Megan Evans completed her Masters of Fine Art at the Victorian College of the Arts and her Doctorate of Philosophy at Victoria University and has undertaken a significant number of collaborative public art commissions which have informed her imperative to engage directly with social and natural issues. Such projects include A Place of Dwelling (2009), in collaboration with Indigenous artist Gayle Maddigan for the Avoca Project, Woven Histories (2004), also with Gayle Maddigan for the Victorian Governments Eureka 150 Celebrations, and, Confluence – a meeting of waters (2001), with Glenn Romanis for Australian Bulk Alliance Silo’s Urban Art Project in Melbourne’s Docklands.

Location and its layered histories, are a central element of Evan’s public projects and through each, a meticulous and tougher research process informs the resulting works. Whether addressing the forgotten stories of Indigenous groups or investigating the river systems of a now industrialised landscape, Evans’ desire to reveal the quiet truths of a place is central.

Within her solo practice, Evans focuses her attention on the delicate systems revealed within the biosphere. Her recent solo exhibitions Precious (2008) and The Fall (2009) took inspiration directly from this world; incorporating materials such as leaves and twigs collected after the recent Victorian bushfires to examine the enduring quality of both native and introduced plant species.

Evans’ practice represents an enduring concern to respect and appreciate nature and echoes the artist’s life long commitment to issues of fragile ecology and human equality. By itself, such challenging evaluation is not enough if it does not inspire a sense of mystery, wonder and joy.

Evans’ work has been exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions in Australia and the UK. Her artist in the community work includes a wide range of projects from social interventions in Australia to animation in South Africa and mural work in New York City. She has published widely and regularly contributes to state and local government advisory panels in Australia.

Evans has been recognized in reviews and articles and has received many awards and grants including the Sir Ian Potter Award and the Wyndham Contemporary Art Prize. Her work is represented in a range of private and corporate collections.

For a full list of exhibitions and a bibliography, please go to: biography