ARTIST BIO

Situated on Kaurna Land in Adelaide, Oriana pioneers a visual language deeply rooted in Afrofuturism, leveraging imagination as a technology to embrace empowering diasporic narratives within a past/future/now. Blending bold visuals and performance artistry, she sparks dialogue to collectively reimagine themes surrounding time, identity, and culture within the Anthropocene. This dynamic exploration is enriched by Oriana's African American and Italian ethnicity, creating a unique fusion of influences against the backdrop of Kaurna Land. Within this futuristic narrative, Oriana finds liberation within her body as a powerful force, extending beyond Eurocentric conditions and limitations of the physical body in space.

ARTIST CV

Education

2022

Bachelor of Visual Art, Adelaide Central School of Art

Exhibitions

2022

Graduate Exhibition, Adelaide Central School of Art

Tombola, Adelaide Central School of Art

One, The Mill

2021

Home, Kerry Packer Civic Gallery

NEST: a place called home, NEXUS Arts Gallery

Prospect Portrait Prize, Newmarch Gallery

Student Exhibition, Adelaide Central School of Art

2020

Small Works Exhibition, NEXUS Arts

I AM because we are: illustrations of existence, NEXUS Arts Gallery

SANAA Festival Mural, Sparkke at the Whitmore

2019

40x40 Small Works Show, Brunswick Street, Gallery

Summer Painting Show, Fontanelle

Wonderwalls, Port Adelaide

2018

Singing a Life of Freedom, Folklore Studio

Bouquet, Gallery Yampu

Performance and Writing

2024

Metamorphic Realms, Post Office Projects Gallery

2022

Respire, Respire, Centre of the Centre, Mel

O'Callaghan, Samstag Museum of Art

Soul Lounge Anthology

Feature Poet and Guest Speaker, Soul Lounge

2022

One Artist Talk, The Mill

2021

Feature poet, Slam Poetry Australia

NEST a place called home, NEXUS Arts

SANAA Storytelling, Bob Hawke Foundation Center

2018

Storytelling through collage, Fontanelle Gallery

Grants and Achievements

2023

Creative Industries Grant, City of Port Adelaide

Enfield

Kick Start Grant, Adelaide Central School of Art

2021

Finalist, Don Dunstan Foundation Award

Finalist, Prospect Portrait Prize

2018

Finalist, Fleurier Poetry Award

Residencies and Studios

2024

The Mill’s Visual Arts Studio Residency

Post Office Project Studio Recipient

2022

Project Studio Residency, Post Office Projects

2021

Nexus Studio Residency, NEXUS ARTS

2018

Fontanelle Studio Residency, Fontanelle Gallery

Mentorships

2021

Dr Faye Blanche, Unbound Collective, and

Senior Lecturer, Collage of Humanities Art and

Social Sciences, Flinders University

Arts Industry Experience

2023

Director, SOLSPACE Studio

2022

Internship, Nexus Arts Gallery