Olly Read (Impious Monk) is a multidisciplinary artist born, living and working in Limilinaturi/Devonport in Lutruwita/Tasmania. He identifies as a trans man and his artistic practice explores the experience of being human in a flesh suit via three dimensional explorations of the internal psyche. From baroque pearls as teeth and pantyhose stitched in frames as the 'skin-we-live-in', to pulsating robotics in soft sculpture: Read interrogates ideas of beauty, shame, pride, perception, gender and sexuality.
Read holds a Masters of Fine Art from UTAS (2022) after graduating with a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts with first class Honours (2019) from the same. He has exhibited at Devonport Regional Gallery, Sawtooth ARI multiple times, Plimsoll Gallery (UTAS), Powerhouse Gallery (UTAS) and The Long Gallery (Salamanca Arts Centre).
2019 Bachelor of Contemporary Art, with First Class Honours, University of Tasmania
ARIxchange: Sawtooth ARI x Blindside ARI, Launceston/Melbourne
2024/5 Situate 24-25, Assembly 197
2023 Marie Edward Traveling Scholarship, administrated by the University of Tasmania
2020 Comunity Grant, Regional Arts Fund
2019 Sawtooth Honours Graduate Prize, Winner
Executive Dean’s Honour Roll (College of Arts, Law and Education), University of Tasmania
2018 Contemporary Art Tasmania (North) Prize, Winner
Executive Dean’s Honour Roll (College of Arts, Law and Education), University of Tasmania
‘I Touch Myself’, Sawtooth ARI, Inveresk
2019 ‘Serene and Menacing’, Devonport Regional Galllery’s Little Gallery, Devonport
‘Serene and Menacing’, Powerhouse Gallery, Inveresk
2024 Hot Mess - Sawtooth ARI, Inveresk - co-curated by Beau Belle and Zara Sully
2023 Accretion - Sawtooth ARI, Inveresk - curated by Dr. Karen Hall
Surface - Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport - curated by Ellina Evans
Isn’t It Ironic - Junction Arts Festival, Launceston - curated by Zara Sully (Sawtooth ARI)
Isn’t It Ironic - Rosny Farm Barn Gallery, Hobart - curated by Zara Sully
2022 Sawtooth ARI Members’ Show - Sawtooth ARI, Inveresk
Queer Ways of Knowing - Sawtooth ARI x The University of Tasmania - curated by Zara Sully
2021 (Featured Artist) HOME: Artfully Queer - Salamanca Art Center, Hobart - curated by Phoebe Adams for TasPride
Involvement, RANT Arts, Devonport - curated by Jesse Pangas
2019 CAT Members’ Exhibition - Contemporary Art Tasmania, Hobart
On The Flat - Powerhouse Gallery, Inveresk - curated by Travis Bell
Void Form - Powerhouse Gallery, Inveresk
2018 The Grad Show - Academy Gallery, Inveresk
Powerhouse Art Prize - Powerhouse Gallery, Inverek
Abstract Nature - Powerhouse Gallery, Inveresk - curated by Dr. Troy Ruffles
- Secretary 2021-2023
- Board Member 2020-2021
Devonport Regional Gallery - DROOGS (Young Members Committee) 2014-2016