‘My name is Tyler Grace, and I am a 25 years old conceptual photographic artist from Albury/Wodonga.
As a photographic artist, I have always endeavored to create unconventional and layered images that my audience will connect to on an emotional level.
Through darkness, I aim to tell my story, and the stories of those around me. My artwork is always created with a particular story in mind, however, my images are ambiguous, and can often symbolize many different things to those who view them.
My aesthetic style involves using muted, almost grey tones, and I often obscure the faces of my subjects. I obscure the face to both add mystery and to focus on creating emotion by using the rest of the body.
The visuals in my images can often be intense and disturbing to the viewer, but I find that this creates conversation, which is one of my main goals with my art.
My art is ever-evolving, and I aim to forever evolve alongside it.’
– Tyler Grace
What medium(s) do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I work in digital photography.
I fell in love with photography in 2011, when my mother and I were at a wedding, and all of a sudden 3 people unexpectedly handed me their phones for me to take photos of the wedding with.
It was on that day that the photography spark was lit, which eventually turned into a burning passion, and is now also my career!
I would love to get into film photography at some stage, and maybe make a series out of mixing both digital and film photography together!
Who or what are the biggest influences to your work?
The two biggest influencers to my work are Benjamin Von Wong and Brooke Shaden.
Ben was the first photographer that I found whose work really struck a chord with my creative side. His work inspired me to get out of bed, and push through my illnesses to not only create photographic imagery, but to live life to the fullest.
Brooke is the main inspiration behind the dark elements of my work. Some of my work is very painterly, and that is inspired by her as well.
The work of both of Ben and Brooke is incredible, and they are also both amazing humans, who do a lot for those in need and raise awareness for different causes, which I really admire!
How does where you grew up, or where you live now affect your art?
As I live in Albury/Wodonga, I am surrounded by open fields, rivers and forests. I love to use the landscape to add extra impact and interest into my images.
Who would your dream collaboration be with, and why?
My dream collaboration would be with Brooke Shaden.
Brooke is one of my two favourite photographic artists, and was the original inspiration behind the darker elements of my work, and I think that we could create some really thought provoking and impactful imagery together.
If you could go on an Artist’s Residency anywhere in the world, where would that be and why?
I would love to go on an Artists Residency in Iceland. The beautiful and intense scenery there would be a perfect match for my style of work.
I aim to go there one day, with or without a residency to create a specific series that I have in mind.
What’s next for you after your time at Brunswick Street Gallery? What upcoming projects are you working on?
Later on in the year, once my health allows me to, I will finally be creating a series of images that will tell stories of domestic and sexual violence, to ignite conversation and hopefully lead to more action to help those who have been victims, and to hopefully aid in the prevention of these horrible acts.
I will also continue to exhibit my work worldwide, and I aim to debut The Chronic Diaries exhibition as a whole outside of Australia.
The Chronic Diaries by Tyler Grace will be exhibited at Brunswick Street Gallery from 5 – 18 June.