Joseph Allen Shea / Gallery A.S (SYD)

Joseph Allen Shea is an independent curator, publisher, writer, creative consultant and gallerist. Without distinguishing between these creative activities he approaches his different work as a singular output.

Before its closure, he presented over 60 exhibitions at the iconic Monster Children Gallery in Darlinghurst, Sydney as well as other galleries and institutions in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Paris and London. 

In 2010, he was awarded the inaugural NAVA Emerging Curators grant.

He mounted the lauded group show ‘Batteries Not Included’ in 2009 which presented installation, performance, sound and kinetic sculpture in photomedia at The Australian Centre for Photography and in 2010, ‘Disorder Disorder – Ulterior Motives in Contemporary Art’ focusing on subcultural artforms illuminating the artistic worlds of sub and popular cultures at Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest. In 2011, Allen Shea curated '1.85 Million - Art Peripheries' at Campbelltown Arts Centre, focusing on artists working on the outskirts. This international enquiry featured the works of Miranda July, Howard Arkley, Mohamed Bourouissa, Sister Corita Kent and Rhys Lee.

Allen Shea is the director at independent art publishing house, Izrock Pressings where he publishes and promotes the art of contemporary artists through editioned artist books and zines.

He has written about art for Art & Australia, ModArt, Russh, Oyster and Australian Art Collector.

In 2011 he launched Gallery A.S. – a site-specific exhibition project for contemporary art. To date he has exhibited Californian artist Thomas Campbell's sculptures in a small warehouse, Daniel Askill's large scale video works in a functioning church, curated exhibition about the moving image in the former offices for Paramount Pictures and created an immersive installation over four stories of an abandoned sex shop for Australian painter Anthony Lister.