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In this episode, we chat with the extraordinary Aida Tomescu, one of Australia’s most respected abstract painters. Born in Romania and based in Sydney, Aida has spent her career exploring the emotional and structural possibilities of paint, building a language that’s as physical as it is poetic.

We talk about her process: the scraping, layering, and reworking that give her paintings their dense, luminous surfaces. She describes painting as a living conversation, one that demands patience, trust, and deep attention.

A major theme in our discussion is the importance of form and the relationships between all the elements within a painting. For Aida, nothing sits in isolation; every shape, colour, and mark holds a relationship to the next. It’s this internal rhythm, this careful balancing of tensions, that gives her work its remarkable sense of harmony and presence. 

We also spoke with Aida about her teaching career, she taught at National Art School for twenty years, and several of our previous guests have told us what an amazing teacher she was. 

This conversation is a deep dive into the craft and philosophy of painting — into what it means to spend a lifetime painting. 

Thanks so much Aida, we loved talking to you. 

Aida's show opens at Fox Jensen Gallery on 15th November 2025. 

Aida is represented by Fox Jensen Gallery in Australia , Fox Jensen McCrory in NZ, and Flowers Gallery London and Hong Kong.  

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Aaron Aryadharma Matheson is an artist living and working at Lennox St Studios, Sydney. He’s been a finalist in the Mosman, Waverley and Waterhouse prizes, and picked up the Richard Ford Travel Award along the way. He studied drawing at the Prince’s Drawing School in London, and later completed a Master of Fine Art at the National Art School in Sydney.

This podcast is about art, Buddhism, and living with a chronic illness,multiple sclerosis, and how all those things come together in everyday life. Aaron talks about painting as a way of making sense of things, of finding stillness and meaning through colour, mark and form.  

We had such a great chat with Aaron — thanks so much to him for taking the time. 

Aaron is represented by Liverpool St Gallery. 

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In this episode of Art Wank, we sit down with one of Australia’s most respected – and at times divisive – voices in the art world, John McDonald. Known for his decades-long career as an art critic and columnist, John brings sharp insight, dry humour, and a deep knowledge of art history to the conversation.

We discuss the role and relevance of art prizes in today’s cultural landscape, including whether they truly reflect quality or simply reinforce trends and institutional biases. John shares his candid thoughts on the Archibald Prize, among others, and questions the criteria by which we measure artistic merit in competitive formats.

Our chat turns to the shifting state of the Powerhouse Museum and the controversial changes that have sparked public outcry. John offers a well-informed perspective on how institutions like the Powerhouse serve (or fail to serve) their communities, and what’s at stake when decisions are made without proper consultation.

We also touch on public art and the recent Lindy Lee sculpture installed at the National Gallery of Australia. While acknowledging her important place in Australian art, John questions the processes behind major commissions and whether spectacle sometimes overshadows substance in large-scale public works.

This episode is a lively, thought-provoking conversation about the state of the Australian art world — its politics, pitfalls, and potential — from someone who’s spent a lifetime analysing it. Whether you agree or disagree with his views, John McDonald is never boring, and his insights are well worth a listen.

 If you'd like to read more of John McDonald’s writing, subscribe to his Substack, Everything the Art World Doesn’t Want You to Know. 

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We love Troy Emery's work, his playful, soft sculptures are so extraordinary and tactile, when we saw them at the Art Pharmacy office we had to touch them!! Martin Browne Contemporary in Sydney represents him. We talked to Troy over zoom as he is based in Melbourne, about taxidermy, natural history museums, materials, degradation of nature, Hermes windows, and much more!! We also talked to Troy about his sculptural paintings.   

Troy will be at 2022 Sydney Contemporary so get down to Carriageworks to see his work in the flesh. 

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Bernard is currently on show at Trevor Victor Harvey Galleries in Seaforth until 26 November 2022 - https://www.instagram.com/trevorvictorharvey/?hl=en

Bernard Ollis is an artist of immense talent and knowledge - it was a pleasure to go and chat with him on the podcast - his studio is a riot of colour filled with awesome art works in paint, oil pastel of all manor of fabulous spaces around the world. Bernard was kind enough to share some of his stories of his vast career in the Arts. This podcast is a must listen for all aspiring and emerging artists.


Learn about Bernard Ollis on his website
http://www.bernardollis.com

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We spoke to Sarah Robson at Manly Art Gallery and Museum, surrounded by her current exhibition, Abstract Realities: The MAG&M Project, alongside artists Julian Goddard (Perth), and David Thomas (Melbourne). This exhibition brings together three artists, to create site-sensitive installations that are temporal, open, and sensory. In addition to their own works, the artists have selected works from public and private collections to consider the fundamental role of contemporary abstraction.

Abstract Realities invites the viewer to experience abstract art as a unique way of questioning and revealing the seeming complexity of being in the world.

