Ross Manning is primarily known as a kinetic artist who explores light, physics, sound and the elements. Repurposing disused and broken electronics, he alters these existing components to create dynamic sculptures and atmospheric installations. By bringing these components into conversation with materials such as fluorescent tubing, fans, string and brown paper, he explores our ongoing relationship with technology, breaking apart machines as if to demystify their rarified position and experiment with their material capabilities. In this process of demystification he opens up the possibilities for sensory experience.
Ross Manning











Sound and light play a key role in his practice. During his formative years, the parallel experience of working as a television repairer and experimental electronic musician informed his aesthetic development. Eventually the two pursuits conjoined. He began to create instruments out of the old televisions, VCRs and computers from his workplace. This lead to explorations into kinetic sculpture, which Manning initially created specifically for their sound component. From his research into soundwaves came an interest in light waves, which was also informed by his latter experience as an audiovisual technician. Working with AV gave Manning insight into additive colour mixing, the process central to contemporary screen technology where different coloured light beams overlap to produce new colours – the primary example being the construction of white onscreen by the mixing of red, green and blue. This process is seen most clearly in Manning’s ongoing body of work called Spectra, another name for the beams of light that construct colour electronically. Whilst his work addresses science and technology, it also references the legacy of minimalism, sound art and expanded cinema.
In 2017, the Institute of Modern Art (Brisbane) presented a survey exhibition of Manning’s work, which will tour to ten venues across Australia between 2018-20. His work has been included in the 2016 Shanghai Biennale and the 2014 Biennale of Sydney. Manning has received major commissions from the Institute of Modern Art (Brisbane, 2015), Len Lye Centre | Govett- Brewster Gallery (New Zealand, 2016), and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Seoul, South Korea, 2016).
Born 1978, Brisbane. Lives and works in Brisbane.
Selected Solo Exhibitions and Performances
2023
- Matter and Matrix, Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane
2022
- Signal to Ground, Elevator Gallery, New South Wales
2021
- New Work, Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane
2020
- Idling Engines, Children's Art Centrecommission, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Bank Museum of Art, Moree
2019
- Mirror Image, Artspace at Realm, Melbourne
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Caloundra Regional Gallery
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Latrobe Regional Gallery
2018
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Caboolture Regional Gallery, Caboolture
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Tableland Regional Gallery, Atherton
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Pinnacles Gallery, Thuringowa
2017
- Ross Manning: Dissonant Rhythms, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
- Wrong Notes, Gallery Augusta, Helsinki
2016
- Ross Manning: Melody Lines, Carriageworks, Sydney (commissioned by Carriageworks and Performance Space)
- New Work, Milani Gallery, Brisbane
- Sound Room LVI, live performance, Third Space, Helsinki
2015
- The Travelling Brain, Roslyn Oxley9, Sydney
- NO OPUS, Coreflute ARI, Brisbane
2014
-
Perpetual Motion, Milani Gallery, Brisbane
2013
- Volumes, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth
2012
- Spectra, Milani Gallery, Brisbane
- Field Emissions, Starkwhite, Auckland
2011
- Gleaning the Cube, Milani Gallery, Brisbane
2010
- 3 songs, Long Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre, MONA FOMA, Hobart
- Double Refraction, Lismore Regional Gallery, Lismore
2009
- Input Ruins, Milani Gallery, Brisbane
- Sunshine and Zincaloom, Ptarmigan, Helsinki
Selected Group Exhibitions and Performances
2023
- Partnership Highlight: Museum of Brisbane, 'Play Moves'. Group Exhibition. Gadens Brisbane.
2022
- Material Sound with live performnces, The Condensery, Somerset; Mackay Art Space; Maitland Gallery.
- Courage & Beauty: The James C. Sourris Collection, QAGOMA, Brisbane.
