About

Scenic Rim QLD, based artist Niomi Sands delves into the collections of objects we surround ourselves with in her artwork. Found objects serve as a reference point for Sands' art practice, evoking associations related to memory and experience. The ephemeral qualities of the materials she uses re-contextualize everyday objects, prompting reflection. By repeating and scaling these objects up or down, Sands draws attention to often overlooked domestic items.

Sands meticulously recreates these collections of objects with thread. The hand-sewn lines become ghostly outlines, and the cross-stitched motifs transform into abstract studies of objects. Thread and sewing techniques are integral to our daily lives—they hold together the fabric we wear. Sewing is omnipresent in our homes and workspaces, straddling the line between recreational and domestic activity, and is traditionally a feminine pursuit.

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

Sands is currently the Creative Industries Program Leader at Logan City Council. Prior to this, she served as the Gallery Director at Grafton Regional Gallery for five years. Before that, she was the Gallery Curator at the Glasshouse Arts Centre for a decade, where she played an active role in its opening. Sands has also held various positions in regional galleries across New South Wales and served as a registrar at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA).

Sands' art practice focuses on installation-based work. She has exhibited in both solo and group shows nationally since 2000, and her work is represented in collections across NSW.

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