About
Professor David Cross is Professor of Visual Arts at Deakin University within the Faculty of Arts and Education/School of Communication and Creative Arts. Based at Melbourne Burwood Campus, he maintains an active studio practice alongside his academic responsibilities, with his professional website providing further insight into his artistic work.
David Cross's research interests focus on visual arts, particularly public art, performance, installation, video, curation, and theories of subjectivity. His practice extends across multiple media including inflatable structures to negotiate interpersonal exchange, examining themes of risk, pleasure, and participation. He has performed internationally at live art festivals in Poland and Croatia and represented New Zealand at the 2011 Prague Quadrennial.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on public art practice, curatorial methods, and contemporary art theory. The articles reveal consistent engagement with site-specific interventions in public spaces, environmental contexts, and community engagement. Cross frequently explores the relationship between art and infrastructure, particularly in water treatment facilities and coastal environments. His work shows a commitment to collaborative practices and international contexts, with projects spanning Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia.
Cross co-founded the Public Art Commission (PAC) research initiative at Deakin University in 2017 with Cameron Bishop, which has developed numerous significant projects including Treatment series (2015-2023), Venetian Blind (2019), Six Moments in Kingston (2019), and Front Beach Back Beach (2022). He currently serves as Research Leader of the Public Exchange Bureau at Deakin.
Cross has extensive supervision experience with 8 current doctoral candidates and 1 current masters student, plus 15 completed doctoral candidates. His grant history shows consistent funding for public art projects from various councils and organizations including Wyndham City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, and Creative Victoria.
As an active member of the academic community, Cross serves as Treasurer for the Deans of Design and Creative Arts, Australia, and as a Board Member for NETS (National Exhibition Touring Scheme), Victoria. His professional practice bridges academic research, artistic creation, and community engagement through numerous public art commissions and curatorial projects.
