Spencer Lai is an artist, writer, curator and DJ in Melbourne. They have exhibited extensively at both artist-run and commercial spaces within Melbourne and internationally. They graduated from the Victorian College for the Arts (BFA with Honours) in 2014.

Working across multiple forms and formats, including sculpture, installation, curation, writing, drawing, Spencer's practice produces associative meaning from a range of accumulated materials that are worked into assemblages, installations and exhibitions. These materials often include text, found objects, design elements or images from consumer cultures, lifted from thrift stores, replicated, or traced or by chance encounters. As well as these object based assemblages they produce expanded paintings, often making grotesque use of cut coloured felt, coloured pencils and printed textile offcuts. The resulting outcomes of their practice are rarely singular or stand-alone objects - rather, their identities are intentionally constructed from multiple references, works, as well as contributions from other artists, sometimes resulting in the form of curatorial group exhibitions.

Besides Spencer’s work as an exhibiting artist, their work as both a DJ and gallerist attests to their commitment to fostering community and contributing to the formation of a cultural scene.

Upcoming exhibitions include a curated group exhibition at Inge, NYC and solo presentations at Neon Parc & Asbestos, Melbourne, 2023. Recent exhibitions include: Academy for the Sensitive Arts, Theta, NYC; Oriental Painting., Neon Parc, Melbourne; up the hill in my city shoes with Allan Rand, off-site location, Melbourne; A Patience Game with Jürgen Baumann at Holden Garage, Berlin; buddhaminefield., Ge Hinnom Small Group Love, London.

The book mentioned is Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh.

Academy for the Sensitive Arts, 2022 Installation view

form: egg (army green), 2022 Powder coated steel, foam core, acrylic spray paint, rubberised spray paint, synthetic felt, beads, sequins 68.5 x 47 cm (27 x 18.5 in)

form 010 (Princess II), 2022 Resin, spray paint, vintage beaded trim, synthetic fabric trim, butterfly 50 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm (19.68 x 5.70 x 5.70 in)