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Academic

2014 Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle
2012 TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Hunter TAFE
2008 Bachelor of Fine Art, University of Newcastle
2000 Diploma in Graphic Design, Design Centre, Hunter Institute of Technology
1998 Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts, Hunter Street Campus, Hunter Institute of Technology
1996 Diploma in Fine Arts, National Art School, Sydney Institute of Technology

Professional

2025 – current Arts Administrator, University Galleries, University of Newcastle

2021 – 2025 Lecturer in Indigenous Studies, The Wollotuka Institute, University of Newcastle

2014 – 2021 Lecturer in Visual Communication Design, University of Newcastle
2010 – 2013 Design Teacher, Faculty of Creative Industries, Hunter TAFE
2009 – 2013 Sessional Tutor & Lecturer, School of Creative Arts, University of Newcastle
2008 – 2013 Co-Curator, Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle
2009 – 2012 Assistant Curator & Designer, The University Gallery, University of Newcastle
2009 – 2010 Director, Newcastle Art Space 
2009 Assistant, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
2008 Assistant Director, Newcastle Art Space
2007 Committee Member, Newcastle Art Space

2004 – 2009 Senior Designer, Curzon Creative Services

2001 – 2004 Designer, Creative Print Services

Research Interests

Solo Exhibitions

2014    Lost in Translation, The University Gallery, Newcastle
2013    Graphicality, Greenway Gallery, Morpeth
2012    Marked Difference, Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle
2011    Coast Lines, Cooks Hill Galleries, Newcastle
            Suspended Void, Bacchus Restaurant, Newcastle
2010   Re@D, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
           To The Cave: A Pilgrimage, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
2009    Testing (Sub)Stance, Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle
            Unedition: Hello Blackbird, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
2008    Mote(if), Newcastle University Gallery, Newcastle
            Reading Leaves, Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle
2007    Domestic Mythology, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
            Chinese Whispers, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle

Selected Group and Collaborative Exhibitions since 2000

2025

(upcoming) Homeplace, with Alison Smith and Ahn Wells, The Creator Incubator, Hamilton North, NSW

40+ An exhibition celebrating 40+ years of NAS, Newcastle Art Space, Islington, NSW

2024

Marine Invaders: Saltwater Country, with Elizabeth Copeland, Hannah Pipe, Ang McGaughran,

David Parsons, René Campbell, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, Foyer Galleries, Waikato, Aotearoa, NZ, and Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle, NSW

Laterality, with Alison Smith and Ahn Wells, Straitjacket Art Space, Broadmeadow, NSW

2023 Powerhouse Late: Climate, with Pip Collin, Michelle Catanzaro, Zoë Sadokierski, Brianna Barwise, Dinusha Soo, Powerhouse Museum (Ultimo), NSW

2021

Between the Sheets: Artists’ Books 2021 | with Alison Smith and Ahn Wells | Gallery East in conjunction with Gallery Central | Perth | WA

Sign/Nature (Co-Curator with Carl Morgan) | Watt Space Gallery | Newcastle

2020

We the Makers Designer Showcase | with High Tea With Mrs. Woo, Faye Neilson, Bernadette Drabsch, Brett McMahon and Giselle Penn | National Wool Museum | Geelong | VIC

Melomania | with Matt Sage | Watt Space Gallery | Newcastle

Dreaming in Black and White | with Vera Zulumovski, Patricia Wilson-Adams, Kerri Smith | Gallery 139 | Online

Seven Eyes to Weave | with Yvette Sullivan | Puente Siete Ojos Eucalyptus Forest | Orgiva | Spain

2019

Making It Known – A Visual Communication Design Research Exhibition | Curve Gallery | Newcastle

Cooks Hill Galleries 40th Birthday Exhibition | Cooks Hill Galleries | Newcastle

Art City | 25th Anniversary Exhibition | Watt Space Gallery | Newcastle

Awards, Grants & Residencies since 2000

2023 Academic Division Award for Collaboration Excellence (The Wollotuka Institute X The Institute for Regional Futures)

The University of Newcastle - Academic Division

2022 Lighthouse Artists in Residency Program (Wollotuka Research Team)

Hunter Writers Centre

2020 We The Makers: Design for the Future Showcase (Joint Team Winner)

National Wool Museum

2020

Drawing Education Network | Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle

2019

Low Waste, Slow Fashion Future – Six Seasons Collection, a collaboration between High Tea With Mrs Woo (a small-run clothing label by Rowena, Juliana & Angela Foong) and team of creative researchers from The University of Newcastle (Faye Neilson, Bernadette Drabsch, Giselle Penn, Brett McMahon, and Caelli Jo Brooker) | Supported by the University of Newcastle, School of Creative Industries RAPID program)

2019

'Visible Praxis: investigating teaching and learning outcomes for emergent creative professionals through design exhibition research and practice', as part of 'Work Integrated Learning in the Creative Industries' | Funding body: The University of Newcastle Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education

