With roots in New Zealand, USA, Australia, and Naples, Italy, Kirsten Reed is an award-nominated painter and writer, with a lengthy creative background that includes acting, music, stained glasswork, and a stint as a teenaged portrait artist on the streets of London. Her arts practice is complemented by years of environmental, community, and animal welfare work. She lives in Tuscany, Italy.
Languages spoken: English, basic Italian (working towards fluency), basic German
_____________________________
Con radici in Nuova Zelanda, Stati Uniti, Australia e Napoli, Kirsten Reed è una pittrice e scrittrice pluripremiata, con una lunga esperienza creativa che include recitazione, musica, vetrate artistiche e un'esperienza come ritrattista adolescente per le strade di Londra. La sua pratica artistica è completata da anni di impegno per l'ambiente, la comunità e il benessere degli animali. Vive in Toscana.
Lingue che parlo: inglese, italiano di base (che si sta perfezionando), tedesco di base
Career & Education Highlights
Central Saint Martins School of Art & Design, London, UK
1992: Foundation Certificate in Art & Design
New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study, New York, NY
1995: B.A. in Visual, Performing, and Written Arts, Literature, and Psychology
Zone Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
1995: First solo painting exhibition, featured in the Arts section of the Adelaide Advertiser
Tapas Gallery, Adelaide
1996-1998: Assistant to founding directors Gus Clutterbuck & Westley Tully, Exhibiting Artist in group shows, the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and a solo exhibition in 1997, 'I Still Can't Fly'
State Theatre of South Australia, Theatre Set Workshop, Adelaide
1999: Theatre Set Construction & Painting workshop team member, full time
Actors Centre Australia, Sydney, Australia
2000-2001: Theatre skills, Improv, Performance: a year-long collaborative workshop
Ken Shepherd Management, Sydney
2000-2005: Actor, featured and background, in movies, ads, TV shows
S.H. Ervin Gallery, Salon des Refusés Exhibition, Sydney
2004, Selected artist in the Salon des Refusés exhibition (an off-shoot of the Archibald Prize), guest speaker in Artist Talks public event series
Varuna, The Writers' House, Katoomba, NSW, Australia
2008: Writers' residency, 1 week: one of five debut novelists selected for the storied Blue Mountains program; The Ice Age (see below) was selected for the intensive Pathways to Publication Masterclass residency with Peter Bishop
Lorraine Pilgrim Gallery, Southport, QLD, Australia
2009-2012: Managed by Lorraine Pilgrim, exhibited paintings as a member of her stable of artists
The Ice Age, debut novel
2009: Published in Australia by Text Publishing
2010: Published in the UK in by Picador
Brisbane Writers Festival, Brisbane, QLD
2009: Panelist, 'Coming of Age' session
Commonwealth Writer's Prize, Best First Book
2010: Shortlist, one of five writers
NSW Premier's Literary Awards, UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing for Fiction
2010: Shortlist, one of six writers
Christchurch Writers Festival, Christchurch, New Zealand
2010: Invited guest panelist, 3 sessions/events (The festival coincided with the tragic Christchurch earthquake and was cancelled.)
Newcastle Young Writers Festival, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
2010: Guest author, panelist, and workshop facilitator: 'Authenticity vs Experience: Who Writes The Best Young Adult Fiction?, and 'I Should Have Read That By Now' (Roundtable), Drawing Jam workshop leader, and Staple Manor comics workshop co-led with Chris Downes
Stanthorpe Art Festival, Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, Stanthorpe, QLD, Australia
2010: Selected artist for exhibition
Custom Portrait Artist, Maine, USA
2012-2022: Produced miniature paintings on pressed tin for private clients
Freelance Actor, Maine
2022-2024: Actor, featured and background, for Kendall Cooper Casting, TV show Wild Crime, and various independent movies filmed in Maine
Ghost Town, second novel
2023: Self-published in collaboration with hybrid indie publishing house Maine Authors Publishing