Jill Sampson
artist, curator, art project coordinator
Lives on family farm in the South Burnett, Queensland, Australia.
Lost mobility due to Myeloma, 2020/2021, photo R. Sullivan.
Cancer clinic, 2021.
Walking again, on the farm, July 2022.
Artist Statement
My work encourages a re-examination of history and explores: environmental themes, both personal and collective histories, land use change and stories. I am a contemporary artist who works across different media and materials that may include collected and found objects, natural materials, textile, sculpture, printmaking and multi-media. These elements of exploration are often brought together into installations where the works intersect with each other and respond to the spaces they inhabit.
I often use objects and materials that provide a temporal connection through history, environment, people and place. Through further research I may uncover cultural, agricultural, historical or scientific information that informs my understanding and which I build into the artwork.
An artwork or project often begins while I’m walking the farm. It may start with thinking on a problem (Bimblebox Art Project), picking up an object (Object series), collecting natural materials in the landscape (Love Letters Project), repurposing man-made objects (Squatters Hopscotch), an event (After the Fire), discarded detritus (This Place, my place) and items used on the farm (Tarp Stories and A roomful of stories: in winter colours).
Disintegration is a theme that often runs through my work. Collaboration with meat ants and a dead rabbit tracked the dismembering of a rabbit as ants carried it piece by piece down into their nest. I transposed the disappearance of the rabbit through drawing onto low plaster plinths, the drawn marks sinking into a substrate of plaster. My installation This Place, my place, explored invasion history through creating a temporal geological and cultural landscape across a wall and floor space using accreted detritus. These material objects are collected remnants of the farm rubbish dump that was in use between 1907 and 1973.
Home for me is a little farm near the Bunya Mountains (Qld, Australia), on Buyibara land, Wakka Wakka country. My art practice has roots in Arte Povera, Environmental Art and Expressionism. Yet the strongest influence is always the land, light and life-lines of place.I explore the woodland, grasslands and vine scrub where native plants and animals now exist alongside invasive exotic weed species and introduced animals.
Since 2020, as the effects of climate change grow more evident, I have myself experienced extreme personal change through the effects and treatment of Multiple Myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. Treatments have given me ongoing life for an unknown time. This experience of chronic illness has thrown me against my mortality, and I have curiously observed my own cycle of disintegration and recovery. Closely tied to the city during my treatment regime, I have now returned home to care for the wildlife habitat that is our family farm.
This farm is where I grew up: it is my still point, my place of return. Although I am predominantly of settler/farming heritage, my connection to this place defines me and it is where my art practice is embedded. My own story is just a tiny moment here. Through my work I respond to my lived experience and try to understand and acknowledge the deeper stories and layered histories that are written into the land.
Biography:
Jill Sampson is a contemporary artist. She is also the coordinator of the Bimblebox Art Project and curator of Bimblebox 153 Birds.
Sampson completed a Fine Arts degree at Queensland College of Art in 2019 extending her previous study at the Sydney Gallery School. She was awarded the 2001 Pata Paris residency (France), by Daniel and Anne Pata with the Sydney Gallery School. Sampson was also selected as the inaugural artist-in-residence at the Stewart House Preventorium, where she engaged with the students and created a body of artwork inspired by the beach environment of Curl Curl.
Sampson was a keynote speaker at the Eco Arts Australis 3rd National Conference, Wollongong. She values communication and is a dynamic speaker who has given numerous talks, presentations, interviews and opening speeches. Sampson has also participated in panel discussions, written for publications, and has organised public programs, artist camps and developed two touring exhibitions. Her work has been selected for the Fishers Ghost and JADA art prizes and has toured nationally with JADA and Bimblebox: art – science – nature. Sampson’s work has been featured in newspaper and digital articles as well as Imprint, Artlink and Textile fibre forum.
In 2022 Sampson was called to present The Bimblebox Art Project as a witness in the Land Court of Queensland case ‘Waratah Coal Pty. Ltd. v Youth Verdict Ltd., The Bimblebox Alliance Inc. and others‘
“I am so incredibly proud to have presented the Bimblebox Art Project to the Land Court of Qld in support for The Bimblebox Alliance (TBA) objection to Waratah Coal’s Galilee Coal Project. It was a tremendous moment when President Kingham gave her recommendations to refuse Waratah Coal’s application for the Mining Lease and Environmental Authority! Several months later, when the Queensland Government refused Waratah Coal’s application for the Environmental Authority, I took some moments to feel the achievement, knowing that my art project had contributed to the legal case that stopped a coal mine and saved Bimblebox. “
Selected CV
Education:
2019
Bachelor of Fine Art, with Distinction (Sculpture), Queensland College of Art (QCA), Griffith University, Brisbane,Qld., Australia
2018 – 2019
Academic Excellence Award, 2017, 2018, 2019
2003
Statement of Attainment in Advanced Creative Fine Arts, Drawing Specialisation III, Sydney Gallery School, Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE, NSW
2000
Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts, Printmaking major, Sydney Gallery School, NSIT, Meadowbank, NSW.