We had a deep dive with Sarah about the role of abstract art in the world and how it can be perceived as elitist and not understood. Sarah recently completed her Ph.D. and we spoke to her about undertaking a doctorate and what she gained from the in-depth study.

Thanks, Sarah we really enjoyed the chat. you can see the exhibition at Manly Art gallery until December 4th so get down and walk through the experience! 

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Many thanks to Helen Earl Ceramic artist from NSW. Helen creates ceramics from clay with found objects. They are transitory experience of being in the world. 

Her website is
https://www.helenearl.com

Or you can find out more on her instagram
https://www.instagram.com/helenearlart/

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Abdul Abdullah is one of Australia's leading artists and we were lucky enough to meet and interview him at his studio in St. Leonards, shortly before he moves to Bangkok, Thailand.

'Abdul Abdullah is an Australian multi-disciplinary artist. As a self-described ‘outsider amongst outsiders’ with a post-9/11 mindset, his practice is primarily concerned with the experience of the ‘other’. Abdullah’s projects have engaged with different marginalized minority groups and he is particularly interested in the disjuncture between perception/projection of identity and the reality of lived experience. Identifying as a Muslim and having both Malay/Indonesian and convict/settler Australian heritage, Abdullah occupies a precarious space in the political discourse that puts him at odds with popular definitions. He sees himself as an artist working in the peripheries of a peripheral city, in a peripheral country, orbiting a world on the brink. His work has been censored by politicians who have accused him of attacking Australian culture, and once a member of the Christian Democratic party wrote that he wants to “convert young Australians” and that he “worships a moon god”.'

Abdul is represented at Yavuz Gallery, Sydney, and internationally. 

Thanks, Abdul for your time, we really appreciate it. 

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Scott McCracken is an artist from the UK we met through the Turps Banana art school.

You can find out more about Scott on his website
https://www.scottmccracken.co.uk

His work is hard to distill or describe you could call him a painter of still life or even a surrealist or abstract painter. Scott talked to us about many great  in this chat and talks to us about making art, his process and what he has learnt over his arts education and his arts career.

He mentioned an artist who he really admires called Victor Willing - link below.

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/victor-willing-2150

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Marnie Ross is well known for being the founder of the Little Things Art prize that is celebrating its 8th year - go check it out it is is currently (opens 14th September 2022) on show at https://saintcloche.com

You can find out more about Marnie and the Little Things Art prize on her website

http://www.marnierossartist.com

The medium Marnie talks about is from Matisse - https://www.matisse.com.au/mm20-water-based-patina

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Wendy Sharpe needs no introduction, but here's one anyway!!

'Wendy Sharpe is one of Australia’s most acclaimed artists, she lives and works in Sydney and Paris. She has been awarded The Sulman Prize, two Travelling Scholarships, The Portia Geach Memorial Award (twice), The Archibald Prize, and many others. She has been a finalist in The Sulman Prize thirteen times, and The Archibald Prize eight times. She has held over 65 solo exhibitions around Australia and internationally.'

We talked to Wendy in her fantastic studio in Sydney, surrounded by all her paintings and drawings. Our conversation was so interesting, covering Wendy's career, her upcoming book with author Kate Forsyth , how to find your own voice in your artwork, and much more....

Thanks so much, Wendy, we loved meeting you!

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David Fairbairn lives and works in Wedderbern not far from Campbelltown with artist and partner Suzanne Archer. We were excited to go back to their amazing home and studios to interview David a few weeks ago.

We had an in-depth discussion with David about his upbringing, growing up in Africa, boarding school in England and finally reaching the sunny climes of Australia in his early 30’s. We spoke to him about his art practice, teaching art,  and recently joining the fold at Nanda Hobbs in Sydney.

David’s work will be at Sydney Contemporary, opening Thursday the 9th and we are very excited to see it there! 

Thanks, David, always a pleasure to talk to you and Suzanne in your wonderful home.

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Ember Fairbairn has based herself primarily in Melbourne and Queensland, satisfying her love of contemporary culture and the need to be immersed in remote parts of nature. Fairbairn’s practice focuses primarily on painting and she holds a Masters in Contemporary Art. Ember is based in the Yarra Valley.

Her exhibiting history spans from 2001 in both solo and group shows in artist run spaces and commercial galleries in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and New York. Awards include The 2020 Athenaeum Club visual Arts Research Award (2020), Gogo Art Series Award (2019) , Art150 Travelling Scholarship (2019), The Ravenswood Art prize for women (Finalist). Residencies include Montsalvat Art Centre and Yea Arts Festival.

'Within Fairbairn’s painting practice is an influence of nature, where she explores the metaphysical philosophy of ecology and her own body. The result is something akin to art as meditation; each consideration of process, colours, gestures playing out until the artist finds a resolution. The works reveal themselves in active gestures or layers of paint. They reveal a belonging, connecting Fairbairn’s time in the landscape, and evolving within nature. Spending time in nature becomes a meditation on being present in the moment, a feeling that comes through in her paintings, each gesture a methodology of grounding.'


