About
HELLO
Ilona Nelson grew up on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people and is now based in the western suburbs of Naarm. She is the curator of Parallel Projects and Co-Director of The Art Room.
With over 25 years of practice, Ilona has exhibited widely, been selected for numerous art prizes, and featured in a range of publications. Her work is held in the collection of Bendigo Art Gallery, as well as in private collections.
Ilona’s practice centres on honesty and truth, and the search for these qualities within the paradoxes of lived life. Working primarily across performance, photography, and film, her practice extends into installation and textiles. At its core is an ongoing effort to understand and process personal experience, shaped by a persistent tension of place and belonging.
THIS WILD SONG
Alongside her practice, Ilona is the creator and curator of This Wild Song (TWS), an ongoing series of conceptual photographic portraits celebrating Australian female visual artists. The project encompasses portraiture, interviews, exhibitions, and public events, highlighting the depth and diversity of contemporary Australian women artists.
www.thiswildsong.com.au
THE ART ROOM
Erika Gofton and Ilona are the Co-Directors of The Art Room. Ilona is also the curator of Parallel Projects gallery within The Art Room, which she sees as an extension of This Wild Song.
The Art Room is an independent art school in Footscray, Naarm. We are a welcoming community of artists and educators here to support your creative journey with care, encouragement, and expert guidance.