Selected Exhibitions:
2024/25
MINE: What is Ours in the Wake of Extraction 2024, selected artist, Mechanical Hall Gallery, University of Delaware, 30 N College Avenue Newark, DE 19716, September 3 – December 13, 2024 & February 4 – May 15, 2025
2022:
moving through time, c.a.s.e. exhibition, (invited artist) Byron School of Art, Mullumbimby, NSW., 16 – 18 December.
2019
Tree Place, curated by Anne Harris, Noosa Regional Gallery, Noosa, Qld., 7 December 2018 – 27January 2019.
2018
Rights of Nature National Art Exhibition, curated by Jenny Brown, Spring Hill Reservoir, Brisbane, Qld., 22 – 28 October, 2018.
Refraction Attraction, QCA Sculpture Graduate Showcase, Griffith University, Qld., 31 October – 5 November, 2018
2017
Imaginings, curated by Rona Green, Neospace, Collingwood, Vic., 1 – 19 Dec, 2017.
2015–present
Bimblebox 153 Birds, John Mullins Memorial Art Gallery, Dogwood Crossing, Miles, Qld., 2022; Visitors Centre Gallery, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra 2022; The Centre Beaudesert, Scenic Rim Regional Council 2022; Webb Gallery, QCA, Griffith University, Brisbane, 2019; Gladstone Regional gallery, Gladstone; 2019, Mary Cairncross Rainforest Discovery Centre, Maleny, 2018; Gympie Regional Gallery, 2016; Brisbane Writers Festival, SLQ 2015; Impress Printmakers Gallery, Brisbane, 2015.
2014–2017
Bimblebox: art – science – nature, National touring exhibition (Qld, WA, SA and NSW). 18 May 2014 – 26 March 2017.
2013
Document://Bimblebox, Sawtooth ARI, Launceston, Tasmania, 5 – 27 April, 2013.
2008–2009
Bridging, travelling print exchange, Kirkharle Arts Centre, Northumberland, UK Project Gallery, Qld College of Art, Brisbane, and Hexham’s Queens Hall, Hexham, UK.
2002–2004
Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award Travelling Exhibition (Qld, NSW, Vic and Tas).
2002
Handwriting, Jill Sampson & Elizabeth Pozega, A-Space on Cleveland, Surry Hills, NSW., 4 – 27 September, 2002.
Residencies:
2016 – 2018
RONA16, AELA Rights of Nature Tribunal, artist in residence program, October 2016 – 2018.
2013
Bimblebox Artist Camp, Bimblebox Nature Refuge, Central Qld. 7–15 September.
2012
Bimblebox Artist Camp, Bimblebox Nature Refuge, Central Qld, 8–17 September.
2001
Pata Paris Residency, Paris, France, awarded by Daniel and Anne Pata, and Sydney Gallery School, 9 September – 7 October.
Stewart House, selected inaugural Artist In Residence, Stewart House Preventorium, Curl Curl, NSW., 4 February – 14 April.
1989
Queensland Rural Youth Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Hosted by the Young Farmers Club of England and Wales (YFC), Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), and Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster (YFCU), Northern Ireland.
Sponsored by Queensland Industry Development Corporation (QIDC); YFC, YFCU, SAYFC, and Queensland Rural Youth. 13 April – 8 October 1989.
Awards
2019
Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, QCA, Griffith University, Qld.
2018
Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, QCA, Griffith University, Qld.
2017
Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, QCA, Griffith University, Qld.
2002
Finalist, Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA), Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton, NSW., 23 October – 8 December, 2002.
Finalist, Fishers Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown City Art Gallery, Campbelltown, NSW.
2001
Finalist, Arts North, Hornsby TAFE Art Gallery, Hornsby, NSW., 30 March to 6 April
Selected Presentations:
2022
Sampson J. Bimblebox Art Project, ‘Waratah Coal Pty. Ltd. v Youth Verdict Ltd., The Bimblebox Alliance Inc. and others’, Land Court Of Queensland, Witness court appearance, 6 May. (presented the Bimblebox Art Project to demonstrate long term community engagement and its demonstrable, wide ranging creative/artistic outcomes with the Bimblebox Nature Refuge)
2019
Sampson, J. “Bimblebox 153 Birds”, Art in the Pub, Contemporary Art Space and Education c-a-s-e and Byron School of Art, Courthouse Hotel, Mullumbimby, NSW, 16 October.
Sampson, J. Keynote speaker, “Bimblebox 153 Birds”, Eco Arts Australis 3rd National Conference, Using the Visual and Performing Arts to encourage pro-environmental behaviour, University of Wollongong, 26 – 28 May.
