DANIEL TOBIN
Daniel Tobin (2018) studied a Bachelor of Art (Visual Arts) at the Queensland University of Technology. While studying, Daniel worked for a small Brisbane-based art production company which delivered the semi-permanent, site-wide Human Factor program for Expo 88 in Brisbane. A year after finishing art college, Daniel studied design at the National Institute of Dramatic Art graduating in 1993, the same year he co-founded Urban Art Projects with brother Matthew Tobin.
After graduating from NIDA, Daniel worked in a range of theatre productions including Sydney Theatre Company’s Poor Superman, Simpatico, Darling Oscar, Solitary Animals and Nick Enright’s Blackrock; Opera Australia’s La Boheme & A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Baz Luhrman & Catherine Martin; Sydney 2000 Olympics Cultural Program with Rhoda Roberts, Stephen Page (Bangarra Dance Company) and artist Fiona Foley.
As Co-Founder and Creative Director of UAP, Daniel Tobin has collaborated with a diverse range of art & design projects including public art master plans for Education City, Qatar; Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Saudi Arabia; and Queen’s Wharf, Brisbane. Public commissions with Australian and International artists including Judy Watson, Brook Andrew, Fiona Foley, Nike Savvas, Emily Floyd, Carsten Holler, Sui Jian Guo, Ned Kahn, Lindy Lee, Inigo Manglano-Ovale, Sopheap Pich, Arne Quinze; Ai Weiwei; and most recently working with London born artist Idris Khan to create a memorial to celebrate the United Arab Emirates’ Commemoration Day.
Daniel established UAP’s artist edition program which facilitate and funds the production of new works for artists including Sydney Ball, Penny Byrne, Lindy Lee, Lena Yarinkura, Bob Burruwal, Fiona Foley, Reko Rennie, Idris Kahn, Mariko Mori and Kehinde Wiley.
UAP has collaborated with architects on public projects throughout Australia and around the world including: FJMT’s 200 George St Sydney; Gehry Partners, UTS Sydney Business School, AU; Snohetta’s King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Saudi Arabia; Kohn Petersen Fox’s Hudson Yards, NYC; and Bureau Proberts’ National Police Memorial, Canberra.
In 2013, Daniel won an international competition to design that National AIDS Monument, West Hollywood. The Monument will memorialise those who were lost, those who survived and honour the organisations of change that were born during the HIV/AIDS crisis. The project is due for completion in 2020.
A Queensland University of Technology Creative Industries Outstanding Alumni, Daniel is a speaker and panellist and participated in the 2015 American Institute of Architects Conference, Atlanta; the 2015 Global Cities at the Crossroads Symposium, New York; the 2017 New York Times Art for Tomorrow, Doha & 2018 Unfold Art Xchange in Dubai. Australian by birth, Daniel has lived and worked in the US, Middle East and China. Daniel is now based in Brisbane.
