Oliver Charles Lardner
Melbourne, Australia · oliverlardner.art
Biography
Artist and researcher exploring technology, aesthetics, and critique. My practice subverts traditional artistic modes, engaging with themes of abjection, formlessness, human-computer interface, and the role of the artist through history. Drawing from online culture my work spans installation, VR, game design, and virtual environments. Through intellectual debasement I seek transcendence, disrupting hierarchies and redefining installation-based experiences in both public and private spaces.
Education
- Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting), National Art School, Sydney — 2018
Exhibitions (selected)
- 2024
- Exit Strategy, Nicholas Building, Melbourne
- 2023
- Studio, Nicholas Building, Melbourne
- 2020
- Sydney Triennale, Down / Under Space, Sydney
- 2018
- Sydney / Valencia Exchange, Down / Under Space, Sydney
- 2018
- National Art School Graduate Exhibition, Sydney
- 2018
- The Colour Seen, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne
- 2018
- Landscape Exhibition, Rayner Hoff Project Space, Sydney
- 2017
- Dirg, Rayner Hoff Project Space, Sydney
Residencies
- 2025
- Linden New Art, Melbourne, Australia – Artist Residency
- 2025
- ACMI X, Melbourne, Australia – Residency
- 2012
- augment5 × jibjub, Tokyo, Japan – Collaborative production residency (code-art interfaces)
Awards
- 2024
- Finalist, Excellence in Emerging, Australian Game Developer Awards
- 2018
- Winner, NAVA Ignition Prize
- 2018
- Grant Recipient, William Fletcher Foundation Grant
- 2017
- Finalist, Robert Le Gay Brereton Memorial Prize for Draftsmanship, NAS
- 2015
- Winner, “Who Dares Wins” 48-Hour Game Design Challenge
- 2011
- Finalist, Adobe AIR App Challenge, San Francisco
Conferences
- 2025
- SXSW Sydney — Speaker, “Why Are We Still Here? The Hidden Dimensions of Game Design” exploring game design as artistic and philosophical practice.
- 2025
- SXSW Sydney — Speaker, Game Developers as Product.
Professional Practice
- 2021–Present
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Director & Creative Lead
Universal Weebs Unlimited (UWU), Sydney/Melbourne
Founded VR game studio producing games, immersive artworks, and interactive media. Director, Salaryman RESCUE! (2023), Director, Pond Scum (2024), Director, Lensrunner (2025). - 2019–2020
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Gallery Manager
Gallery9, Sydney
Oversaw operations, sales, and exhibition logistics. Developed bespoke collection management software (now in use at Ngununggula and other institutions). - 2017–2018
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Invigilator & Exhibition Support
National Art School & Carriageworks, Sydney
Provided visitor engagement and artwork invigilation. Assisted with event and public program support. - 2009
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Sessional Lecturer (Game Programming & Web Development)
Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne - 2007–2018
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Freelance / International Projects
Interactive and immersive commissions in NYC, Berlin, Tokyo, London. Clients included Adidas Japan (Champions League live-voting app, 2011) and Avex Music (multi-platform CMS + code-art interface, 2012).