Yusuf Hayat is committed to social justice. He has worked in leadership roles for several international non-government organisations across social housing, social support and Emergency Relief. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia with a research focus on migrant narratives, transcultural aesthetics and intersubjectivity in art. As an artist, Yusuf’s work integrates photography, video, painting and architectural approaches to sculptural form. He recently undertook artist residencies at the British School at Rome and NEXUS Arts, Adelaide. He has exhibited in Australia and overseas.
EXHIBITIONS / FEATURED WORK
September 2025 Friend/Free BUS Projects, Melbourne
August 2025 Prosopon The Little Machine
March 2025 Other Together Sawtooth ARI, Launceston
March 2024 Nothing that exists excites me… The Little Machine
March 2022 Curries, Kurtas & Burqas SASA Gallery
August 2021 Emplacement Yarta Purtli, Port Augusta
September 2020 If the future is to be worth anything ACE Open
August 2020 Exit West, FELT Exchange FELT Space (online)
July 2020 On Being an Artist: 11 Actions Praxis Artspace
July 2019 Kaleidoscope Light Square Gallery, Adelaide
February 2019 Helpmann Academy Graduate Show Torrens Parade Ground, Adl
January 2019 Commons ArtPod, Adelaide
November 2018 Insan(e) NEXUS Multicultural Arts, Adl
November 2018 Shifting Perspectives ArtPOD, Adelaide
September 2018 FLOW (Shimmer Photo Biennale) Hardys Tintara, South Australia
June 2018 Mostra British School at Rome, Italy
June 2018 Spazi Aperti Academa Di Romania, Rome
May 2018 HATCHED PICA, Perth
February 2018 Helpmann Academy Graduate Show Torrens Parade Ground
December 2017 A Walk in the Park UniSA Honours Grad Show
December 2015 Effulgence UniSA Visual Arts Grad Show
April 2011 Yusuf & the Punjab Lions ABC Radio National – 360 docs
August 2007 Common Ground Y Bar, Leicester, UK
July 2007 TEN LCB Depot, Leicester, UK
November 2006 Transition LOAF, Leicester, UK
PRESENTATIONS / PUBLICATION
Creative Spaces: National Public Galleries Summit 2023. Keynote presentation.
Common Cultures. Invited speaker for discussion on care and culture at ACEOpen, 2022
Unsettling migrant-hood: contemporary art, communitas and postmigrant perspectives”. CSAA: Cultural Transformations, University of Queensland, 2019
Beneath the crescent moon: curatorial dilemmas in the Islamic Art display at the Art Gallery of South Australia. CSAA: Cultural Transformations, University of Queensland, 2019
Enduring settler colonial narratives: interdisciplinary approaches to cultural curation. Conference paper. ACUADS: Engagement, University of Melbourne, 2019
Domesticating settler colonisation at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Journal of Asia Pacific Pop Cultures, 2019
Na(rra)tion. Fineprint magazine, 2019 http://www.fineprintmagazine.com/narration
Beneath our Radiant Southern Cross: Contemporary art, Islam and advancing Australia fairly. Public lecture.University of South Australia, Centre for Islamic Thought & Education, NEXUS multicultural arts, 2017
(Imagi)Narration. Fineprint magazine, 2017 http://www.fineprintmagazine.com/imagi-nation
Entangled Cultural Fields: intersubjectivity and contemporary art of the Islamic diaspora. Conference paper. ACS: Crossroads in Cultural Studies, University of Sydney, 2016
HIGHER EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Doctor of Philosophy
University of South Australia Aug 2018 – Feb 2022
Bachelor of Visual Arts (w/Honours)
University of South Australia Feb 2010 – Nov 2017
Certificate in Narrative Therapy
Narrative Practices Adelaide Feb 2010 – Oct 2010
Drug & Alcohol Counselling (Higher Education Certificate)
University of Leicester Sep 2005 – Jun 2007
Photography (Higher National Certificate)
Leicester College Sep 2005 – Jun 2007
Managing Voluntary & Community Organisations (HEC)
University of Leicester Sep 2005 – Jan 2007
BA (Hons) Politics
University of Leicester Sep 1995 – Jun 1999
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Project Officer, Social Planning Oct 2024 – Sept 2025
City of Adelaide
Visual Arts & Community Engagement Lead Feb 2022 – Oct 2024
Nexus Arts
Team Leader, Adelaide Community Support
Services
Salvation Army Oct 2014 – Mar 2018
Manager, Social Support Programs
Australian Red Cross, Mar 2012 – Mar 2013
Team Leader, Migration Support Programs
Australian Red Cross, Sep 2011 – Mar 2012
Community Programs Coordinator
Common Ground Adelaide Jan 2008 – Sep 2011
Senior Project Worker
Leicester YMCA, England May 2006 – Oct 2007
Residents Community Worker (p/t)
Leicester YMCA, England Jun 2004 – May 2006
Housing Officer
Leicester City Council, England Aug 2004 – May 2006
Outreach Worker
Accommodata – Leicester, England Sep 2003 – May 2004
AWARDS / GRANTS
UniSA Vice Chancellor and President’s Scholarship 2019
The Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools – Postgrad bursary 2019
City of Adelaide Award 2018
UniSA Chancellor’s Letter of Commendation 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015
RESIDENCIES
British School at Rome Apr – Jul 2018
NEXUS Arts Sep – Nov 2018
COLLECTIONS
Accademia Di Romania in Roma
Centre for Islamic Thought & Education, UNISA
City of Adelaide Contemporary Acquisitions Collection