b. 1988 Garramilla / Larrakia Nation (Darwin, Australia)
Aida Azin is an artist living in the Adelaide Hills on the lands of the Kaurna people. She creates paintings and installations that explore symbols of nostalgia to reimagine diasporic identity. With a tongue-in-cheek approach, her work tells stories that may appear playful or innocent, yet carry layered social critique. These pieces invite viewers to reflect on belonging, disconnection, and cultural memory.
Since 2014, she has participated in exhibitions and projects including Project 20 (Philippines), Nanhai Gallery (Taiwan), 98B Collaboratory (Philippines), Ninuno Gallery (Philippines) x Kacalisian Art Village Residency (Taiwan) and Sandimen Cultural Center (Taiwan), as well as across ‘Australia’ at venues such as Nexus Arts, ACE Open, Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), Arts House, Bus Projects, FELTspace, Blindside, and Firstdraft.
In 2019 Aida co-founded the Saluhan Collective with an aim to establish a network between creatives in Australia and the Philippines. Now, with the direction of MJ Flamiano and Catherine Ortega-Sandow, it has expanded to include collaborative projects that combine arts, ‘archiving’ and community development. The values of Saluhan Collective are underpinned by notions of kinship, reciprocity, and the desire to create spaces that interweave artistry and community, while contributing to the ever-growing Philippine identity.
Aida holds a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Art from Adelaide College of the Arts (2015) and an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Visual Art from the University of South Australia (2017). Her research into systemic racism in the visual arts, viewed through a postcolonial lens, led to the creation of Brown Pillars—an installation of paintings on unstretched canvas, secured to bamboo structures as a metaphor for the scaffolding on which art institutions are built. This work was featured in Art Collector Magazine and exhibited as part of her feature interview with Namila Benson on ABC TV’s Art Works.
In November 2025, Aida will build on this project with a solo exhibition at the Incinerator Gallery (VIC).
In February 2025, Aida will participate in the Hyphenated Projects (VIC) mentorship and micro-residency with curator Bianca Winataputri. She is also a proud recipient of the FAB Workshop x 2025/2026 Fringe Residency (SA) and serves as a member of the Artist Advisory Committee for West Space Gallery, Collingwood (VIC).
2022 — Saluhan Collective x Gudskul, online residency
2021 — Lockdown Care Package, Next Wave, VIC
2019 — Mural & Mentoring, Flinders University, SA
2019 — Eight Fingers Crossed, FELTspace, Carclew & Tutti, SA
2019 — Stories from the Future, Diversity Arts Australia / Nexus Arts / Country Arts SA
2015–2018 — Street Art Explosion murals, Adelaide Fringe
2017 — Wonderwalls Street Art Festival, Renewal SA
2015 — Atlas, Adelaide Botanic Gardens, SA
SELECTED INTERVIEWS & PUBLICATIONS
2023 — The Calamansi Story: Filipino Migrants in Australia, by Fides Mae Santos and Grace Guinto, Entree Pinays Pty Ltd, Melbourne, VIC
2022 — Feast of Resistance, edited by Priya Pavri, Person Books, Adelaide, SA
2020 — “Aida Azin: An Exploration of Mother-Tongue Language,” by Rayleen Forester, un Magazine 14.1, Melbourne, VIC
2019 — “Eight Fingers Crossed,” by Aida Azin, Alycia Bennett, Tessa Crathern, Kathryn Evans, Karlien van Rooyen, Ellesse McLindin, Emmaline Zanelli, Thomas McCammon & Olivia De Silva, Have You Seen Him, Adelaide, SA
2018 — “Interview #64 – Aida Azin,” interview by Cher Tan, LIMINAL, Melbourne, VIC
2018 — “IMAG[IN]E: Aida Azin,” interview by Sascha Tan, Verse Magazine, Adelaide, SA
2017 — Space is Cool as Fuck, by Kate Howells, illustrations by various artists (incl. Aida Azin), Pantera Press, Sydney, NSW
2017 — Space Rocks!, by Kate Howells, illustrations by various artists (incl. Aida Azin), Pantera Press, Sydney, NSW
2017 — “A Rest Along the Way,” by Rachel Earl, Fine Print, Issue 10: Purpose, Adelaide, SA
2016 — “Interview: Aida Azin,” by Emmaline Zanelli, Yewth, Adelaide, SA
