John Vella

John Vella is a Senior Lecturer & Program Director of Art at the School of Creative Arts and Media, University of Tasmania. He holds an MFA from the Tasmanian College of the Arts (2000), a BFA (Hons) (1996), and a DipFA (1993). Currently completing a PhD titled 'Making the Doing of a PhD: bureaucratic compliance as mystical participation.'

Research Interests: Sculpture, public art, socially engaged practice, abstraction, and site-specific installations. His work explores frangibility, permanence, and the intersection of art with community and systems. Recent projects include collaborations with MONA, Dark Mofo, and interdisciplinary initiatives like the Midlands Restoration Project.

Awards & Grants: Five major public art commissions, grants from Australia Council and Arts Tasmania, and recognition in national and international exhibitions. Works are featured in collections like ArtBank and Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Teaching & Administration: BFA Course Coordinator, Honours Convenor, and contributor to the Creative Lab curriculum. Over 30 years of teaching, focusing on collaborative, interdisciplinary practices.

Service & Engagement: Board member of Contemporary Art Services Tasmania (CAT), curator for Dark Mofo, and committee roles in research groups like Midlands Art/Science and Heavy Metals. Led community projects like Triabunna Vertical Gardens.