Future History

Tom Adair is an Australian visual artist whose practice explores contemporary life through familiar landscapes, objects and nature. His instantly recognisable CMYK paintings reinterpret the aesthetics of industrial offset printing by hand, using a highly detailed airbrush process to create works that shift between machine-like precision and human imperfection.
On this episode, we explore what it means to build a life of creative freedom while managing the chaos that comes with art, family, running, business, community and ambition. This conversation looks at how Tom approaches his work, the responsibility of representing Julian Assange for the Archibald Prize, the tension between authenticity and social media, and why the creative life often looks polished from the outside but feels completely chaotic from within.

We unpack:
Why creative freedom comes with chaos

Balancing art, fatherhood, fitness and business

The responsibility of painting Julian Assange

How creativity can fuel all parts of life

Building a community through running

How running supports creative discipline

How to keep evolving as across different creative fields

And so much more.
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Follow Tom on Instagram: @tomadair_
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Follow Future History on Instagram: @futurehistory.co
Follow Wayne Lim on Instagram: @hausofwayne
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Sam Absurd is a visual artist working across illustration, murals and public art. His practice is driven by an exploration of paradox, nature and philosophy, using intricate visual compositions to question logic, perception and the nature of reality.
On this episode, we explore the tension between simplicity and complexity in creative work, building a practice that balances intuition, curiosity, and deeper philosophical thinking. This conversation looks at how artists develop a distinct visual language, navigate the unpredictability of social media, and stay grounded in the process rather than the outcome.
We dive into:
Developing a style that feels simple yet layered

Why unsettling work can be the most engaging

Freestyling vs intentional composition

The connection between maths and creativity

Using paradox and the absurd as a creative lens

Why some of the simplest ideas resonate the most

The unpredictability of social media

Creating work that is meaningful

Finding enjoyment in the process over validation

And so much more.
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Follow Sam on Instagram: @samabsurd
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Follow Future History on Instagram: @futurehistory.co
Follow Wayne Lim on Instagram: @hausofwayne
Made for Makers. Shop Future History Unofficial Goods:
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How do creatives actually think and how does that shape what they build?
Across these conversations, a pattern started to emerge. Not in what creatives make, but in how they approach their work, make decisions, and hold direction over time.
Ideas like creative obligation, forging your own way, inviting exploration, and trusting your vision all contribute to that foundation.
This episode of ‘The Creative Brief’ breaks those ideas down and explores how they can be applied to your own creative work.
If you’re building something of your own, this will help you think about it differently.
Episode references:
Creative Evolution Fuels Artistic Growth | Jack Fran: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mPmfldQqIV97FfEwRwr5i
How to Build a Clothing Brand That Lasts | Caspar Tremlett: https://open.spotify.com/episode/11yhDMRRCPPCV9bQ9HgJfo
The Many Sides of Being an Artist | Paink: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6oCeG9W2jYCRNMzYlvn31i
Turn Vision to a Creative Brand | DOCG: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pPWJ21cqC7z70BnW7GoBT

DOCG is a multidisciplinary artist working across design, illustration, fashion and toys. His practice is driven by experimentation and a desire to explore different creative processes, using each as a tool to build a cohesive creative world.
On this episode, we explore what it takes to build work that extends beyond a single medium, developing a practice that is intentional, adaptable, and capable of evolving over time. This conversation looks at how ideas are carried across formats, and what it means to commit to a broader creative vision.
We dive into:
Treating creativity like a franchise

Creating experiences people can step into

Learning from Apple, Warhol, and KAWS

Building a team to execute your vision

Why simplicity connects across cultures

Convincing others your work matters

Pushing through doubt and outside noise

Representing Australian creativity globally

Staying committed over decades

And so much more.
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Follow DOCG on Instagram: @docg_
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Follow Future History on Instagram: @futurehistory.co
Follow Wayne Lim on Instagram: @hausofwayne
Made for Makers. Shop Future History Unofficial Goods:
shop.futurehistory.co

Jack Fran is a visual artist, muralist, and interior designer whose work bridges public art and spatial design. Known for large-scale murals and art-led interiors, he combines vibrant colour, realism, and site-specific storytelling to transform spaces into engaging visual experiences.
On this episode, we move beyond the surface of murals and interiors to explore what it actually means to build a life as a creative. From navigating identity and belief to the realities of making a living through art, this conversation unpacks both the internal and external pressures that shape the creative path.
We dive into:
The reality of working as a freelance artist

Growing up between cultures in Australia

Moving away from religion and revisiting belief

Creativity as self-expression across mediums

The pressure to constantly create as an artist

Why finishing creative work can feel empty

How to price art and handle clients

Why creative success takes time

If you're pursuing a creative career, this is a candid look at the pressure, uncertainty, and reality that comes with it.
Follow Jack on Instagram: @_jackfran
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Follow Future History on Instagram: @futurehistory.co
Follow Wayne Lim on Instagram: @hausofwayne
Made for Makers. Shop Future History Unofficial Goods:
shop.futurehistory.co