About

Northern Rivers NSW, based artist Niomi Sands explores the often overlooked collections of lost property in the exhibition, where the lost things go. Over the past three and a half years, Sands has been trawling through lost property collections, uncovering somewhat quirky gems that represent our everyday lives.

Sands meticulously recreates these collections in thread. The hand sewn line becomes a ghostly outline and the cross-stitched motif transforms into an abstract study of the lost objects. The use of thread and the technique of sewing is an ever-present part of our everyday lives: it holds together the fabric that we clothe ourselves in. Sewing is present in our home and work lives - it is almost everywhere. Sewing can be recreational or domestic and it is traditionally a feminine pursuit.

Niomi Sands graduated from The University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours (Class One) in 2000 and completed a Masters of Museum Studies at The University of Sydney in 2007 and in 2013 completed a Graduate Diploma of Arts and Cultural Management, at the University of South Australia. Sands’ was awarded a Doctor of Visual Art program at Griffith University in 2021.

Sands’ currently works at the Creative Industries Program Leader at Logan City Council. Prior to this Sands’ worked Grafton Regional Gallery as Gallery Director for 5 years and at the Glasshouse Arts Centre as the Gallery curator for ten years played an active role in the opening of the Glasshouse and in a number of regional galleries in various roles in NSW and at the MCA as a registrar. Sands’ art practice is installation based and she has exhibited in solo and group shows nationally over the past eighteen years.

Image: Niomi Sands, where the lost things go I, 2019, cotton, Arches paper, entomology pins, table, stool and sewing equipment (performance detail, Grey Street Gallery QCA) Courtesy of the artist. Photographer Andrew Willis