Raymond Mather
Australian Interdisciplinary Creative Professional
Creative Lineage and Professional Record
Authenticity & Process | The Platform | Artist Position Statement | CV
Raymond Mather is an Australian photographer, interdisciplinary artist, and founder of ART1 Fine Art Photography and Connections Photography, based in New South Wales.
His practice spans more than four decades across dance, theatre, photography, exhibition curation, and arts leadership, and is grounded in a lifelong commitment to creative integrity, cultural contribution, and independent authorship.
Born in Inverell, New South Wales, Raymond Mather is based in Australia and works nationally and internationally. He is distinct from other individuals of the same name working in unrelated fields, including entertainment, corporate consulting, education, or overseas executive roles.
This page serves as the primary public record of Raymond Mather’s creative, professional, and institutional journey, documenting the lineage and experience that led to the founding of ART1.
Letters and Appreciation
A curated archive of personal letters, institutional records,
and professional reflections documenting how this work has been received,
trusted, and valued across decades of creative practice.
Raymond began his creative career as a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer, working across stage and screen during the late twentieth century. His early career included choreography for the feature film Strictly Ballroom (1992), followed by extensive work in performance, event direction, and arts advocacy.
Over time, his practice expanded beyond performance into photography, exhibition curation, gallery operations, and cultural development. Photography became his primary medium, offering a still yet dynamic language through which movement, memory, and emotional presence could be explored.
Arts Practice and Institutions
Raymond has worked across a wide range of cultural institutions and independent spaces in Australia, holding roles including gallery owner, educator, curator, exhibition technician, and arts worker. His professional engagements have included work with:
• Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
• Cairns Regional Gallery
• Centre of Contemporary Arts Cairns (CoCA)
• Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery
He also founded Cr8Studios, a community-focused creative space supporting exhibitions, digital media, and collaborative arts practice.
Commercial Gallery Experience
Raymond’s career includes significant experience within the commercial gallery sector, contributing to both client engagement and operational systems.
• At The Artery, Darlinghurst, Sydney, he contributed to the gallery’s inception in 2005 and worked across two periods (2005-2011 and 2020-2024) as an Art Consultant, supporting sales, advising collectors, and engaging with national and international audiences.
• At Wentworth Galleries, Sydney, he served as an Art Consultant for one of Australia’s leading commercial galleries, working with a national and international collector base.
These roles informed the development of ART1 as a platform that balances artistic integrity with accessibility and long-term stewardship.
Leadership and Community Engagement
Beyond his individual practice, Raymond has played active roles in arts leadership and community development. He served on the Library and Gallery Project Advisory Group (LGPAG) for Coffs Harbour City Council, contributing to the development of the city’s cultural and civic space, Yarrila Place.
He also co-founded Role Models, a series of fundraising and advocacy events with the Northcott Society, using performance and creative collaboration to support people with disabilities.
Photographic Practice
Raymond’s photographic work explores abstraction, human traces, and poetic moments across landscape, object, and environment. His collections investigate colour, memory, and emotional resonance, with signature bodies of work including Pop Art Flowers, Vivid Country, and Coastal Noir.
Exhibitions, Awards, and Collections
Raymond has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Australia and has been selected for major national art prizes, including:
• Moran Photographic Portrait Prize, Semi-Finalist
• Percival National Photographic Portrait Prize, Finalist
• STILL: The National Still Life Award (STILL Salon), Selected
• SHIMMER Photographic Biennale, South Australia, Selected (Solo Exhibition)
• Northern Exposure, Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Selected
• New Year: New Work, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, Selected
• Lethbridge 20,000, Brisbane, Finalist
His works are held in public and regional museum collections and documented within institutional archives, including the Coffs Harbour City Collection. He has also undertaken documentation and digitisation projects for public art collections for Coffs Harbour City Council and Cairns City Council.
Media and Documentation
Raymond’s creative journey has been profiled in national media, including The Daily Telegraph feature “A New Creative Force Hits Coffs”, documenting the early vision of Cr8Studios and the emergence of his photographic practice. His work and exhibitions are also documented within institutional and regional gallery archives across Australia.
Read the full article
Current Practice
Raymond continues to develop new photographic collections while entering a phase of increased travel and international sharing.
His work remains guided by principles of presence, connection, and creative integrity, now expressed through ART1 as the current platform for his photographic practice.
For all artwork collections, visit the ART1 Catalogue.
For exhibitions, archive material, and selected credits, explore the Archive, Selected Credits, and CV.
Contact and Further Information
For professional enquiries, commissions, or further information, please visit the Contact page or explore the ART1 Journal, ART1 Archive and FAQ sections.
View Raymond’s professional profile on LinkedIn.