Sampson, J. (coordinator and chair)with conservation biologist Dr April Reside, poet Brett Dionysius and artist Dr Emma Lindsay. Panel Discussion: A Conversation about the Black-throated Finch. Webb Gallery, QCA, Griffith University, Brisbane, 4 September.
Sampson, J. (Organiser and chair) “Artist Talks and Writers readings for Bimblebox 153 Birds”, QCA, Griffith University, Brisbane, 14 September.
2015–2019
Sampson, J. Curator talks and opening events speaker for Bimblebox 153 Birds.
2016/17
Sampson, J. Guest speaker at opening of Bimblebox: art – science – nature, at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Manly, Sydney, NSW., 1 July, 2016; At Logan Art Gallery, Logan, Qld., 14 October, 2016; At The Condensery, Somerset Regional Art Gallery, Toogolawah, Qld., 10 February, 2017.
2016
Sampson, J. (Panelist) “At the Interface of Art and Social Action”, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Manly, Sydney, NSW., 3 July.2016 Sampson, J. (Presentation), Bimblebox 153 Birds and the destruction of a forest, Wild/Flower Women symposium, Central Queensland University, Noosa, Qld., 23 November.
Bimblebox Art Project:
2012–2024
Bimblebox Art Project initiated, developer, coordinator and Bimblebox Artist Camps coordinator. (Includes developing and coordinating annual artist camps at the Bimblebox Nature Refuge.
2013–present
Bimblebox 153 Birds, curator and coordinator, touring manager.
2012–2017
Bimblebox: art – science – nature, national touring exhibition; initiator, project developer and worked with a team to develop my idea into a national touring exhibition.
Texts and Media
Andrew Nicholson & Jill Sampson, Environmental arts vital contribution to protect nature and climate stability, Queensland Women’s Environmental Champions, Podcast interview, 27 November 2023, HOPE Australia Inc.
Jill Sampson, Queensland Women: Inspiring stories from Environmental Champions, 2023, Hope Australia Inc.,
Georgie Cyrillo, ‘It’s our job to take risks’: Artists reflect on the climate crisis October 27 2021, NAVA
Jill Sampson, “Bimblebox 153 Birds – flying under the radar”, chapter 14, Using the visual and performing arts to encourage pro-environmental behaviour, ed. David Curtis, Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020.
Erin Semmler, Bimblebox 153 Birds takes aim at Coalmining, ABC Capricornia, 14.3.19
Carol Schwarzman, Tree Place: A Multicultural Collaboration, Polycentrica: notes on culture and collaboration, 13 February, 2019.
Jody McDonald, For the love of Birds, Overland digital journal, 2 September, 2016.
Anne Harris, Is Craft a Dirty Word in Today’s Contemporary Art Scene, Textile Fibre Forum Magazine #123, September, 2016.
Jill Stowell, ART: come to your senses, Newcastle Herald, 13 May, 2016.
Jack Wilkie-Jans, What’s on in Queensland? Bimblebox: art – science – nature, Art & Artists, 20, November, 2016.
Jill Sampson “About Bimblebox Art Project” Bimblebox: art – science – nature, Redland Art Gallery, 2014 ‘Exhibition Catalogue’.
Sampson, Jill. Bimblebox: art – science – nature, Tangible Media, 2014 ‘Digital exhibition catalogue’ (supplied writing, photos and digital videos, coordinated writers and it includes my artwork).
Art captures essence of Bimblebox, Southburnett.com, 24 March, 2014
Sampson J, Bimblebox Art Project, Imprint, Winter 2013, Volume 48, Number 2
Nick Galvan, Alison Clouston’s monstrous artwork against Clive Palmer’s coalmine, SMH, 31 March, 2014
Jill shares tales from Bimblebox Art Project, SouthBurnett.com.au, 17 March, 2014.
Beth Jackson, Bimblebox: Artistic Witness at the Frontline of Queensland’s Galilee Basin, Artlink vol. 33/4, 2013
Brett Dionysious, Bimblebox 153 Birds, Sotto – Australian Poetry, December 2013 (online article, no longer available)
Andrew Beard, Capturing something precious, CQ News, 13 September 2013
K. Calderwood, Bimblebox ‘Such a timeless place’, The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, 29 September, 2013
Simon Green, Artists Capture Bimblebox Beauty, CQ News, 21 September, 2012
Simon Green, Bimblebox fight takes to canvas, CQ News, 5 September, 2012
Alice Roberts and Paul Robinson, Capturing Bimblebox, 3 September, 2012 (ABC radio interview and digital article)
Profiles, The Isolation Edition, Artworkers Alliance Newsletter, 2006
Professional Membership:
2012 – current NAVA, National Association of Visual Artists, Professional Membership
2025 – Australian Walking Artists
1996 – 2011 Artworkers Alliance Qld.
Jill Sampson 