Tia Ansell | Long Distance: {Suite} Wellington

Tia Ansell's second exhibition at {Suite} Wellington presents an oeuvre of intricately patterned weaving paintings. The art of weaving is by nature algorithmic, involving a set of rules and processes to which the design  is bound. Tia Ansell uses her own coding system beginning with an initial sketch of immediate landscapes that is then codified and translated into the threaded gridation on the loom. The warp and weft either has the repeated code in both directions (warp and weft), or a second coded pattern is applied in the weft to create what Tia calls, a double image. The final step in her process is a flat and simplified geometry or pattern taken from the same location the weavings were based on. 

Influenced by the art movements of Constructivism and Bauhaus, her practice is interested in the geometries of mass production. As such, Ansell investigates the history of formalism and object-hood as it connects through visual art, architectural and design discourses. The title of the show, Long Distance, references Tia's chosen landscapes for her works: locations from her local suburbs in Melbourne and various locations around New Zealand from her last visit in the summer of 2020, pre-covid, in Takaka, Abel Tasman region and Auckland.

Tia Ansell is a New Zealand born and Melbourne based artist. Tia has a BFA with Honours at the Victorian College of the Arts (2018). Tia has held solo exhibitions at Lon Gallery, Melbourne; {Suite} Gallery, Wellington and Auckland;  Bus Projects, Melbourne; Station Gallery, Melbourne; Caves Gallery, Melbourne; and group exhibitions with Station Gallery, Melbourne: Connors Connors, Melbourne; Weasel Gallery, Hamilton, NZ; Block Projects, Melbourne; Stockroom Kyneton; Home@735, Sydney; Lon Gallery, Melbourne; and Hugo Michell Gallery, Adelaide. Tia has exhibited at the Auckland Art Fair with {Suite} Gallery 2020, Quarantine Art Fair with Lon Gallery 2020,  Spring Art Fair 2019 in Sydney with {Suite} gallery and 2018 in Melbourne with Caves Gallery. While at VCA  she was the recipient of the Majlis Travelling Scholarship, the Valerie Albiston Scholarship, the John Vickery Scholarship, the National Gallery of Victoria Women's Association Award and the National Gallery of Victoria Prize.Tia was the recipient of the McFarlane Fund residency in 2019, Melbourne City Council Grant 2020 and is currently a Conners Conners studio artist, supported by the Yarra City Council.