about

is a selection of  writing by Louise Martin-Chew, published over the last thirty years or so. My interests span contemporary art, nature, design, architecture, travel, place, creative non-fiction and memoir.

I have been a freelance writer since 1992, and write regularly for Art Collector, Art Monthly, Art Guide Australia, VAULT  and other publications. I was awarded a PhD in 2019 from the University of Queensland (Creative Writing) for a biography of Fiona Foley which was published as Fiona Foley Provocateur: An Art Life (2021) by QUT Art Museum. It is also available as an e-book here. 

This biography was shortlisted for the Magarey Medal (2022) and joint winner of Best Book in the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand awards (also 2022).

Also in 2019 I undertook a Graduate Digital Research Fellowship at the University of Queensland, and in July was awarded the John Oxley Fellowship with my colleague Matthew Wengert for research toward a visual history of the Queensland Government Printing Office.

I have contributed to books on Fiona Foley (MCA, Sydney and UQAM, Brisbane, 2009), Stephen Hart (Arthouse, 2011) and Robert Brownhall (2012). I co-authored blood language with Judy Watson (Miegunyah Press, 2009). In 2012 I authored a monograph on LINDE IVIMEY, published by UQ Art Museum in conjunction with a survey exhibition of her sculpture, titled If Pain Persists: Linde Ivimey Sculpture 2003-2012). In 2015 I was one of three editors of Courting Blakness: Recalibrating Knowledge in the Sandstone University (published by UQ Press, 2015) with Fiona Foley and Fiona Nicoll. Most recently I authored Margot McKinney: World of Wonder (2022) for Museum of Brisbane.