You can find out more about Ember on her instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/emberfairbairn/

Also if you would like to book in here is the link to the Orpheum
Audience with an artist LIVE ...

https://www.movietkts.com.au/selecttickets.php?siteCode=CREMRN&sessionIndex=188880

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In this episode of the Art Wank podcast, we speak with Australian artist James Drinkwater, known for his vibrant paintings, sculpture, poetry, and music. Drinkwater, originally from Newcastle, NSW, has built a reputation for his layered, gestural works and multidisciplinary practice. He won the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship in 2014, which allowed him to work in Paris, and he has been a finalist in the Wynne and Dobell Drawing Prizes multiple times. Our conversation explores his deep connection to place, his creative experiments with dance and theatre, and the impact of his time in New York with Julian Schnabel.

A significant part of our discussion centres on Drinkwater’s collaboration with MIMA Lake Macquarie in 2019, where he was commissioned to create the sets and costumes for a contemporary ballet titled Storm Approaching Wangi – and Other Desires. The ballet was inspired by the watery landscapes around Lake Macquarie and the Australian modernist painter William Dobell. Drinkwater didn't just design the visuals; he also performed on stage, collaborating with choreographers Skip Willcox and Belle Beasley, and composer Joseph Franklin. This project was an opportunity for Drinkwater to translate his painterly language—texture, gesture, and colour—into a dynamic, physical space, extending his creative practice beyond the canvas. He reflects on how the experience allowed him to think about movement and space differently, enriching his approach to making art.

We also delve into Drinkwater's time in New York, particularly his 2022–2023 residency at Julian Schnabel’s property on Long Island. Schnabel, famous for his plate paintings and maximalist style, invited Drinkwater to work in his studio space. This intense, seven-week period inspired Drinkwater’s exhibition American Salt – Montauk to the Bowery, which explored themes of memory, landscape, and artistic legacy. Drinkwater drew parallels between his own experiences in New York and those of Dobell, who had also found creative energy in the city. Although Dobell’s time there was fleeting, Drinkwater sees the connection in the way both artists absorbed and transformed their environments into their art.

Finally, Drinkwater shares his reflections on the interplay between disciplines in his practice, including a mid-career survey exhibition in Canberra. He speaks passionately about the importance of collaboration, travel, and memory in shaping his work. The episode closes with thoughts on how these experiences continue to push the boundaries of his artmaking, both in Australia and internationally.

James currently has an exhibition at Newcastle Straightjacket Art Space with Braddon Snape - 19th July - 10th August. 

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Tiarna Herczeg is one to watch - she is a young indigenous Artist from Sydney.


The best place to learn about her is on her social media pages
https://www.instagram.com/tiarna.herczeg/

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We really loved our chat with Peter Sharp! Very inspiring talk and we learned so much from Peter who was very generous with his words and the pastries he bought us!! We interviewed Peter in his studio in Sydney and talked about his teaching, his upcoming show, Fowlers Gap, being an artist, and much more..

Peter is represented by Nicholas Thompson gallery in Melbourne and his new show, Signal, opens on August 20th so get down there and check out his fantastic work. 

thanks so much for your time and support, Peter, we really appreciate it. 

'Peter Sharp has held solo exhibitions since 1989 in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne and internationally in Germany. His work has been included in group exhibitions since 1987 throughout Australia and internationally in Paris, Chang Mai, Beijing and London. Sharp is a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales School of Art and Design and has a Master of Fine Arts (1992) from the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales. His work was acquired by the Kedumba Drawing Award in 2007 and the Grafton Regional Gallery's Jacaranda Drawing Award in 1996. Sharp was a recipient of a Cite International des Arts Residence, Paris in 1997. A monograph Peter Sharp: Will to Form was published in 2012. Sharp has been a finalist in the Paddington Art Prize (2020, 13, 08), the Hazelhurst Art of Paper Prize (2019, 15, 13, 11, 07, 05, 03), the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize (2018, 10, 06), the Dobell Prize (2010, 09), the Sulman Prize (2008, 98) and the Wynne Prize (2003, 96). His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artbank, regional and tertiary collections in Australia and significant corporate collections.' - Nicholas Thompson gallery

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Shuffle Studios is in Brookvale. 

To find out more about Tony check out his website.

https://www.shufflestudio.com/ 

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Spoiler alert - Nick Bishop is brilliant!!!

In this episode, he explains, how the NFT world can assist artists and galleries in fantastic ways. Nick explains the different layers of the web3 world, blockchain and NFTs in such an understandable way.

