live (Utp)
FORMAL EDUCATION
Masters of Art Curating, University of Sydney, 2020
Diploma of Arts (Art History), University of Sydney, 2015
Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - Honours, University of Queensland, 2009
Bachelor of Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Business Management (Industrial Relations & HR), dual degree, University of Queensland, 2008
PUBLISHED WORK
Constellations. Curated and edited by Tian Zhang. Blacktown, NSW: Blacktown Arts, 2023. Exhibition catalogue.
Zhang, Tian. A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts. 2nd ed. Kingston, Canada: Agnes Etherington Art Center, 2022.
‘Artist Self-Organisation’ in Code of Practice for Visual Arts, Craft and Design, The National Association for Visual Arts (NAVA), 2022, writer & researcher.
Zhang, Tian. A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts. 1st ed. Kassel, Germany: Lumbung Press, documenta 15, 2022.
Zhang, Tian. A manifesto for radical care or how to be a human in the arts. Sydney Review of Books, 2022.
Here: After. Curated and edited by Tian Zhang. Smithfield, NSW: Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, 2021. Exhibition catalogue.
Zhang, Tian. “My House is Not Your House.” In Permanent Recession: a Handbook on Art, Labour and Circumstance. Edited by Channon Goodwin. Eindhoven, Netherlands: Onomatopee, 2019.
Zhang, Tian. ‘Talking and not talking about race: Curating Asian-Australian identities in the early years of 4A.’ In 4A Papers 6, 2019.
Zhang, Tian. “My House is Not Your House.” In Runway Australian Experimental Art 35, 2017. Edited by Keg de Souza.
I Am, You Are, We Are They Are. Curated and edited by Tian Zhang. Auburn, NSW: Peacock Gallery & Auburn Arts Studio, 2017. Exhibition catalogue.
So You Want To Be An Artist & Still Be Able To Eat? Edited by Tian Zhang. Brisbane: Queensland Artworkers Alliance, 2010.
Zhang, Tian & Lauren Hadler. “Stones Corner: Creative Community Development Within a Changing Urban Habitat.” National Symposium Press. Brisbane, Australia: Young People in the Arts Australia, 2010.