Jess Curran (b. 2001) is an emerging multi-disciplinary artist living and working on Bidjigal land in Greater Western Sydney. Her practice is interested in gender, health, and the refusal of shame, working across textiles, painting, drawing, sculpture and installation. Her work centres on crafting care for the self, largely through hand-made, labour intensive processes. 

Jess was selected as the New Futures Artist for The Other Art Fair in 2024, has been a finalist in various art prizes such as the Jenny Birt Painting Prize, (2025) and Tim Olsen Drawing Prize (2024), and been participating in group shows since 2023. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) at UNSW in 2025 and has been selected for the Artist in Residence for Barrett House Studios in 2026.

Education

2025 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), UNSW Art and Design 

2022 - 2024  Bachelor of Fine Arts, UNSW Art and Design

Grants and Awards

2026 endoMEtriosis Art Competition, finalist

2025 Kudos Emerging Artist Awards, finalist

2025 Macquarie Group Emerging Art Prize, semi-finalist

2025 Jenny Birt Painting Prize, finalist

2024 Kudos Emerging Artist Awards, finalist

2024 The Other Art Fair New Futures recipient 

2024 Tim Olsen Drawing Prize, finalist

2024 Jenny Birt Painting Prize, finalist

2024 Dean's List Award, UNSW Art and Design

2023 Be Well Youth Art Prize, 1st Prize Winner, 16-24 yrs 

Group Exhibitions

2026 Inaugural Winter Salon, Gallery Lane Cove, NSW 

2026 EndoMEtriosis Art Competition, CBD Gallery, NSW

2025 A&D Annual, UNSW Galleries, Paddington, NSW

2025 Materialise, Galley76, Concord West, NSW

2025 Kudos Emerging Art Awards, Joynton Creative Avenue, NSW

2025 Palimpsests, Goodspace Gallery, Chippendale, NSW 

2025 Honours Open Studios, UNSW Art and Design, Paddington, NSW

2025 Fresh & Found, Scratch Art Space, Marrickville, NSW

2025 Jenny Birt Painting Prize, UNSW Art & Design,  AD Space, NSW

2025 The Flesh, Goodspace Gallery, Chippendale, NSW

2025 Fabricating X, AD Space, Paddington, NSW

2024 A&D Annual, UNSW Galleries, Paddington, NSW

2024 Human Beings, and Things in Between, Local Edition Gallery, Glebe

2024 Mixed Business 5, Pari, Parramatta, NSW

2024 Kudos Emerging Art Awards, Gaffa Gallery, NSW

2024 The Other Art Fair, White Bay Cruise Terminal, NSW

2024 Tim Olsen Drawing Prize, UNSW Art and Design, Paddington, NSW

2024 Feast on the Rich, Art House Parties, Stanmore, NSW

2024 Jenny Birt Painting Prize, UNSW Art & Design,  AD Space, NSW

2024 BFA Open Studios, UNSW Art and Design, Paddington, NSW

2024 ART BY WOMEN, Botany Town Hall, Bayside Council, NSW

Residencies and Programs

2026 Artist in Residence, Barrett House Studios, Randwick (forthcoming)

2026 Ancher Points Emerging Artist Program, Penrith Regional Gallery 

2026 Rat Lab Residency Program, Riff Raff ARI, Penrith

Publications

2026 Play Issue 2, Carrier Pigeon Journal

2025 Riff Rag Issue 2, Riff Raff ARI

2025 Devour Issue 1, Smeer Mag