Sally Blake is an Australian visual artist currently based in Brussels. Through her practice she visualises the complex patterning and connections between the human and natural worlds. Sally is particularly interested in cycles of death, renewal and regeneration as well as finding the points where transformations may take place. Her previous careers as a paediatric nurse and midwife deepened her understanding of birth and death cycles. She began weaving wire sculptures after her mother died and she was gifted a small, skeletonised seedpod. It symbolised her loss - it was vulnerable and also resilient, gently holding its seed—the source of potential new life and inspiration. Through her wire sculptures she endeavours to capture this sense of fragility and strength. The works appear delicate, but the wire is strong enough to hold the structure. Sally has held solo exhibitions throughout Australia and has participated in group shows in Australia and internationally. She has been a finalist in many significant art prizes including the Blake Prize, The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize and the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize. She won the Jan Brown drawing prize in 2012. She has been supported in her eucalyptus-dye research and investigations of place with funding grants from The Australia Council and ArtsACT. She was awarded her PhD from ANU School of Art and Design in 2015. Sally’s work is held by the Canberra Museum and Gallery, Australian National University, Australian National Botanical Gardens, the ACT Legislative Assembly, Tamworth Regional Art Gallery and numerous private collections in Australia and overseas.
