About

Utopian Slumps operated as an art gallery in Melbourne, Australia, from 2007 to 2014. Melissa Loughnan, Utopian Slumps’ founding director, shifted the business to a consulting agency in 2015, through which she continues to manage public art projects, write, and perform art advisory and freelance curatorial work.

Utopian Slumps has developed and implemented numerous large-scale public art installations and private art projects. Previous projects include an editioned series of works with artist Mark Rodda for the Citadines Hotel, Bourke Street, Melbourne; art consultant to Tourism Victoria for their Lost and Found Hotel, 2010 and 2011; Hortus with Folk Architects and artist Lauren Berkowitz – the temporary activation of the Docklands Harbour Esplanade, a tender awarded by Places Victoria, 2012-16; consultant to Lend Lease on a major public artwork for Craigieburn Central awarded to Laura Woodward and Jem Selig Freeman, 2013-14; consultant and artist mentor for the inaugural Kisho Prize at Melbourne Central for the GPT Group, awarded to Hamish Munro, 2014; consultant to Little Projects and Hickory Group on a foyer installation for their Central South Yarra development with artist Caleb Shea, 2015; consultant to Anna Schwartz Gallery on two major foyer installations with artists Brendan Van Hek and Daniel Crooks for M Docklands; consultant to Right Angle Studio on art for the Three Thousand Apartment; consultant to GPT Group on public art and cultural activation for Highpoint; and consultant to Neometro and BKK Architects on a major public artwork for their Jewell Station development, Brunswick, awarded to Fleur Summers, 2016.

Current projects include consultant to Six Degrees Architects on the redevelopment of Dandenong Masonic Hall into a public art gallery; ongoing consulting to GPT Group for Melbourne Central and art advisory services to private clients.