He runs a web3 venture capitalist company with three partners, Not Centralised. They will be holding a talk at Manly Art Gallery or the Northern Beaches council's creative open, on August 17th 6-8 pm. 'Metaverse and NFTs - the future of art and the value it unlocks.' Curious to know more about how art crosses over into technology and finance? Want to discover the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens)? Here’s your place to start, with a presentation and conversation led by NFT/Metaverse experts Simo Leonelli, Sam Joel, Nick Bishop, and Mark Monfort.

link to Violeta Sofia 

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Element Ensemble is an improvisational sound experience by Peta Morris, Noah Bloom, Finlay Hogan and guest artists. 

Immerse yourself in soundscapes and visual projections inspired by the local environment and created by Element Ensemble, a three-piece improvisational music group.

See Element ensemble perform as part of the creative open on August 13th 7-8 pm at Curl Curl Creative Space, 105 Abbott Rd, Nth Curl Curl NSW 2099. Book online for tickets here. Bring a pillow to sit on, chairs will be provided if needed.

The podcast was recorded by Fiona, as Julie was unwell,  at Noah's house on the Northern Beaches. 

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We spoke to Ash at her studio and gallery space, Hake House of Art, in Brookvale. She is a young vibrant artist with a smart head on her shoulders, once represented by a gallery, she decided to go it on her own, and the results have proved she made the right decision.

We spoke to her about being a 4th generation artist, setting up a gallery space, colour psychology, techniques, overseas residencies, and much more...

Hake House of Art is taking part in the Northern Beaches Council Creative Open, on August 13th and 14th so head down and check out the studio spaces and see a group exhibition of fantastic artists. 1/275 Harbord Road, Dee Why, 2099. 9-3pm

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Many thanks to LOTTIE Consalvo for speaking to us on zoom - we enjoyed the chat very much sorry if the Audio is not great - rain rain go away.

You can find out about LOTTIE Consalvo on her website

https://www.lottieconsalvo.com

Lottie instagram feed https://www.instagram.com/lottieconsalvo/

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Aidan Gageler is a recent graduate of Camberwell Arts College in London, graduating with a 1st in Fine Art Photography. Since moving back to Newcastle, Australia, he has taken a job at Bundanon Trust and is taking his time thinking and talking about his art practice.

After finding old photography paper in a flea market in Poland, he explored the possibilities of developing the paper and using them to create an artwork in itself, no longer taking the photos but using the photographic process instead.

We really enjoyed our chat with Aidan and we hope to catch up again when we get a chance to visit Bundanon. Aidan's show will be on at the Onwards Gallery in Newcastle in August so go check it out. 

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Brett Piva artist  and super community arts man of Newcastle.

 Find out about Brett on his website

https://www.brettpiva.com

You can find out about his group space Onwards here

https://www.onwardsgallery.com

Many thanks Brett 

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It's difficult to describe the work of James Drinkwater, he really is indefinable. His confidence and talent shine in his work, bold and edgy, full of energy and texture.

James was always destined to be an artist as we discovered in our chat, an aunt providing the nurturing and example to become an artist alongside a close and loving family. He won the Brett Whiteley scholarship in 2014, propelling him further into a dynamic career. He is represented by two major galleries, Nanda Hobbs, Sydney, and Nicholas Thompson, Melbourne.

'James Drinkwater studied at the National Art School, Sydney (2001) and has held solo exhibitions since 2004 in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, and internationally in London and Singapore. A survey exhibition The sea calls me by name was held at Newcastle Art Gallery in 2019.

James Drinkwater’s work has been included in group exhibitions throughout Australia and internationally in Berlin, Leipzig, and London. He has been awarded the Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship (2014), the John Olsen National Art School Life Drawing Prize (2002) and has been a finalist in the Wynne Prize, Sulman Prize, John Glover Art Prize, Paddington Art Prize, Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Dobell Drawing Prize, and the Salon de Refuses.

James Drinkwater has undertaken international residencies in Germany, Kenya, Paris, and Tahiti. His work is held in the collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artbank, and several significant regional and tertiary collections.'

He has recently embarked on a new project creating a ballet inspired by William Dobell’s, ‘Storm approaching Wangi’, to be performed at Lake Macquarie's MAP Mima in November. We cant wait to see it!  
.
He also has an exhibition coming up at Nicholas Thompon in Melbourne coming up - 27 JUL TO 13 AUG.

Thanks to James for having us and Ben Adams for the Photos! 

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Ann Cape is a celebrated Australian artist whose career spans over four decades, marked by her evocative portraiture, sensitive explorations of memory, and enduring commitment to arts education. Based in Sydney, Cape has established herself as a leading figure in figurative painting, known for her ability to capture not only the physical likeness of her subjects but also a deep psychological presence. Her practice includes painting, drawing, and sculpture, often centered on themes of identity, personal history, and human connection.

Cape studied at the National Art School in Sydney, as well as overseas in London. Her influence extends well beyond her studio, through her teaching, mentorship, and role as a judge in various art awards.

Her portraits have been finalists in numerous national prizes, including the Archibald, the Portia Geach, the Doug Moran, and the Mosman Art Prize. Cape’s work is held in public, private, and corporate collections across Australia, and she has exhibited widely both in solo and group shows.

