Australian Women ArtistsThe PodcastEp. 21 June TupicoffJune Tupicoff has been described as "one of Australia’s very best artists” and "the great Australian painter you’ve probably never heard of".June is a Brisbane based artist whose work focuses on an inherent interest in the Australian landscape.She actually grew up in the lush, rural environment of Victoria, and, I dare say as a direct result, developed an early sensitivity to the Australian landscape—a theme that evolved and matured with her move to Qld. By the 1970s, she had begun to establish herself as an artist, initially working primarily in abstraction. Eventually her artistic focus began to shift from pure abstraction to a more overt engagement with the Australian landscape in particular the unique ecosystems of coastal south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Her paintings and pastel drawings are notable for their sensitive rendering of light, colour, and form, and her work has been described as demonstrating, ‘a deepening commitment to environmental observation and a nuanced understanding of place.’Head to the link in my bio to hear about 'the great Australian painter you’ve probably never have heard of’. June is represented by @philipbacongalleriesImages:Pale skyline, 2022pastel on Sennelier card, 50 x 65 cmGrass trees, 2022pastel on Sennelier card50 x 65cmSpanning the slope, 2022pastel on Sennelier card, 50 x 65 cmLilac sent downwind, 2024pastel on Mi-Teintes paper, 52 x 72 cmSun-bleached fen, 2024oil on linen, 138 x 184 cm
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Louisa Chircop
Australian Women Artists The Podcast Ep. 20. Louisa Chircop Louisa stands as a compelling figure in contemporary Australian art. Her work transcends geographical boundaries while exploring the intricate connections between identity, memory, and cultural heritage. She has established herself as a versatile artist working primarily in mixed media, photomontage, collage, and painting, creating works that speak to both personal and collective experiences of displacement, belonging, and the search for meaning in an increasingly fragmented world. She is the daughter of Maltese Australian parents, and her formative years were shaped by the complex legacy of her grandparents, who left Malta after WWII. And that influence would remain part of her art to this day. Throughout her career, Louisa has received numerous accolades and significant recognition including winning the James Gleeson Prize for Surrealism twice and her work has been acquired for the Kedumba Collection, one of Australia’s most highly regarded public collections of contemporary drawing. She has been a finalist in the Dobell Prize for Drawing, the Portia Geach Memorial Award, the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, and the Hazelhurst National Art on Paper Prize amongst many others. Her most ambitious and historically significant project, "Grotto Girl," is currently showing in Malta. It seems to me to represent the culmination of her artistic journey and her most profound engagement with her Maltese heritage. We’re having this conversation between Sydney and Malta Images1. LC by Henry Zammit Cordina2. Whiteley paints Rembrandt then I paint Whiteley and Rembrandt, 2019,mixed media and photomontage on Arches 76x563. Bath Blues after Whiteley 2019 mixed media ad photomontage on Arches 76x564. Self as water feature 2020 mixed media and photomontage on watercolour paper 103x665. Beneath the Paper Rain, mixed media and photomontage on hand painted archival pigment print on cotton rag, 173x1306. The installation on the 450 year old well in the central courtyard
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Joanna Braithwaite
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Ann Thomson
Australian Women Artists The podcast Ep. 18 Ann Thomson Ann Thomson stands as one of Australia’s most eminent contemporary painters and sculptors. Her early passion for art was fostered by influential art figures in Brisbane and in 1957, she relocated to Sydney to pursue formal studies. Her paintings are celebrated for their vibrant, expressive compositions and their ability to evoke a sense of place without resorting to literal representation. Her style is marked by bold brushwork, dynamic colour relationships, and, as a curator described it, ‘a refusal to allow any element to recede passively into the background’. Another hallmark of Ann’s work is her ability to oscillate between abstraction and landscape, often within the same piece. Although the term ‘abstraction’ doesn’t necessarily resonate with her. Over the course of her career, Ann has received numerous accolades. In addition to the Wynne Prize, she has been awarded the Sydney Morning Herald Art Prize, the Kedumba Drawing Prize, the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, and the Tattersall’s Art Prize in Brisbane. Her legacy is evident not only in her own prolific output but also in the generations of artists she has influenced and inspired. As she continues to paint and exhibit well into her ninth decade, Ann Thomson remains a vital force in contemporary art, her work a testament to the enduring power of creativity and the endless possibilities of abstraction We are having this conversation in Ann’s fabulous Sydney studio. Head to the link in my bio to hear our conversation
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Janet Laurence
Australian Women ArtistsThe PodcastEp. 17. Janet LaurenceJanet Laurence is a leading Sydney based artist who exhibits nationally and internationally. For four decades, she has captivated audiences with her multidisciplinary practice spanning photography, sculpture, installation, and video. Her work is a profound expression of her deep concern for the environment, ethics, and the intricate interconnectedness of all living things. She employs a diverse range of natural materials, including living plant matter, minerals, and oxides. Underlying themes of alchemical transformation, history, and perception weave through her evocative installations. She is known for her immersive environments and significant public artworks, often created in collaboration with architects, scientists, and environmentalists. She is an expert at translating scientific concepts into an artistic visual experience. Her work often explores fragility and loss but balances these themes with hope and empathy.Janet invites viewers to forge a deeper, more experiential relationship with the natural world. Her works are both visually stunning and deeply thought-provoking, making her a vital voice in contemporary artistic discourse. She has represented Australia at international exhibitions including the 1997 Venice Biennale and has participated in major exhibitions in Europe, Asia, and North America. We had this conversation in her Sydney studio (shared with some pretty noisy engineers upstairs that you may hear) and she was about to leave for Berlin to set up her new exhibition. Head to the link in my bio to listen to our conversation.
Australian women artists have been (and continue to be) underrepresented and undervalued in this country despite the stunning artistic works that have been produced since the mid nineteenth century. This podcast will shine a light on those artists and their spectacular art works. I'll be talking to the artists themselves, both established and emerging, as well as experts on Australian women artists in history.
Australia