Artist Statement
I am a visual artist with a Diploma in Creativity working primarily in photography, alongside a regular painting and drawing practice. I find a sense of peace in te taiao – the natural world – and my work explores the beauty, wonder, and interconnectedness of nature.
I channel my own sense of wonder to create images of nature that inspire and transform our view of the everyday, capturing what is often overlooked. I enjoy experimenting with creative techniques including Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), and alternative printing processes like cyanotypes and anthotypes.
My work has been exhibited widely, including South Canterbury Museum (2026), Hope and Sons Art Awards (2026), White Box Gallery (2026), Dunedin Airport (2025), Auckland Festival of Photography (2024), and Tūhura Otago Museum (2020). I am represented through Stardust Gallery.
Current projects include a collection of paintings celebrating the joy of gardens – and the wildlife who visit – to be exhibited in a solo show at Colour + Light Gallery in October 2026. I will also be developing my floral still life photography series Wilted through an artist residency at Photosynthesis, Ōtautahi/Christchurch, in 2027.
EDUCATION & HONOURS
2026
Diploma in Art & Creativity (Level 5), The Learning Connexion, Wellington
2025
Honours – Licentiate, Photographic Society of New Zealand
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
“Garden Views”, Colour + Light Gallery, Balclutha (forthcoming)
“In Our Backyard”, South Canterbury Museum, Timaru
“I found it in the forest”, White Box Gallery, Dunedin
2025
“A View From The Dwindle River”, Dunedin International Airport, Dunedin
“Pīwakawaka Blues”, Waikouaiti Coast Heritage Centre, Dunedin
2023
“Wings”, Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Dunedin
SELECTED GROUP & JURIED EXHIBITIONS
2026
“DPAG Society Exhibition”, Dunedin Community Gallery, Dunedin (forthcoming)
“Suitcase Stories”, Chapter1, Christchurch
“Little Lives” – with Joanne Craig, Dunedin Community Gallery, Dunedin
“Photo”, Bertha Art Space, Port Chalmers–Dunedin
Hope and Sons Art Awards, Otago Art Society/Railway Gallery, Dunedin (Finalist)
“Bugs and Stuff”, Chatham Islands Museum, Chatham Islands
“Open”, Photosynthesis, Christchurch
“Shared Matter”, LAB Gallery, Taita-Wellington
“The Annual”, Art Attic Gallery, Invercargill
“Location & Identity”, Waikouaiti Coast Heritage Centre, Dunedin (co-ordinator)
2025
“Pond Gallery Fundraiser Show”, Pond Gallery, Dunedin
“Creating A Voice”, LAB Gallery, Wellington
“Windows Into Nature”, Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Dunedin
“Artshop”, Dunedin Community Gallery, Dunedin
Matariki Flag Collaboration Project, The Learning Connexion, Wellington
“Puketapu Pop-Up”, Puketapu Radio/Waihemo Museum, Palmerston (Awarded – Second Place)
“No Place Like Home”, Community Art Hub, Palmerston (co-ordinator)
2024
“Magical Pollinators”, Auckland Festival of Photography, Kinder House, Auckland
“Spring Exhibition”, Otago Art Society Gallery, Dunedin (Awarded – Special Mention for Second)
“Circus of Colour”, Dunedin Fringe Festival, Dunedin
“Puketapu Radio Pop-Up”, Puketapu Radio/Waihemo Museum, Palmerston (co-ordinator)
2023
“Dunedin Festival of Photography”, Dunedin Community Gallery, Dunedin
“Photographic Society of NZ National Exhibition”, Lower Hutt Events Centre, Wellington (Finalist)
“Palmerston and Waihemo A&P Show”, Palmerston (Awarded – Art & Photography Division Winner)
2022
“Empty Vessels” duo exhibition, Pūmanawa Gallery-The Arts Centre, Christchurch
2020
“Otago Museum Photography Awards”, Tūhura Otago Museum, Dunedin (Finalist)
2018
“Books As Art”, Regent Theatre, Dunedin (Awarded – Highly Commended)
GRANTS & RESIDENCIES
2027
Artist in Residence, Photosynthesis, Christchurch
2026
Creative Communities Scheme – Raranga & Photography Workshop, Creative New Zealand/Waitaki Council
2025
Creative Communities Scheme – Photography Workshops & Exhibition, Creative New Zealand/Waitaki Council
2024
Creative Communities Scheme – Community Workshops & Postcard Exhibition, Creative New Zealand/Waitaki Council
Creative Pathways Scholarship, The Learning Connexion, Wellington
RECENT SELECTED TEACHING & TALKS
2026
Portrait Photography workshop series, East Otago High School, Palmerston
Artist talk, “Art & the garden”, Waikouaiti Garden Club, Dunedin
Artist talk, Waikouaiti Coast Heritage Centre, Dunedin
Still Life Photography workshop series, East Otago High School, Palmerston
2025
Cyanotype demonstration and talk, Waikouaiti Library, Dunedin
Still Life Photography workshop series, East Otago High School, Palmerston
Artist Talk, “From My Backyard”, Dunedin Photographic Society, Dunedin
RECENT SELECTED PRESS
2026
Jules Chin, “Connection, belonging at core of exhibition”, Ōamaru Mail, 14 August, p.18
https://www.odt.co.nz/otago/north-otago/connection-belonging-at-core-of-exhibition-from-east-otago-artists-qgvjrhd5
Brenda Harwood, “Exhibition explores beauty of ‘Little Lives’”, The Star, 6 August, p.8
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/the-star/local-exhibition-explores-the-beauty-of-little-lives-af6axx71
Jasmine Robins, “Zenobia’s Creative Journey Through TLC’s Distance Learning”, The Learning Connexion, 17 June
https://www.tlc.ac.nz/finding-wonder-through-art-tlc-distance-student-zenobias-creative-journey/
Connor Haley, “Exhibition captures ‘magic of nature’”, The Courier, p10
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-canterbury/exhibition-captures-%E2%80%98magic-nature%E2%80%99
Rachael Comer, “Fine art photography exhibition last for South Canterbury Museum before big move”, Timaru Herald, p1-2, 21 April
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360989111/fine-art-photography-exhibition-last-south-canterbury-museum-big-move
“Capturing the natural world’s beauty”,The Star, 26 March
https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/capturing-natural-world%E2%80%99s-beauty
Jules Chin, “Students create masks inspired by Māori kirituhi”,Ōamaru Mail, 20 March
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/students-create-masks-inspired-m%C4%81ori-kirituhi
“I found it in the forest”, Toi Oho, Dunedin City Council, Issue 25
https://hail.to/ara-toi/publication/6NEOA5a/article/rJgBXm8
2025
Jules Chin, “Artists keen to repeat group exhibition”, Otago Daily Times, 22 November, p.20
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/artists-keen-to-repeat-group-exhibition-w95409v6
Brenda Harwood, “Local artists join forces for ‘interesting’ show, The Star, 11 December
https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/local-artists-join-forces-‘interesting’-show
Jules Chin, “Artist providing taste of East Otago”, Ōamaru Mail, 31 October
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/artist-providing-taste-east-otago
Jules Chin, “Bird works take flight at new gallery”, Ōamaru Mail
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/bird-works-take-flight-new-gallery