A standout in her recent work is An Unending Shadow, a deeply personal exhibition created in collaboration with her daughter, artist Sophie Cape. This show dealt with their family’s experience of dementia, merging generations of artistic inquiry to produce a raw and moving body of work.

Cape’s thoughtful, human-centered approach to portraiture makes her an ideal guest for the Art Wank Podcast. In this episode, we discuss her life in art, her process in the studio, her thoughts on the evolving role of portraiture in Australia, and her current exhibition, A Painter’s Painter, curated by Ann herself, is on show at Mosman Art Gallery until August. The exhibition features portraits of Ann’s artist friends alongside their own artworks, offering a unique and intimate perspective on their creative lives and personal connections. 

Thanks for talking to us, Ann. 

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Harriett Watts many thanks for welcoming us into your studio. Harriet has always been interested in change and ephemerality - she is fascinated about materials and how we can become more focused on sustainability. 

You can find out more about Harriett on her instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/hettywatts/?hl=en

or on linked in

https://au.linkedin.com/in/harriet-watts-587649118?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

The art show at the V&A called Food that Fiona mentioned can be read about here https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/about-the-exhibition-food-bigger-than-the-plate

To learn about The forty-nine studio have a look at the instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thefortyninestudio/?hl=en

The artist in UK who re

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Tara Axford welcomed us into her home in Sydney last week to talk with us about her work, and her 25-year career as art director of publications such as The Good Weekend magazine.

'As a mixed media artist working with prints, collage, mixed media, fibre arts, and photography, I am interested in the push-pull of constantly searching for something... Are we developing something new or are we constantly referencing and influenced by the past?I draw inspiration from my surrounds, I find patterns, textures, imperfections. The forgotten, the weathered, the discarded appeal to me. '

We talked to Tara about working full time and making time for art, her process of collecting her 'pocket finds' and sharing them with her large online following, her online course with Fibre Art Take Two, what success means to her, and much more.

Tara has a show at Gosford Regional Gallery on 24th June, with the Makers Studio, so go see it.

Thanks so much for talking to us, Tara, and showing us your beautiful work and studio.

Links -
Studio Print Studio printing tiny books
Blurb printing - for printing of catalogues
Pro Camera by Moment

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Many thanks to Suzanne Archer for welcoming us into your home and studio. We enjoyed your hospitality and generosity so much.

Suzanne will be showing at Nicholas Thompson Gallery from 15 June to 2 July.

You can get THE BOOK - The Song of the Cicada from Nicholas Thompson Gallery. https://www.nicholasthompsongallery.com.au/artists/suzanne-archer/

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Lily Cummins is an artist from the  Southern Highlands.  We had a great chat about studying and residencies.  Her practise examines both the self and the emotive bonds and attachments

Lily feels that she attaining a Masters has given her practise a great deal of rigger,
It really helped her grow as an artist and a person to keep studying and gain a masters.

Lily studied at NAS and graduated from her masters in 2018
you can find Lily on her website
http://www.lilycummins.com

Lily is inspired and likes a huge spectrum of artists - Folk and Outsider art  James Castle, Miro, Matisee, Rachel Whiteread, William Kentridge. 

Lily also works at the new art space in the southern highlands - The fantastic space called Ngununggula in Bowral.

https://www.ngununggula.com

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Thanks to Utopia Gallery and Helen Eager for showing us your work and talking to us at your amazing studio. 

'Helen Eager has sustained a solo exhibition program for over three decades with her drawings, paintings and prints. Over the years, the shift from domestic interiors to pure abstraction has been a consistent evolution, her love of colour and light a constant thread.

Helen Eager studied at the South Australian School of Art in the 1970s. A Masters degree at COFA in the late eighties focused on large-scale works on paper, which took her drawing to a new level. A residency at the Greene St Studio in New York in 1988 was pivotal as Eager's work evolved towards pure abstraction.'

Helens work can be found on the Utopia website https://www.utopiaartsydney.com.au/artworks.php?artistID=7-Helen-Eager

  Helen is a part of Vivid this year - her work will be on the 

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Marina Debris is a great pseudonym for this American, Australian-based artist and activist. She uses trash washed up on the beach to create 'trashion', such as in 2020, a dress made out of hundreds of discarded face masks. Marina has also created installation work, such as, 'The Inconvenience Store', for Sculpture by the Sea, which was a mock-up shop, created with re-used materials displaying trash for sale. She is a passionate advocate for recycling, reuse, and buying less. She has used art as a medium to talk about, teach and create discussion around environmental issues and animal rights.

We had a great chat about all things 'rubbish!',  thanks, Marina.

Marina has a Wikipedia page with all her publications and information so check it out here. 

