Courtney Coombs makes art, writes, facilitates and collaborates to make sense of the world and their place in it. They are fascinated by the potential for, and power of, connection and disconnection and explore this by re-imagining every-day and seemingly banal moments of encounter. Employing a queer methodology, their work adopts an array of materials and approaches, presenting subjective, vulnerable, and earnest moments, often by way of metaphor, to prompt different ways of seeing, understanding and being. Suspicious of the spectacle, Courtney offers gestural propositions with the hope of disrupting dominant narratives about value, prompting instead, moments of reflection, connection, and a celebration of difference.
Coombs has exhibited throughout Australia as well as internationally in solo and group exhibitions. Recent solo exhibitions include: Diamonds in the sky, Schmick Contemporary, Sydney (with Jordan Azcune) (2021), I can't sleep when I'm anxious, thinking through the blue hour, CARPARK Milani Gallery, Brisbane (2020), The time of light, Metro Arts, Brisbane (2020); and Field of Vision, IMA Belltower, Brisbane (2019). They have been the recipient of a number of awards including: Australia Council for the Arts Resilience: Adapt Grant (2020), Australia Council for the Arts Development Grant (2018, 2017, 2016), Arts Queensland Queensland Arts Showcase Program Grant (2016), Australia Council for the Arts Arts Projects Grant (2016), Arts Queensland Individuals Fund Grant (2020, 2015), Australia Council for the Arts Early Career New Work Grant (2013). Courtney has attended national and international residency programs and was recently awarded the Australia Council for the Arts Helsinki International Artist Programme residency (2020). Their work is held in public and private collections.