2021
- Art Mixtape, HOTA on the Gold Coast, Queensland
- The Mechanics of Adaption, Metro Arts, Brisbane
- Material Sound, Plimsoll Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania
2019
- The National: New Australian Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
- Botanica, City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane
- Autoluminescent, La Trobe Art Institute, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
- Dissonant Rhythms (touring), Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Victoria
2018
- Material Sound, Murray Art Museum, Albury, New South Wales
2017
- The Imagined Future is Not the Future, OCT-LOFT, Shenzhen
- MCA Collection: Primavera at 25, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney
- Unconscious Archives #24, Cafe Oto, London
2016
- Why Not Ask Again, 11th Shanghai Biennale, Shanghai
- Set in Motion, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre, New Plymouth
- A Device for Measuring, Milani Gallery, Brisbane
- Colourshift, LOOP Alternative Space, Seoul
- The Creativity of Things, Griffith University Art Gallery, Brisbane
2015
- Light Play, The University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane
- Sound Spaces, Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne
- GOMA Q: Contemporary Queensland Art, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane Guirguis New Art Prize, Federation University Australia, Ballarat
- The Kaleidoscopic Turn, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
- Imaginary Accord, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
- Interplay, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
- Chromatic Syncopation, First Draft, Sydney
2014
- Different Rhythms, DARK MOFO, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart
- You Imagine What You Desire, 19th Biennale of Sydney, Sydney
- MCA Artbar, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney
- Vivid Festival, Sydney
- Sensory Overload, McClelland Sculpture Park & Gallery, Melbourne
2013
- Sound & Vision, Counihan Gallery In Brunswick, Melbourne
- Foundation’s Edge, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane
- Bazinga!, Starkwhite, Auckland
- exUrban Screens, Frankston Arts Center, Frankston
2012
- NEW12, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne
- Tetsuya Umeda<>Ross Manning, KickArts Contemporary Arts, Cairns
- Shakin’: The Kinetic Aesthetic, Gold Coast City Gallery, Gold Coast
- Sonic Spheres, TarraWarra Biennial 2012, Healesville
- The National New Media Art Award (finalist), Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane Volume One, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney
2011
- The Melbourne Jazz Festival, Melbourne
- The Churchie National Emerging Art Prize (first place), Brisbane
- New Primitive, MAAP–Media Art Asia Pacific, Brisbane
- The Plastic Arts & Rukus, Wandering Room, Brisbane
- Out Hear, Footscray Community Arts Centre, Melbourne
- New Psychedelia, The University of Queensland Art Museum, Brisbane
2009
- Come Hither Noise, Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle
- Primavera 2009, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney
- A New Truth to Materials, Boxcopy, Brisbane
- The Light, Milani Gallery, Brisbane
- Batteries Not Included, Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney
- Arto Lindsey: The Penny Parade, Berlin
2008
- The New Fresh Cut, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
Collections
- Museum of Transitory Art, Solvenia
- University of New South Wales, NSW
- Gallery of Modern Art, QLD
- National Gallery of Australia, VIC
- Artbank, NSW
- Museum of Contemporary Art, NSW
- Museum of Old and New Art, TAS
- University of Queensland Art Museum, QLD
- Monash University Museum of Art, VIC
- Chartwell Collection, Aukland Art Gallery, New Zealand
- The Australian Synchrotron, VIC
- Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, QLD
Public Commissions
- Echoes of the Sun, Northern Gold Coast Sports & Community Precinct
- Centre for Children's Health Research, Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, 2014
- Vibrant Laneways, Brisbane City Council, Brisbane 2013
Music Releases
- TE t on on ti computer, cassette, album, limited release, more mars team, 2019
- Smooth Orb on Milky Halo, CDr, EP, Ltd. Num, Chemical Imbalance. 2019
- Both Sides of the Cocoon, cassette, album, limited release, Chemical Imbalance. 2017
- Wrong Notes, self-published, 2017
- Reflex in Waves, LP, Institute of Modern Art and Room40, 2017 LED, EP, 2016
- Natural Causes, cassette, Vitrine, 2016
- Deforming A Virtual Ribbon, cassette, more mars team, 2016
- Interlacing, LP, Room40, 2015
- Delicate Shades of Hell, cassette, Greedy Ventilator, 2015 Harmonious Angles, LP, 2012
Residencies
- 2023 Canberra Glassworks, Artist in Residency Program. Canberra, Australia.
- 2019 Kyoto Arts Center, Artist Residency Program. Kyoto, Japan.
- 2016 Helsinki International Artist Residency Program. Suomenlinna, Finland.