About Rochelle Summerfield
My art practice is inspired by time spent along rivers and in bushland. These are places of vitality, memory and change carrying both ecological and cultural significance. I work with graphite, paints and natural materials. Large-scale works on paper are bathed in the river to embed river sediment, minerals and accidental clay imprints to explore the relationship between people and the living systems we depend on.
The works take the form of large-scale layered drawings and ephemeral wall paintings as installations that are grounded in place. They weave together observation, storytelling and environmental awareness. I am interested in how art can act as both witness and participant in ecological change, to foster deeper relationships between people and the living floodplains of Country.
Biography
Rochelle Summerfield is an Australian Contemporary artist based in northern New South Wales. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the country, with her work held in both private and public collections.
Her practice has been supported through artist residencies, commissions and awards, including 2025 Grafton Regional Gallery Travelling Fellowship Award, and the Hopeful Disruptions 2024 RAD x Earth Canvas Artist Residency where Rochelle and her fellow cohort spent 2 weeks on regenerative farms x 2 weeks in studio at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. She has presented workshops and community projects that extend her ecological focus into public engagement.
Rochelle completed her Master of Visual Arts at Southern Cross University, where she received a Cultural Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts in the Community and a First Class Honours Degree. Her career continues to expand through exhibitions, acquisitions, artist residencies and collaborations with artists, curators, collectors and communities.
Rochelle is available for artist talks and community workshops in drawing, mixed media, collage and print.
Rochelle’s CV
Solo Exhibitions (Selected)
● 2025 Forgotten Remnants, Nulla Nulla Regional Gallery, South Kempsey NSW
● 2023 On the River’s Edge We Meet, Grafton Regional Gallery, Grafton NSW
● 2020 SLOT Window Gallery, Alexandria, Sydney NSW
● 2019 Crossroads, HomeGround Project, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo
NSW
● 2017 A Wayfarer on the Nepean, Penrith Regional Gallery, Sydney NSW
● 2016 Indicators Show Depth, Grafton Regional Gallery, NSW
● 2014 Subject to Flooding, Brenda May Gallery, Sydney NSW
● 2008 It Was In Her Passing, Tweed River Art Gallery, NSW
Group Exhibitions (Selected)
● 2025 True North: From the Forest Floor, curated by Christine Willcocks, Grafton
Regional Gallery, NSW
● 2024 Imago Project, Esk Studio Gallery, Iluka NSW — with artist group Hopeful
Disruptions (2018–2025)
● 2024 Way Beyond, Australian Walking Artists, Articulate Project Space, Sydney
● 2023–2018 Northern Rivers Contemporary, Project Coordinator, Sydney
Contemporary, Carriageworks, Sydney NSW
● 2022 Confluence, in WATER: presence and absence, Blue Mountains Cultural
Centre, Katoomba NSW
● 2021 Irreverent Matter, co-coordinated with Janet Parker-Smith, Hazelhurst
Regional Gallery, Sydney NSW
● 2020–2018 As Far As the Eye Can See, National touring exhibition, Blue
Mountains Cultural Centre
● 2017 Windmill Trust Retrospective, Murray Art Museum Albury NSW
● 2017 Artstate Festival, Lismore NSW — video projection Warning: Remote Areas
Ahead
Awards
● 2025 Grafton Regional Gallery Travelling Fellowship Award
● 2017 Winner, Moreton Bay Region Art Awards (photo-digital), QLD
● 2016 & 2009 Selected, Print Council of Australia Print Commission
● 2014 Encouragement Award, Windmill Trust Scholarship, NAVA
● 2009 Merit Prize, Picture This 09 (Judge Naomi Cass)
● 2009 Winner, Tony Abernathy Memorial Prize, CPM Biennial Print Award, TRAG
● 2007 Winner, Barbara Carroll Social & Political Prize, CPM National Print Awards
● 2007 Winner, First Prize – Works on Paper, Kempsey Shire
● 2005 Outstanding Achievement in Arts in the Community, SCU Cultural Award
Grants
● 2021 Quick Response Micro Grant, Arts Northern Rivers
● 2021 Art Restart Grant: Hopeful Disruptions – Caring for Berrinba
● 2019 NSW Artists’ Grant, NAVA – Crossroads multimedia video project
● 2016 NSW Artists’ Grant – Undercurrents video animation project
● 2016 QUICKS Grant, ARTLANDS Conference, NSW Ministry for the Arts
● 2010 Janet Holmes à Court Artists’ Grant & Eckersley’s Art Materials Prize
● 2009 Regional Arts Fund Quick Response Grant
Residencies
● 2024 Hopeful Disruptions, RAD Program, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery & Earth
Canvas, Riverina NSW
● 2024 Georges River Artist in Residence, Carss Park, Sydney NSW
● 2019 Hazelhurst Artist in Residence, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Sydney NSW
● 2018 Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence, Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah
NSW
● 2016 Penrith Regional Gallery, Sydney NSW
● 2016 Future Public, Artlands Dubbo, curated by Alex Wisser
● 2013–2019 Supported Studio and Residency, Fremantle Arts Centre, WA
Education
● 2006 Master of Arts by Research, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW
Recipient of SCU Postgraduate Research Scholarship
● 1998 Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), First Class Honours, Southern Cross
University, Lismore NSW
Collections (Selected)
National Library of Australia; State Library of Victoria; RMIT Gallery Melbourne; Charles
Sturt University;
Southern Cross University; University of Ballarat; Print Council of Australia; Kardinia
International College;
Wesley College; Anglican Church Grammar School; Grafton, Tweed, Toowoomba,
Burnie & other Regional Galleries;
Arjo Wiggins/Canson Australia Pty Ltd; Fred Torres Dacou Gallery; Can Serrat Centre
Barcelona; and numerous private collections
