J Davies (b. 1994) is a multidisciplinary takatāpui artist respectfully doing mahi on the stolen lands of the Kulin Nation in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia). Through an ongoing archive of contemporary queer existence, J cultivates connection to community and culture while exploring themes of identity, intimacy, and neurodiversity.

With a deeply personal approach, J documents their own life behind closed doors, inviting audiences to consider how we view and value intimacy. Their work reflects a fluid relationship with time and memory—an experience shaped by their 2021 diagnosis of a processing disorder, which illuminated challenges in distinguishing dreams from reality. This exploration culminated in their 2022 book, Half of My Whole Life Was Just a Dream, a meditation on consciousness and recollection.

J’s work has been exhibited at the Le Recontrés d’Arles (France), the Hong Kong International Photography Festival, National Gallery of Victoria, The Centre for Contemporary Photography and Photo 2024. They have been an artist in residence at Collingwood Yards and LCI Melbourne and a finalist for both the Bowness Photography Prize and the National Photographic Portrait Prize. 



Contact: jdavies.studio@gmail.com
Instagram: @jdavies.studio & @jdavies.backup

Artist Portrait by Andy Johnson at Hillvale Gallery for Maybe Our Dreams Are Real exhibition opening 2025

© J Davies