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We spoke to Malcolm Greenwood at his studio in Mosman. What a lovely man. He showed us around his amazing studio full of pots, bowls, and plates, some of 400 makes a week for Australia's top restaurants and hotels such as Bennelong and the Baillie Lodges Group. He started out in business management and then a realisation that his health was suffering from the stress he started his journey in ceramics. We talked to him about the perception of ceramics in Australia, how he makes his ceramics, mentorship, and much more. it was a great chat and we were so happy to meet Malcolm and learn about his successful career and how he gives back by teaching master classes.

'Malcolm Greenwood began working with clay while studying for a degree in Business Administration at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.A., in 1976. After moving to Boston, he began studying various Japanese pottery techniques with visiting Japanese potter, Makoto Yabe, including throwing, ‘neriage’, glaze formulation, and firing techniques.

While living in Nigeria (1978 to 1979) Malcolm built a wood-fired kiln, producing pots using local materials. In addition he traveled throughout much of West Africa, studying the traditional pottery techniques and various collections of antique and contemporary pottery. The form and texture of many of the African pots have had an influence on the development of his work.

On returning to the U.S.A. in 1979, he again worked with Makoto Yabe. During this period Yabe’s most significant influence on his professional development as a potter, was with regards to the philosophy of making and firing pots.

Malcolm returned to Australia in 1980, working in clay on a part-time basis until 1989, when he left the corporate world, finally, to begin a career as a full-time as a potter.'

malcolmgreenwood.com

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Misha Harrison is an artist from Wollongong, NSW, specialising in assembled plywood artworks. She carefully cuts, carves, sands, stitches and paints her artworks into life, depicting still life, portraiture, and abstraction. We spoke to Misha at a live interview at Sydney Road Gallery back in Feb, and at Fiona and I's exhibition back in February. Misha drove all the way from Wollongong and back to speak with us, thanks, Misha!!!! Since then she won the Jumbledonline 2022 Superstar competition, so we spoke to her again over zoom for this podcasts interview to ask her about that.

Misha's exhibition starts on May 5th at Sydney Road Gallery, Balgowlah, so go see it! 

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Michelle Connolly studio is so awesome, full of her assembled sculptures, paintings and creations. It's like stepping into a theatre, full of characters and stories between them. Michelle is very interested in outsider art, she sees something in that kind of work that she recognises. We had a great chat with her about living in the USA in North Carolina and how that shaped her work,  about how she makes her pieces with a variety of found objects and materials, her studio practice, and much more. She is a fascinating artist, bursting with creativity and life. 

Thanks for talking to us , Michelle, we loved meeting you and visiting your wonderful studio. 

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We had a fabulous chat with Donna Green in Utopia Gallery, Waterloo, surrounded by her beautiful exhibition, Vessel, which is on at the gallery from 2nd April - 30th April. Go have a look at these amazing ceramics, collages, and drawings, all speaking to each other in a visceral way. We talked to Donna about living in New York, how she came to ceramics, the technicalities of making her work, being a woman in the art world, and all things art! What a lovely woman, talented, humble, and forging new paths with her art! Very exciting to see. She is very inspiring! 
 
'Donna Green's ceramic vessels, although seemingly abstract, are all based on vases and urns that permeate human cultural history.

Thrown and altered, the bulbous shapes are melded into contorted, ambiguous forms. Glazes rich in colour, metallic or glossy, matte or layered, drip and pour over the surfaces.

Donna Green is included in the current "Clay Dynasty" exhibition of Australian Ceramics at the Powerhouse.' - Whats on Sydney

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In this episode, we’re joined by two key figures from Studio A—CEO Gab Mordy and artist Thom Roberts—for a lively chat about carving out space for neurodiverse artists in the contemporary art world.

Thom shares insights into his recent solo exhibition in Canberra at the National Portrait Gallery, 'The Immersive World of Thom Roberts', reflecting on the ideas behind the work, how it came together, and what it’s like to see your art out in the world. We also talk about his journey through his twenties, and how his relationship with Studio A has helped shape his creative practice, offering both a space and a platform to grow as an artist.

Gab takes us back to the origins of Studio A, revealing how the organisation came to be and the challenges and breakthroughs along the way. She also talks about her recent research trip overseas, where she explored other supported studio models across Europe and North America.

This is a conversation about the power of supported studios, the value of long-term creative relationships, and what happens when artists are given the freedom and resources to thrive.

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Hedley Roberts is an artist from the Uk - he is based in Margate in Kent. His first introduction to art was an encyclopaedia on art that his parents bought him when he was 10 years old. 

We had such a fabulous chat with him about what being an artist is and how its evolved over time.

He simply states that you need
Time, Space and a network of people.

Hedley says find the activity that takes you back to core, a safe place it maybe drawing or reading, taking photographs, writing in a note book, scrapbooks  - as you will have bumps in the road - find the thing that is unchallengeable and then you can use this when you hit those bumps.