2019 Academic Division Awards (Highly Commended for Collaboration Excellence)

University of Newcastle, Academic Division - Newcastle

2018

Early Career Researcher (ECR) Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Scholarship | Funding body: The University of Newcastle
2017
Faculty of Education and Arts Conference Travel Grant | Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle
Guest Artist | Print Enrichment Week | Uckfield Community College School | Uckfield | East Sussex | UK

Project Studio Resident | Renew Newcastle | Wolfe Street Studios | Newcastle | NSW

2015

Friends of the University, Margaret Olley Fine Art Postgraduate Scholarship | University of Newcastle
Highly Commended | Excellence in Customer Service | Team Award - Design Centre | 2013 Hunter TAFE Staff Awards
2012
Resident Artist | Gunyah Artist in Residence Program | North Arm Cove | NSW
Recipient | Targeted RHD Completion Support Funding | University of Newcastle
2011
Selected Artist | Mattara Outdoor Art Exhibition
Recipient | NAVA Marketing Grant | Funding body: National Association of Visual Artists – NAVA
Faculty of Science & Information Technology - New Staff Grant | Funding body: Faculty of Science & Information Technology – University of Newcastle
2010
Finalist | 2010 Libris Awards: The Australian Artists’ Book Prize
Finalist | Gosford Art Prize | Gosford Regional Gallery | Gosford
2009
Recipient | Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship | Funding body: Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
Finalist | Text: 5th International Artist’s Book Triennial
2008
Recipient | University of Newcastle Faculty Medal (Faculty of Education and Arts)
Recipient | University of Newcastle Provisional Honours Postgraduate Scholarship
Recipient | University of Newcastle Deputy Vice Chancellor Honours Scholarship
Winner Painting Section | Brian & Rhoma Cummins Award
Winner ‘Best Use of Recycled Material’ | ‘Make Do’ Watt Space Open Art Prize
Recipient | University of Newcastle Vice Chancellor’s Honours Scholarship
2007
Winner Section D | Farrow Wyatt Maitland Art Prize
Highly Commended Section A & B | Farrow Wyatt Maitland Art Prize
Finalist | Newcastle Art Space Annual Emerging Artist Prize
2000
Finalist | TAFE NSW Arts & Design Prize

