Nathan Beard (b.1987) is Perth-based interdisciplinary artist who works across mediums including photography, video and sculpture. His practice concerns the influences of culture, memory and biography, in particular through the prism of his Thai- Australian heritage. Beard’s work often includes intimate and sincere engagements with family and archives to poignantly explore the complex ways a sense of heritage and identity is negotiated.
Beard holds a Bachelor of Arts (Art) with First Class Honours from Curtin University. Exhibitions include A dense intimacy, Bus Projects, VIC (2019), Siamese Smize, Turner Galleries, WA (2018), Transcendence, Firstdraft, NSW (2018), WA Focus, Art Gallery of Western Australia, WA (2017), Always there and always a part, BLINDSIDE, VIC (2017), Alone and palely loitering, Firstdraft, NSW (2017), Dead Centre, Spectrum Project Space, WA (2016), Radical Ecologies, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, WA (2016), Ad Matres, Artereal Gallery, NSW (2015), Future Archaeology, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art , NSW (2015), Memento Mori, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, WA (2014), Anemone, Soy Sauce Factory, Bangkok (2014) and Obitus, Moana Project Space, WA (2014).
In 2017 Beard was selected for the 4A Beijing Studio Program, shortlisted as a finalist for the John Stringer Prize, and Highly Commended as a finalist in the Fremantle Art Centre Print Award.