The Operative - Kelly Robson and Daniel Hollier: upcoming artists-in-residence

The Operative - directors Kelly Robson and Daniel Hollier, with Ella Barclay's installation Maelstrom Studies, 2012

The Operative is a new creative industry service run by Sydney based husband and wife team, Kelly Robson and Daniel Hollier. During their residency Kelly and Daniel plan to further develop The Operative's business strategy, company structure and marketing plan. By combining their skill-sets and experience, Kelly and Daniel are uniquely positioned to provide an innovative service to the creative industry sector. From concept to crate, they are passionate about each step of the artistic process and assisting creative producers. Together, their expertise spans exhibition design, exhibition installation, curating, fabrication of exhibition furniture, project management, professional development and creative consultancy. theoperative.com.au

Kelly Robson at Gaffa, photo by Helen White Photography

Kelly Robson is an artist, curator and creative industries consultant. Kelly was the Founding Director of Gaffa, in Sydney 2006 and has now taken the role of Special Projects Manager, stepping aside from her role as Acting Director at the beginning of this year. Gaffa is an artist-run initiative with a long established reputation for their commitment to providing space and support to emerging artists and designers gaffa.com.au. Kelly's curatorial work focuses on cross-platform, collaborative work, with a particular interest in the point of intersection between art & design, as is reflected in Gaffa's program of exhibitions. In 2010 Kelly facilitated the relocation of Gaffa Gallery from its home of 4 years in Surry Hills to its current heritage listed premises in the Sydney CBD. This involved the design and coordination of building renovations, the preparation of development applications and liasing with the National Heritage Council. In recent years Kelly has managed and coordinated significant public art projects including out-door art installations for The City of Sydney's Live Laneways Festivals, and pop-up exhibition programs utilising empty spaces in The Rocks provided by the The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Kelly is regularly asked to participate in industry round-table sessions, panel discussions & workshops.
In November 2013 Kelly began a new role in cooperation with The City of Sydney developing and managing their new Creative Tenancy project, the Creative Live Work Spaces,
in Sydney's Darlinghurst area. In this role Kelly is instrumental in developing the application and selection criteria and works closely with the tenants to ensure maximum professional development opportunity and connection with the wider creative community.
Read an interview with Kelly

Daniel Hollier, Shibuya Colour Series, 2014, gouache and acrylic on polyester, installation view

Daniel Hollier has a Bachelor of Fine Art with Honours from the National Art School Sydney. He was the recipient of the 2008 Clitheroe Foundation Scholarship and a 2009 Queen Street Studio Residency Award at Fraser Studio Projects. In 2010, Hollier was the recipient of the Storrier Onslow Cite de Paris Residency, which he undertook in early 2011, and later that year was also awarded a New Work grant by the Australia Council for the Arts. Hollier has been a finalist in the Helen Lempriere Travelling Scholarship in 2011 and 2010. His work has been exhibited widely in Australia and overseas, including You Give Good Colour in 2012 at Sophie Gannon Gallery, Melbourne, and in New Orleans, USA in the ALASKA Project As Above-So Below, at Good Children Gallery. Hollier's work is represented in the collection of Artbank as well as private collections in Australia, United Kingdom and Holland. Hollier works and lives in Sydney where he is currently undertaking his Masters in Fine Arts at Sydney College of the Arts, supported by an Australian Post-Graduate Award Scholarship. Recently Daniel held a solo exhibition at Chalkhorse Gallery and participated in a group exhibition at Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney. 
See more of Daniel's work on his website danielhollier.com

Find The Operative on Facebook