Freelance Lecturer and Writer
I am an experienced lecturer, writer, and researcher, writing thoughtful and lyrical content to meet artists’ text-based needs. My recent commercial experience includes exhibition essays, artist bios, artist statements and long form blog posts. I was an invited guest blogger for Cambridge University’s Arts and Creativities Research Group in 2020 and was subsequently invited to co-author a book chapter on ‘Doing Rebellious Research’, an innovative text that explores how to create research that is more meaningful to more people using surprising and maverick methods. Meanwhile, closer to home in Australia, I have been regularly writing on contemporary art for my blog: How to start a love affair with art. My professional experience across both the visual arts and writing enables me to build strong and inviting bridges between audiences and artworks.
Lecture Series
2023 Art Gallery of New South Wales Lecture series: How to start a love affair with art
Lecture Testimonials
I really enjoyed the interactive aspects that you included in your lectures – I went on an Art Bus tour this week and we went to several galleries, and I felt myself viewing the works in a completely different manner - my interactions with the artist and the galleries were on a completely different level – your lecture series was extremely beneficial. Thank you. Lecture Guest AGNSW.
I think for me what’s important about your lecture style and the way that you approach the whole interactive process is that you encourage your audience to be highly active in how they engage with the art. Whereas quite often without that sort of informal approach, and that kind of encouragement, viewing art is a very passive process. Your lecture style is extremely visceral, engaging and fun. You really create something special. You make it happen. Lecture Guest AGNSW.
Examples of my writing can be viewed here:
2023 Kate Dorrough Catalogue essay, ArtHouse Gallery
2023 The making of a golden reliquary in the art of Catherine O'Donnell
2023 Echoes of my grandmother in the art of Clarice Beckett
2023 Witnessing by Alicia Henry - a personal essay
2022 Jo Bertini:Paintings of awe and intimacy
2022 Writing about the work of Dianne Gall at Nanda Hobbs and Maddison Gibbs and Salllvage, (Rowan Savage) at Cement Fondu
2022 A thoughtful provocation – the work of David Griggs
2022 Giddy Up: Amplifying the tension between representation and abstraction
2022 Juliana Góngora Rojas – Arrullos
2021 A personal reflection on acknowledgment of country
2021 SIDNEY TEODORUK X NEIL TOMKINS - Holy Mountain Catalogue introduction
2021 An intimate reflection on Bow Echo - the work of Aziz Hazara
2020 The Ethics of Performativity and the Effect and Affect of Anonymity in Online Platforms Invited Guest Blogger, Cambridge University Arts and Creativities research Group
2019 Hardenvale: our home in Absurdia Catalogue essay
2019 Warwick Fuller - Chasing the Light, Essay for artists monograph
Testimonials
Naomi is a lyrical and knowledgeable writer who carefully and with rigour takes her readers on unexpected literary journeys that enrich their experience of the art at hand. The insights she brings to the artist’s works are valuable to both artist and audience alike. I have no hesitation in recommending Naomi as a thoughtful arts writer who I am confident will bring value to any project she contributes to. Will Mansfield, Gallery Manager, Arthouse Gallery
Naomi is a pleasure to work with. She is a perceptive, insightful writer. She applies her highly developed and formidable skill at locating the heart of the work and turns it into elegant, engaging prose that draw the reader into a deeper relationship with the art and the ideas contained within it. I would not hesitate to recommend her for any writing project artists need done. Catherine O’Donnell, Artist
I can’t fault Naomi’s essay ‘A Thoughful provocation - the work of David Griggs’, in any way. It’s very, very good. Actually, feel it’s the first thing I have read about my work that is accurate! David Griggs, Artist
Naomi’s written introduction for my latest catalogue added invaluable insight and gravitas to the artworks. Backed by years of knowledge and breadth of experience she was ever mindful of my commercial gallery audience and deftly presented ideas in a few succinct paragraphs. I found her immediately enthusiastic to understand the artworks and able to meet the short time frame provided. I would recommend Naomi in a heartbeat. Sarah Birtles, Art adviser and consultant
It’s such a pleasure to have Naomi on board. She is a superb writer, and we were blessed and incredibly grateful to have her write up such an engaging piece for us! Her writing captured our collaborative process perfectly! Sidney Teodoruk, Artist
Writing package for artists
I am deeply experienced in drawing out the intellectual, emotional, and poetic heart of individual artistic practices and skilled at developing writing that draws diverse audience into deeper engagement with individual artistic practices. Indeed, artists themselves have often found conversation with me to be generative, affirming and illuminating, contributing in a dynamic manner to their ongoing relationship to their own work.
Interview and studio visit (1 - 2 hours)
Artist Bio (short and extended version)
Artist statement, (short and extended version)
CV Review
Package Cost $650
Essays - Quoted individually
To discuss your art writing needs and how I can support and amplify your practice through the written word, contact me at avisiontoshare@live.com.au
Bio
Australian born, Naomi McCarthy grew up travelling through England and Europe with her dad’s band. During these peripatetic early years she loved being in galleries and classrooms, to her they were a space of friendship, learning and discovery, providing a welcoming community even when she didn’t speak the local language. Her professional life honours these two spaces of creative encounter. Pursuing her delight in art and in education she is currently a PhD candidate being supervised between The University of Cambridge, UK and Western Sydney University, Australia. She has an Undergraduate Degree in Fine Arts, a Graduate Diploma of Education and a Masters of Creative Writing all awarded with distinction.
Graduate Researcher in Cultural Mediation
The University of Cambridge UK
Western Sydney University Australia
PhD
On the Road to Damascus: Theorising transformational encounters in art galleries and museums.
We think best about the world and most deeply when we are engaged in contemplating art. (Saunders, 2019)
At their best visual arts learning and engagement programs are brave, dynamic and inclusive practices that: honour the individual and respect the collective; include aesthetic pleasure and the delight of discovery; and encourage deep and thoughtful reflection on the human condition. Through my PhD research I am seeking to learn more about what audience engagement practices in art galleries and museums encourage affirmative, personal, social and cultural, transformations to occur.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1574-9172
Protea
Pencil on 210 gsm cartridge paper
300 x 290 mm
ARTWORKS
Naomi’s drawing practice is inspired by her Nan, Nance Canham, who lived to be 105 years old and inspired Naomi with her Grace, kindness and love of nature. For a list of works on paper for sale with prices contact Naomi via the contact page. …………………………………………….
