Henry Wolff works with an expanded approach to performance art, where their practice movers between liveness and trace (photography and moving image). They treat performance art not as a singular live event but as something that can persist, shift and be reimagined through its traces.
Wolff’s recent work is increasingly situated within queer ecology, using eco-performance art to trouble distinctions between the human and more-than-human, and natural and unnatural. Across these encounters, their work explores how relations are formed, troubled and transformed, and how bodies might exist differently within the worlds they inhabit.
Biography
Henry Wolff is currently undertaking a Master of Fine Art (by research) with UNSW. They exhibit and perform in galleries, public spaces and online across Australia. Career highlights include a major collaborative performance and installation work ‘care–fall’ realised with artist Heidi Kenyon (2025, Adelaide); Performing as part of the ensemble in Amrita Hepi’s ‘Wetlands’ for the 25th Biennale of Sydney ‘Rememory’ (2026, Sydney); The major commission ‘Together’ by Photo Australia for PHOTO 2022 (Melbourne); Exhibiting ‘Lachrymal’ as the feature artist for the 2022 Gertrude Street Projection Festival ‘A Soft Pulse’ (2022, Melbourne); Performing as part of Mel O’Callaghan’s ‘Respire Respire’ for ‘Centre of the Centre’ at Samstag Museum (2022, Adelaide); Performing as part of the ensemble in APHIDS’ ‘Howl’ for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art ‘Monster Theatres’ (2020, Adelaide).
They have undertaken mentorships with several leading Australian artists (Hoda Afshar, Eugenia Lim, Amos Gebhardt, David Rosetzky), and residency programs with organisations including the Centre for Projection Art (2021-22 Melbourne/Adelaide). In 2020 their work ‘Sibling’ was identified as one of the top 125 works from around the work by Aesthetica Art Magazine (London).
Wolff career as an arts professional is grounded in not-for-profit organisations dedicated to the professional development of creatives. They have been the Engagement & Development Manager at Helpmann Academy, involved with fundraising initiatives, partnerships and relationships to create opportunities for emerging creatives. They have alse held roles with SALA Festival, Guildhouse and as an independently they have consulted on projects with JPE Design Studio, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Carclew, and others. They have also co-led projects with Adelaide Contemporary Experimental Gallery including the exhibition 'Push/Pull' (2025) and the ongoing performance workshop series 'Deeply Hanging Out' (2025-26).