Variations : A More Diverse Picture of Contemporary Art

How do we begin to appreciate the social, cultural, physical and neurological diversity of Australian artists? Through collaboration with artists and art collectives who reflect a range of worldviews and experiences, this handsome hardback volume of essays, artist interviews and artworks gives voice to contemporary artists who are under-recognised.

This collection is committed to reorientating discussions of contemporary Australian art through sharing the experience of artists with diverse life histories and social and cultural backgrounds, including those living with disability or mental illness, Indigenous artists, artists with a history of incarceration, artists from refugee and recent migrant backgrounds, and untrained artists who commenced artmaking following a significant life event. The twenty-five profiled artists have developed rich and complex creative practices within their communities, while experiencing social marginalisation that limits access to the art world.

To understand art-making in Australia, it is essential to listen to the voices of artists who live complex forms of social diversity and exclusion. Widely readable, beautifully produced and lavishly illustrated, this collection breaks new ground in introducing readers to a new picture of contemporary Australian art. It presents the artists' practices in a way that is rigorous, accessible, and valuable to a broad audience not least the artists and arts organisations themselves.