PROFILE

Ruth Della is a versatile professional who merges curatorial expertise with project management to embed contemporary art in public space. She leads with site-responsive, design-informed principles to create supportive pathways between artists, stakeholders, and the public. Adept at commissioning, artist selection, engagement, design development, budgeting and installation, Ruth brings art to life in ways that resonate with people and place.

KEY APPOINTMENTS

• Founder & Principal Curator Art Common Consulting 2024 – current

• Curator HOTA, Home of the Arts 2019 – 2024

• Curator Gallery Downtown, Tweed Regional Gallery annexe 2019

• Creative Director SWELL Sculpture Festival 2007 – 2018

• Peer Assessor Arts Queensland 2023 – current

• Public Art Advisory Group City of Gold Coast 2022 – current

  Workplace Health & Safety Committee HOTA 2022 – 2024

• Curatorial Panel SWELL Sculpture Festival 2014 – 2018

• President Sculptors’ Society Gold Coast 2013 – 2016

CORE SKILLS

• Curatorial Leadership & Concept Development

• Public Art Strategy and Proposals

• Public Art Management & Delivery

• Community Consultation & Engagement

• Stakeholder & Team Management

• Exhibition Development & Interpretive Writing

• Budgeting, Forecasting & Risk Management

• Event Planning, WHS & Logistics Coordination

• Proposal Writing & Grant Submissions

• Contract Negotiation & Compliance

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS

Grounding, Belinda Smith - in development for completion 2026
Gungahlin Community & Youth Centre Courtyard

nerung balun (Nerang River), freshwater, saltwater 2021
Judy Watson, Elisa Jane Carmichael & Libby Harward
permanent commission, HOTA Gallery

Double-faced avatar with blue figure 2021
Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran
permanent commission, HOTA Gallery

Roll 2022
Nadia Odlum
temporary outdoor commission, HOTA Gallery

Moments 2021
Nicholas Tossmann
temporary outdoor commission, HOTA Gallery

Bloom 2021
Mimi Dennett
HOTA / Solid Gold Exhibition
temporary outdoor commission

Lost Topography 2021
JIL Studio
HOTA Gallery / Solid Gold Exhibition
temporary outdoor commission

Sky-Rise 2020
Lyle Duncan
HOTA Gallery / Terrace Commission
temporary commission

Feel it in the air 2020
Thea Skelsey
temporary outdoor installation, HOTA Gallery

Cosmic Dusk 2019
Man & Wah
HOTA Gallery / Terrace Commission
temporary commission

Give us the strength to change the weather 2019
Jason Phu
HOTA Gallery / Out Loud Festival
temporary art installation with public programming

Urchins 2018
Choi+Shine Architects
Festival 2018 for the Commonwealth Games 2018
temporary commission & community engagement

Medal Blooms 2018
Elizabeth Poole
Athletes Village, Commonwealth Games
temporary commission

Art Attacks 2016 and 2017
Filthy Luker & Pedro Estrellas
Surfers Paradise Alliance
temporary commission

SWELL Sculpture Festival 2007–2018,
Creative Director
Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition

CURATORIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS

everyone is dead, except for me, again. 2024
Jason Phu
HOTA Gallery

Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Photography Award 2024, 2022
and Captured: 20 Years Retrospective 2022
HOTA Gallery

Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize 2023
AGNSW & HOTA Gallery

HOTA Collects / Collide: Maverick Minds 2022
collection exhibition
HOTA Gallery

Supersymmetry 2019
Kath Egan
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

Incandescence 2019
Dave Sparkes
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

Facadé: Art Deco of Murwillumbah 2019
Group Exhibition included publication
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

Interplay: focus on four collection areas 2019
Collection Exhibition
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

Colour Correction 2019
Konstantina
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

Best Before 2019
Rosi Griffin
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

Fragile 2019
Greg Mulheran
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

Against the Light 2019
Karen Fendley
Gallery Downtown annexe to the Tweed Regional Gallery

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Applied Science (Interior Architecture, Honours)
Curtin University 2024

Diploma of Project Management
TAFE Queensland 2016

Bachelor of Visual Arts & Communication
Griffith University (part completion, 2007–2008)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Visual Art Foundation,
Byron School of Art 2025, in progress

YRACA Cultural Awareness 2020

Governance, Australian Institute of Company Directors 2017

ABAF Financial Management 2011

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

Panelist, PGQ Directors Forum 2023
Public Galleries Queensland

Spectra Exhibition Opening Introduction 2023
Artisan Queensland

Head of School Commendation 2021, 2022
Curtin University

Industry Panelist 2019 - 2022
Abedian School of Architecture, Bond University

Co-Judge 2021
Brunswick Nature Sculpture Walk

Women in Business Award Nominee 2017
Art & Culture

Cultural Achievement Award 2013
City of Gold Coast, joint recipient