Sydney Contemporary 2023: Tamara Dean

At Sydney Contemporary 2022, Tamara Dean awed audiences with her Palace of Dreams presentation, a milestone series of photographs composed with the use of an underwater photographic studio. This body of work was directed with acute precision, affirming Dean’s reputation as one of the world’s most respected photographic innovators. For this year’s Sydney Contemporary art fair, Dean further explores this technique by exhibiting new work of figures suspended in space and time.

Tamara Dean’s participation at Sydney Contemporary 2023 follows 12 months of rigorous studio practice, a major museum exhibition and cross-discipline collaboration. The Suspended Moment, Dean’s exhibition that is on view at Michael Reid Sydney until 31 August, saw the artist develop the magic concept of ‘kinetic’ still life compositions. This exhibition also debuted the artist’s delicately designed fragrance, produced in collaboration with Ainslie Walker. Tamara Dean’s major monograph was published by Thames & Hudson in late 2022, coinciding with Leave Only Footprints, Dean’s mid career survey exhibition at MAPh: Museum of Australian Photography, Melbourne. Tamara Dean is also a current finalist in the 2023 Bowness Photography Prize.

For a preview of Tamara Dean’s new work, please email tobymeagher@michaelreid.com.au