He is an artist who has been working for many years. He is predominantly interested in painting although he studied printmaking - he is an academic who has studied for a very long time, he first went to art school at 15 years old and did a degree at Central Saint Martins with the artist Helen Chadwick, and also attended the Royal College of Art and ended up lecturing after his masters at 23 years old.

You can find out more about Hedley on his website.

https://www.hedleyroberts.co.uk.

Hedley talks about what kind of artist do you want to be in the book Navigating the Art World which you can order from Delphian Gallery - see link below.

https://delphiangallery.com/artists/


The artist support pledge is a UK concept you can find out more about it here https://artistsupportpledge.com

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We interviewed Billy Bain in 2021 for a public live stream with Northern Beaches Council Creative Tool Kit, a professional development scheme for creatives in the area.  Before the interview, we visited Billy's studio in Avalon to see the new work he is creating for his upcoming show, 'Being Manly', at Manly Art Gallery and Museum opening March 25th. His ceramic creations and paintings depict characters or identities of Australian sport, the pub and beach culture. Billy has a background in Australian surf culture, previously competing at a high level before realising his calling was in the arts. 

Thanks Billy for chatting with us and doing the live stream with us and we cant wait to see the exhibition!

'Mythologies of the Australian male have long been ingrained in our country's national post-colonial identity. Stoic, white, able-bodied, and heteronormative. But what defines the Aussie bloke nowadays? And more importantly, what does it mean to be a bloke that falls outside the archaic definitions of what being an Australian man entails?

Billy Bain explores representations of Australian masculinity through taking perceptions of the Australian male and playfully deconstructing them. By interrogating and subverting representations of the Australian male in popular culture and the everyday suburban life he exists within, Bain seeks to create works that humour our Australian sense of identity. By “taking the piss” out of these perceptions of who he is meant to be, Bain reclaims power and autonomy over his sense of identity as an Indigenous man..

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Matthew Wright is from Western Australia he began his creative  life by studying Jazz music at University.  He did a short course in painting and has been working away building his painting practise.

He is a self taught - you can find out about his visual art practise from his website
 https://www.matthewwrightart.com

You can also find Matthew on social media - here is his instagram link.

https://www.instagram.com/matthewwrightart/?hl=en

Many thanks for the chat Matthew it was heaps of fun we love your laid back WA style - best of luck with the growth of your art career. 

Fiona and Julie 
 

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We spoke to Nick Collerson for a long time and we left it all in because he is so damn interesting! We could have spoken to Nick for hours, he is such a deep thinker and perceptive artist, it was very insightful. We think you are going to love this episode. He also teaches at the National Art School so get yourself on one of his short courses.  Nick also runs an artist studio in Sydney, which was very cool, and includes the amazing artist Justin Williams. We were so chuffed to meet Nick and Justin and want to move into the studio asap!!!

We spoke to Nick about literally everything from his childhood moving around overseas, to poetry to life and death; it gets deep! It's so refreshing to have deep conversations about life and art. His art is next level, deeply considered, and otherworldly. It was so great to see it in real life in his studio. 

Nick is represented by Liverpool Street Gallery - 

'Nick Collerson was born in Newfoundland, Canada in 1977.  He has no recollection of his place of birth.   He grew up moving from country to country eventually arriving in Australia. These formative years spent moving, again and again, had a profound influence on his sense of identity, sense of place, and artwork.   This instilled in him a transcultural view that is recognized as the “3rd culture kid” perspective; which essentially means not identifying with nationality, feeling instead like a citizen of nowhere and everywhere. 

Now based in Sydney, Collerson draws on his observations of the environment and his personal experience for subject matter and themes. His painting practice is not aligned with one style, instead, he is open to diverse ways of making paintings, and he places equal emphasis on the material, social, historical, poetic, and perceptual aspects of art-making.

“Some commit themselves to abstraction or minimalism, others figuration, landscape or a specific cultural identity, though I consider all of these, my focus is the poetics of painting, in other words, human perception. Consequently, my life/art is informed by a wide range of cultural perspectives”   Collerson 2020

Nick has graduated from the National Art School in 2011 with a Masters of Fine Art and has taught there since 2013.' -Liverpool Street Gallery 

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Orlanda Broom is a landscape and abstract painter from the UK she paints highly saturated dense exotic jungly places in her landscapes that are alluring and incising but if you got stuck in them you would perhaps be afraid...

You can find these amazing paintings on Orlanda's website
https://orlandabroomartist.com

You can also find her on her on instagram
https://www.instagram.com/orlandabroom/?hl=en

All the references to Orlanda's work mentioned in the podcast can be found on the above links. 

Many Thanks Landy

Fiona and Julie. 

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We LOVED talking to Morgan Stokes in his amazing apartment in Sydney surrounded by his beautiful artwork. He is pushing the boundaries of what a painting can be, or is defined to be, which is very exciting.

