Bio | Harry Culy
Born 1986
Lives and works in Wellington
Working predominantly in large-format film photographs, Harry Culy observes everyday life in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Working within the expanded documentary photography tradition, he produces depictions of quotidian scenes, often including vacant interiors, seascapes, landscapes, and people — which may hint at narratives beyond the picture plane. He is influenced by the Antipodean Gothic art movement.
After graduating from Massey University, Culy has frequently exhibited across New Zealand and Australia, and was the recipient of the 2018 Peter Turner Scholarship in Photography. Recent solo exhibitions include Event Horizon with Parlour Projects 2018, Rose Hill as part of Projects 2018 at the Auckland Art Fair and Evidence at China Heights, Sydney in 2017.
Harry is currently studying towards his Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, and has a small press photobook company called Bad News Books.
Education
MFA (currently completing), Massey University NZ
Bachelor of Design (Photography) with first class Honours, Massey University NZ
Exhibitions
2019
Nobody Believe you (Bad luck), Jhana Millers, Wellington, NZ
The Garden, Precinct 35, Wellington, NZ
Altered Visions, China Heights, Sydney, Australia
2018
Blue Room (with Lucy O’Doherty), Jhana Millers, Wellington, NZ
The Gap, Parlour Projects, Hawkes Bay, NZ
Projects, Auckland Art Fair, The Cloud, Auckland, NZ
I can see for miles, Contemporary Centre for Photography Melbourne, Aus
CLIP Award Exhibition, Perth Centre for Photography, Perth, Aus
2017
Rose Hill, Parlour Projects, Hawkes Bay, NZ
Evidence (with Sam Stephenson), China Heights, Sydney, Aus
LCE4, Lilac City Studio, Sydney, Aus
Pink Bits, Precinct 35, Wellington, NZ
2016
The Gap, Precinct 35, Wellington, NZ
The Big Nowhere, with Max Scott Murray and Robyn Daly, GOJA, Bangkok, Thailand
Sky Colours, with Robyn Daly, Aus
Gaffa Photo Festival, Gaffa Gallery, Sydney, Aus
2014
By the Wayside, Photospace Gallery, Wellington, NZ
Bain Marie, Australian Centre for Photography
2013
End of the Role, China Heights, Sydney, Aus
Remake: Emerging Artists, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, NZ
Long way home, No. 5 Studio, NZ
Curation
Where the River Bends, In Situ x Ilam, Christchurch, NZ
Ectoplasm, Green Street Gallery, Wellington, NZ
Awards
CLIP award finalist, Perth centre for contemporary Photography, 2018
Peter Turner Scholarship in documentary photography, 2018
RT Emerging Artists Award, June 2016 (NZ)
Finalist Gaffa Photo Festival, Gaffa Gallery, 2016 (Aus)
Finalist NZ Art Show, Signature piece art award, 2014 (NZ)
Finalist NZ Art Show, Signature piece art award, 2013 (NZ)
Scholarship, Massey University, 2013 (NZ)
WPS Photography Award, 2012 (NZ)
Selected Publications
ArtZone, Summer 2017
Art New Zealand, winter 2017 (NZ)
Salient Magazine, 2016 (NZ)
Seconds Magazine, issue 6, 2016 (NZ)
Blow Up Photography Annual, issue 1, 2014 (Aus)
Massive Magazine, issue 6, 2013 (NZ)
Press, Publications, Interviews, Features
Palmstudios — Feature — Harry Culy
The heavy collective — Harry Culy & San Stephenson, Evidence
Vampir magazine — Evidence Harry Culy & Sam Stephenson
thisonthat.org — Harry Culy on Antipodean Gothic