Polly Borland

Polly Borland (born 1959) is an Australian photographer who formerly resided in England from 1989 to 2011, and now lives in Los Angeles, United States. She is known both for her editorial portraits and for her work as a photographic artist. She graduated from Prahran College in 1983, where she discovered Diane Arbus, Weegee and, Larry Clark, all of whom influenced her work. On leaving art school, she became a portrait photographer, contributing to the Australian edition of Vogue. Her first solo exhibition was held at the George Paton Gallery in Melbourne in 1984. In 1989, she moved to the United Kingdom where she specialized in stylized portraits and reportage photography. Her work has been featured in newspapers and magazines worldwide.

A number of books on her work and exhibitions have been published. In 2001, her first series The Babies examined the way men can enjoy dressing up as infants, with an essay by Susan Sontag, an introduction by Mark Holborn. In February 2013 the documentary Polly Borland - Polymorphous was released.

Borland was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in 2002.

Polly Borland and her husband, director John Hillcoat, live in Los Angeles, California.

Works or publications

Books

Articles

Filmography Polly Borland - Polymorphous MOCAtv - IO Echo "Berlin, It's All A Mess" Directors John Hillcoat & Polly Borland

Exhibitions and notable works 1984: Polly Borland, George Paton Gallery, Melbourne 1999: The Babies, 1999 Meltdown Festival curated by Nick Cave, Southbank, London 1999: one of six Australian photographers exhibited in "Glossy: Faces Magazines Now" at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra 2000: Australians, National Portrait Gallery, London 2001: Australians, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra 2001: Australians, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne 2002 The Babies, Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne 2008: Bunny, Murray White Room, Melbourne; featuring Gwendoline Christie 2008: Bunny, Michael Hoppen Gallery, London; featuring Gwendoline Christie 2010: Smudge, Murray White Room, Melbourne 2011: Smudge, AB Gloria, Madrid 2011: Smudge, Other Criteria, London 2011: Smudge, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York City 2012: Everything I want to be when I grow up, University of Queensland Art Museum, Queensland 2012: Pupa, Murray White Room, Melbourne 2013: YOU, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York 2014: Wonky, The Australian Centre of Photography, Melbourne 2014: YOU, Murray White Room, Melbourne

Borland's work has also been exhibited at the Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney; The Auckland Triennial, Auckland; GASK, Gallery of the Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic; the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh; The Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane; MONA, Tasmania, and the N.S.W. Gallery of Art.

Borland's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, was commissioned by Buckingham Palace to commemorate her golden jubilee in 2002, is unusual for its brightness and its intimate proximity to Her Majesty. It was exhibited at London's National Portrait Gallery and at Windsor Castle.

Her work is included in the March 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia, which is titled "Monster Theatres".

Awards and nominations ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. 1996 Polly Borland and John Hillcoat for "Sit on My Hands" by Frente! Best Video