ARTIST BIO

“The abundance of things, projects and services that have fallen under my banner over the years have earned the respect to be defined. I’ve learned, that to be a part of any real change or to create any type of impact in this world, it’s increasingly important for me to define why I do what I do. I’ve had to rethink what unifies my independent art practice and advocacy work, exhibitions, retail projects, community projects and much much more. Many things that might not seem traditionally ‘creative’ too. It’s simple. All of the work I do, and want to do, moves toward a common goal and shared vision. The future world. A truly connected creative community.  I see making  and exhibiting jewellery and object as a fundamental part of this. It connects me to both individuals and the community through the handmade.” –  Bridget Kennedy

Bridget Kennedy is an Australian contemporary artist currently living and working in Sydney. With a background in painting and contemporary jewellery, more recent projects have explored participatory installations and the viewer as participant to activate the artwork. Other projects incorporating community activation continue an ongoing enquiry into environmental fragility, materiality, impermanence, choice, value and exchange. 10% of all artist profits are given back to a charity each year.

Bridget’s formative years of early childhood were spent in Fiji and the South Pacific. With cultural ties to the Philippines through her life partner, these influences and exchanges have informed her practice.

Bridget began her art studies in 1983 at City Art Institute, University of NSW (majoring in Painting). Circumstances resulted in a diversion to a corporate career before making the switch in 2003 back to pursuing her art practice full time.  From 2003-2005 she undertook studies in an Advanced Diploma in Jewellery and Object Design at the Design Centre Enmore and was the inaugural recipient of the Jewellery and Object Design Award (a one-year full-time residency). Bridget also holds a Trade Certificate in Jewellery Manufacture and in 2008 co-founded Studio 20/17, a contemporary jewellery gallery and workshop based in Waterloo, Sydney.  For a number of years she was an active committee member of the Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia NSW, holding various roles of treasurer and secretary, and in 2015, exhibitions and events coordinator of the 2015 JMGA conference held at Sydney College of the Arts. Kennedy has participated in numerous exhibitions, both nationally and internationally (Thailand, New Zealand, USA, and Japan) and in 2010 was a resident artist at Bundenon and, more recently at Hill End, NSW. In 2015 she completed a coursework Masters in Studio Art at Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney. In 2017 she setup Bridget Kennedy Project Space (formally Studio 20/17 P/S), located in North Sydney and is a founding member of The Repair Cafe Sydney North, the instigator of The Sydney Edible Garden Trail and The Sydney Library of Things.