Curatorial

2021
Signature, Studio-based work from students in Visual Communication Design at The University of Newcastle (co-curated with Carl Morgan)
2020
Big Kids, UON Visual Communication Design Virtual Grad Show, Festival X, Newcastle
(co-curated with Ralph Kenke, Wayne Thompson, and Benjamin Crocker)
2018
Next Up, UON Visual Communication Design Grad Show, The Lovett Gallery, Newcastle
(co-curated with Ralph Kenke, Bettina Hodgson, and Louise Dash)
2017
IN/SITE, Michelle Catanzaro, The University Gallery, Newcastle
The Museum of Us, UON Visual Communication Design Grad Show, The University Gallery, Newcastle
(co-curated with Ralph Kenke and Bettina Hodgson)
2016
Techne: crafting technology, The University Gallery, Newcastle
Pagination: The Book As Object, The University Gallery, Newcastle (co-curated with Gillean Shaw)
Hot Off The Press, UON Visual Communication Design Grad Show, The University Gallery, Newcastle
(co-curated with Ralph Kenke and Bettina Hodgson)
2015
Making It Known – A Visual Communication Design Research Exhibition | Curve Gallery | Newcastle
Vision 15, UON Visual Communication Design Grad Show, The University Gallery, Newcastle
(co-curated with Ralph Kenke and Bettina Hodgson)
2014
A to B, UON Visual Communication Design Grad Show, The University Gallery, Newcastle
(co-curated with Ralph Kenke, Bettina Hodgson, and Kate Cross)
2013
Year of the Bird: a celebration of hybridity, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland, NSW (co-curated with Helen Hopcroft)
2011 – 2012
Happily Ever After: alternative destinies in contemporary feminine narrative | John Paynter Gallery, Newcastle; Artspace, Mackay; Manly Library; Auchmuty Library (co-curated with Helen Hopcroft)
2011
Who Goes There? Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle (co-curated with Alison Smith)
2010
Bags The Bottom Drawer Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle (co-curated with Alison Smith & Taryn Raffan)
Homecoming, Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle (co-curated with Yvette Sullivan and Donald Brooker)
2009
Artist As... , The Uon Services Limited Annual Student Art Prize, Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle
Cat Vs. Dog, in conjunction with the ‘Animals in Art Festival’, Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle
(co-curated with Alison Smith & Taryn Raffan)
2008
Open Can Show (charity exhibition) Shopfront Gallery, Newcastle (co-curated with Alison Smith & Taryn Raffan)
Tricycle. Watt Space Gallery, Newcastle (co-curated with Andy Devine & Hannah Matthews)
Publications, Arts Writing, Conferences & Presentations
2021
Chand A, Brooker C, 'Building Cultural Capital in Design Education: Framing Undergraduate Visual Communication Design students' approaches to visuospatial inquiry', The International Journal of Design Education.
Brooker C, Sage M. 'Showing, Telling and Selling Out' In Independent DIY Publications and Underground Urban Cultures. Editors: Guerra, Paula, Quintela, Pedro. 39-58. The University of Porto, The University of Porto, Portugal
2019
Brooker CJ, Catanzaro M, Hodgson B, Kenke R, Morgan C, Sandbach K, 'Not just for show: identity, engagement, and work integrated learning through design graduation exhibitions.' ACUADS Conference 2019: Engagement, VCA and RMIT, Melbourne
2018
Sage M, Brooker CJ, 'Manifold Intensities: Musical Identities in Contemporary Antipodean Metalcore and Post-Hardcore', Sounds of Origin in Heavy Metal Music, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK 141-168
2017
Sage M, Brooker CJ, 'Vulnerable Intensities: an Exploration of the Contemporary Antipodean Metalcore Phenomenon', Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
Sullivan Y, Brooker CJ, 'Who’s Afraid of the Process - can creative vulnerability be a catalyst for social change?' Art and Design as Agent for Change' - iJADE Conference 2017, National College of Art and Design, Dublin
2016
McAuley M., & Brooker C. 'Novice Visual Communication Design students’ awareness of design process'. Volume 11, Issue 1 of The International Journal of Design Education’. CommonGround Publishing
2016
McAuley M., & Brooker C. 'Novice Visual Communication Design students’ awareness of design process'. Volume 11, Issue 1 of The International Journal of Design Education’. CommonGround Publishing
2016
McAuley M., & Brooker C. 'Novice Visual Communication Design students’ awareness of design process'. Volume 11, Issue 1 of The International Journal of Design Education’. CommonGround Publishing
2015
Brooker CJ, 'Lost in translation', Paper presented at DDCA Symposium | The Outstanding Field: artistic research emerging from the Academy | VCA, MCM, The University of Melbourne | VIC
International Review Board | Cumulus Conference | The Virtuous Circle - Design Culture and Experimentation | Milan | Italy
2014
Sullivan Y, Brooker CJ, 'Collaboration: you're doing it wrong', Paper presented at iJADE: Collaborative Practices in Arts Education Conference | Tate Liverpool | UK
Brooker CJ, 'Pinteresting Times: the use and abuse of images in creative research', Paper presented at Visual In-Sights: Theory, Method, Practice Conference | Newcastle University | UK
2013
Chair | Subjective/Objective, the NewMac Humanities Conference | The University of Newcastle | NSW | Australia
Brooker, C.J. & Hopcroft, H. (Eds.). 'Year of The Bird: a celebration of hybridity', exhibition catalogue including foreward by Dr Nigel Rothfels and essay by Dr Yvette Watt
2012
Brooker, C.J., 'Video Killed the Radio Star: technological fairy tales and the materiality of the artists’ book in the digital age' | catalogue essay | Happily Ever After: alternative destinies in contemporary feminine narrative
Brooker, C.J. & Hopcroft, H. (Eds.). Happily Ever After: alternative destinies in contemporary feminine narrative, exhibition catalogue including essays by Dr Caroline Webb, Dr Danielle Wood, Carmel Bird, Helen Hopcroft and Caelli Jo Brooker
Paper presented at DFAM postgraduate research conference | The University of Newcastle | NSW | Australia
Artist Talk presented | Newcastle Society of Artists | Newcastle | NSW | Australia
2011
'Visiting TATE St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum' | exhibition review | NCAC Newsletter and website
Artist/Curator Talk presented | John Paynter Gallery | The Lock-Up | Newcastle
2009
'Filling Space: artist as curator' | catalogue essay | Artist As... The Uon Services Limited Annual Student Art Prize | Watt Space Gallery | Newcastle
'Unedition: Thirteen ways of looking at a Blackbird and the unique print & Unedition' | self published artists’ book and catalogue in conjunction with the exhibition, Unedition: Hello Blackbird | Watt Space Gallery | Newcastle

Collections & Commissions

Print Council of Australia Archive, Melbourne, Australia
Artist Book Collection at Bower Ashton Library, Bristol, UK
The University of Newcastle Art Collection, Newcastle, Australia
The Lock-Up Temporary Collection, Artist Residence 2008, Newcastle, Australia
The Brooklyn Art Library, Brookyln, NY, USA
The E.O.N. Collection, Viareggio, Italy
The Bokartas Permanent Collection, Vilnius, Lithuania
The Anglican Care Collection, Newcastle, Australia
Private Collections and Commissions in Australia, New Zealand, China, Netherlands, UK and Canada