About

Photograph of JB Knibbs by Allan Amato
Photograph by Allan Amato

About the artist:

Known as: Knibbs

Pronouns: she/her

Location: Melbourne/Naarm, Australia

JB Knibbs is a self-taught multi-disciplinary artist whose practice spans photography, digital art, scale miniatures, sculpture, installation, and textiles.

Knibbs began her art practice after several years training and practising as a lighting designer for live performances, working on drama, dance, events, and performance art.

Knibbs is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Art by Research degree at RMIT University. She holds a Bachelor of Production (in theatrical lighting) from VCA, and in 2018 was recognised with First Class Honours and the Vice-Chancellor’s List for Academic Excellence after studying an Honours course in Fine Art at RMIT.

About the art:

Much of Knibbs’s creative practice combines motifs of the uncanny, surrealism, domesticity, suburbia and feminism with her own unique perspective, humour, and eccentricities. Knibbs has a continuing fascination with architecture and locality, and their relationship with the human psyche, and a deep love of learning new crafts.

She has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions and been recognised as a finalist in several competitions. In January 2021, Knibbs held her first major solo exhibition titled Suburban Haunts at No Vacancy Gallery in Melbourne’s CBD, supported by a City of Melbourne Arts Grant.

This diverse exhibition included: an illusory installation placing the viewer within a constructed miniature hallway; a wool crocheted and embroidered spider plant, hyper-realistic miniature interiors; a quilted apartment block; and photography of local suburban houses at night.

A miniature suburban kitchen at night, lit with green and blue tones. Eerie, empty.
The Kitchen at Night, 2018 (1:12 scale miniature)

Solo exhibitions:

  • The Monster House Part 1 | 2022 | City Library Gallery | Melbourne VIC
  • Suburban Haunts | 2021 | No Vacancy Gallery | Melbourne VIC
  • Reconstructing Home | 2019 | Tinning St Presents | Brunswick VIC 

Competitions:

  • Finalist: Percival Photographic Portrait Prize | 2020 | Perc Tucker Regional Gallery | Townsville QLD
  • Finalist: Emerging Artist Award | 2019 | fortyfivedownstairs | Melbourne VIC
A kinetic hanging mobile made of coloured wooden blocks.