IΩANNA is a Greek–Australian artist exploring the boundaries of traditional sculpture. Her practice moves between botanical and mechanical forms, dissecting themes of transformation, identity, and the collision of nature with technology. Through a fusion of traditional technique and conceptual inquiry, she reimagines her Greek heritage into vivid, contemporary mythologies.
Her work has been recognised through various accolades, including at the 2025 XV Florence Biennale, where she received the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award for Sculpture and Installation.
Upcoming projects will take her back to Italy to carve stone in the gardens of Michelangelo’s former studio in Caprese Michelangelo, Tuscany. In November, she will present a new performance work in collaboration with local musicians at Streetopia in Observatory, Cape Town, as part of its programme of street art, performance and music.
Solo Exhibitions
2025 βιοτεχνολογία - Future Archeology | LANDSLIDE ARI | Wentworth Falls, Australia
2023 Artificial Assimilation | Garage Kollectiv | Schaffhausen, Switzerland
2022 Transmutation. Spores. Chasms. Your Anatomy. | Tactile Arts | Darwin, Australia
2019 The Natural, The Eternal | Brunswick Street Gallery | Melbourne, Australia
Awards
2025 Lorenzo il Manifico Award | President’s Commendation for Sculpture and Installation | Florence Biennale | Florence, Italy
2025 Pomelo Award | Darwin Festival | Darwin Fringe Festival | Northern Territory, Australia
2024 People's Choice Award & Third Prize | From Rubble to Resistance | Northern Centre for Contemporary Art | Northern Territory, Australia
2021 Godinymayin Inaugural Jewellery Prize | Godinymayin Arts Centre | Northern Territory, Australia
2018 Tina Wentcher Award | Association of Sculptors Victoria | Melbourne, Australia
2016 Vice Chancellor’s Diversity and Inclusion Award | Monash University, Melbourne , Australia
2014 - 2016 Monash Community Leaders Scholarship | Melbourne , Australia
Residencies
2025 | LANDSLIDE Artist Residency | Wentworth Falls, Australia
2022 Tactile Arts Studio Residency | Northern Territory, Australia
2021 Archeological Governance Grant | Media Enterprise Design Lab | Chicago, United States
2021 Crystal Waters Artist In Residence and Workshop Series | Queensland, Australia
2019 Studio Residency | Vintage Underground | Chicago, USA
2019 La Katia | Impact Project | Tayrona, Columbia
2018 Atelier Studio Residency | Austmarka, Norway
Public Art / Commissions
2026 Reach | Cast Aluminium and Mount Gambier Limestone | Commissioned by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory Foundation | Darwin, Australia
2026 Discovery Creatures | Sculptural Facilitation, Casting and Fabrication | Commissioned by the Larrakia Cultural Centre | Darwin, Australia
Selected Exhibitions / Performances
2025 XV Florence Biennale | The Sublime Essence of Lightness and Darkness | Florence, Italy
2025 The Herd | Atelier Kodama | Balmain Town Hall, Sydney, Australia
2022 Artists Need Not Apply | Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts | Katherine
2022 Soak Tumble Dry | Darwin Community Arts | Darwin
2021 Recycle, Rework, Remake | Northern Centre of Contemporary Art | Darwin
2021 SoundStone | Darwin Fringe Festival | Darwin
2021 Corporate Carving | Rabbits Eat Lettuce | Queensland
2020 Bronze | Art Students League of New York, New York
2020 Art In Isolation | Belle Epoque Contemporary, Sydney
2019 Jersey City Studio and Art Tour | JCAST, Jersey City
2019 My Two Cents | No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne
2018 52 Portraits in 52 Weeks | Meatmarket, Melbourne
2018 Annual Awards Exhibition | Association of Sculptors Victoria, Melbourne
2018 Held in Hand | Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
2018 Open Eye Signal | Fort Delta, Melbourne
2017 Environmental Exhibitions Project | Renewable Energy Society, Cebu
2017 Toorak Village Sculpture Exhibition | Toorak Village Traders Association Inc, Melbourne
2014 MADA Now | Graduate Exhibition, Monash University, Melbourne
Curatorial & Cultural Leadership
2026 Panelist | Art in Uncertain Times: Crisis, Value & Survival | Biji World | Bali, Indonesia
2023 – 2026 General Manager | Darwin Visual Arts Association | Darwin, Australia
2026 Ανάμεσα | In-between | Curator | Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia (GOCNA) | Darwin, Australia
2024 - 2026 Decor installation at Berlinale | European Film Market | Berlin, Germany
2024 Digital Dimensions | Curator | The Array | Darwin, Australia
Teaching
2022 - 2025 Community Development Program | The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) | Northern Territory, Australia
2022 Tactile Arts | Sculpting in recycled aluminium | Darwin, Australia
2021 Darwin Community Arts | Lost-wax casting with aluminium | Darwin, Australia
2021 Crystal Waters | Lost-wax casting with aluminium | Queensland, Australia
2019 La Katia | Sculpting in recycled aluminium | Tayrona, Columbia
Education
2020 Course: Welding and Fabrication | The Art Students League of New York, New York, USA
2019 Course: Sculpting in Wax | The Art Students League of New York, New York, USA
2013 Unit: Classical Sculpture and Drawing | Monash University Campus, Prato, Italy
2012 - 2016 Bachelor of Visual Art and Bachelor of Business | Monash University, Melbourne, Australia | Graduating class of 2016
An overview of Ioanna’s workshops in the ancient craft of lost-wax casting. In this workshop, we used a home built foundry and melted recycled aluminium for our sculpture material. This workshop was filmed at Darwin Community Arts and features works in progress from local artists.