Cara Johnson

Cara Johnson

Cara Johnson’s craft-based practice interrogates tensions and narratives connected to ways that land is lived on, treated and used through her materials,  intentions and deep investment of labour. Her practice is entwined with her rural location, drawing on the intimacies of a domestic life and ideas surrounding impact and control.  

In 2016 Cara completed a Bachelor of Fine Art (First Class Hons.) at RMIT University. Solo exhibitions include Understory at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Overlay at Ararat Gallery TAMA and Semblance of Repair at Gallery Funaki. Cara exhibits widely in group shows, notably Paper Art 2017 at CODA Museum in the Netherlands, Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2021, the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award in 2025, and her work was selected for Schmuck in both 2022 and 2023. In 2026 Cara's work will be represented in Nature Machine: 6th Tamworth Textile Triennial.

Cara's works are held in various public and private collections including the National Gallery of Victoria and Ararat Gallery Textile Art Collection. 

Cara Johnson

In 2016 Cara Johnson completed a Bachelor of Fine Art (First Class Hons) at RMIT University and is a current PhD Candidate and sessional lecturer in RMIT School of Art.

Recent solo exhibitions include Understory at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and Overlay at the Santos Museum of Economic Botany in Adelaide. Cara also exhibits widely in group shows, recent of which include Amazon//Amazon at Michael Reid Gallery Sydney (2022), Elegy at Gallery Funaki (2020) and CODA Paper Art 2017 at CODA Museum Apeldorn, NL. She was selected for the prestigious international exhibition Schmuck in 2022 and 2023.

Cara was shortlisted for the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize in 2020, and is currently completing a commissioned sculptural work for the Great ARTdoors Rail Trail Project, funded by the Victorian Government Regional Tourism Investment Fund. In 2023 she will undertake a residency at the Australian Tapestry Workshop and present her solo exhibition Overlay at Ararat Gallery TAMA.

Cara’s works are held in private and public collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria.

View works

View all

Featured exhibitions

  • Semblance of Repair

    Semblance of Repair

    November 30, 2022 - December 23, 2022

    Using materials connected to agriculture and land regeneration, the impossibility of repair is comprehended through acts of mending. Cara Johnson’s craft-based practice interrogates tensions and narratives connected to the ways...

    Semblance of Repair

    November 30, 2022 - December 23, 2022

    Using materials connected to agriculture and land regeneration, the impossibility of repair is comprehended through acts of mending. Cara Johnson’s craft-based practice interrogates tensions and narratives connected to the ways...