We met Morgan, his partner Charlie, and their friend at The Other Art Fair and instantly loved them all! We had an art crush on Morgan’s work after Sophie from Curatorial and Co. told us about him. Morgan is represented by Sophie and is having a solo show, Virtual Gaze, opening March 2nd, opening night March 3rd. You really have to see Morgan’s work in the flesh, they beg to be looked at closely for their subtleties. So get your self down to his opening and take a closer look.

We talked to Morgan about the definition of a painting, working with restraint, his path to being an artist, Picasso and much more…

Thanks for talking to us Morgan, we really loved it 😍

We should also mention, Morgan has artistic flair in the family, his Aunt is the wonderful painter Sally Stokes. 

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Emily Ball is an artist and teacher from the UK - she described herself as WHAT SHE IS NOT - an artist who paints things as they look or an abstract painter she is somewhere in between. She wants to make visual poetry. She is a self described magpie. 

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=emily+ball+artist&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Emily advise was so valuable and encouraging about how to keep going as an emerging artist and suggestions of how to grow.

If you would like to purchase Emily's book 

Emily's courses can be found on the website Emily Ball at Sea White. http://www.emilyballatseawhite.co.uk

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You are going to love this one!!

We spoke to Emilya, the 'wizardess of lightbulb moments', founder and director of Art Pharmacy, an art consultancy in Sydney. 

We spoke to Emiya about her illustrious art career in the UK and Australia, and how Art Pharmacy came about. She is a wonderful powerhouse of knowledge, culture, and art, brimming with ideas and interesting projects. She has also written a book, Making Art Matter, which builds a bridge between artists and organisations, governments and the corporate world. Art Pharmacy is also launching an exciting NFT platform that will be a game changer for artists.

'Art Pharmacy is a specialist project manager and purveyor of authentic culture. We pride ourselves on our grass-roots connection to creative communities, common-sense advice, and a nimble approach. We like to understand the “why” of a project and we aren’t afraid to ask questions and bring fresh perspectives. We have no commercial affiliations with any galleries, so we are free to recommend the most suitable artists based on your brief and budget, which we do by utilising our huge and ever-growing community of artists. We are constantly looking for fresh artist talent and maintain an engaged artist community as a priority. We prefer to support local artistic talent where possible.'

Art Pharmacy is a valuable part of the Australian art world. Thanks for talking to us Emilya, and thanks to your wonderful team in the office too.

We also mention the wonderful artist James McGrath so check out his work...

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Amanda O'Bryan from Creative Queen Bee spoke to us about her childhood and about publishing a book called Daily Acts of Creativity.

We really enjoyed talking to Amanda about her creative journey she began life as a graphic designer, she has been also been a painter and a printmaker, and even a designer who worked on the TV show Better Homes and Garden.

Amanda shared with us how she has turned around a creative life from burn out and has unpacked the creative process and how a creative life can be beneficial to us,

You can find out more about Amanda on her website

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=amanda+obryan+the+creative+queen+bee&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

and her https://www.instagram.com/creativequeenbees/?hl=en

You can purchase her book on AMAZON https://www.amazon.com.au/Daily-Acts-Creativity-everyday-creative/dp/0648824608/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UYO8L5U23JMD&keywords=Amanda+obryan&qid=1643690631&s=books&sprefix=amanda+obryan%2Cstripbooks%2C440&sr=1-1

Thanks Amanda 

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This week we had the most fascinating and in-depth chat with artist and teacher, Luke Thurgate. Luke has just completed a Masters's degree at the National Art School in Sydney, whilst also being a teacher so he gets to use the staffroom! That's not all that was exciting about Luke's episode on Art Wank,  we get into the nitty-gritty of his MA, exploring myth, ideologies, semiotics, his exceptional large-scale figure drawings, religion, teaching, connection, and much more... We really covered it all. Thanks for talking to us Luke, we really appreciate it.

The MA grad show opens at NAS next week, Friday 21st Jan, so go see it, it will be amazing to see Lukes's drawings in real life. They are spectacular. 

If you want to look at some of the artists Luke mentions here are the links -
Nicola Samori
Chelsea Lehmann
Heidi Yardley
Odd Nerdrum
Michael Landy

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Katherine Edney is a Sydney-based artist whose evocative oil paintings delve into themes of identity, memory, and emotional transformation. Born in 1983, she holds a Master of Fine Arts by Research in Painting from UNSW’s College of Fine Arts (2008), as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts with First Class Honours (2004).

Edney’s work has received wide recognition in major Australian art prizes. She was a finalist in the prestigious Archibald Prize in both 2019 and 2020. Her 2019 entry, Self-portrait with Ariel, captured a poignant and deeply personal moment during late pregnancy, highlighting her ongoing interest in the strength and vulnerability of the female body during periods of transformation. Other accolades include multiple selections for the Salon des Refusés (2021–2024), the Portia Geach Memorial Award, Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize, and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship.

Her recent solo exhibition, I want to lie in the clouds with you, held at Curl Curl Creative Space, explored mental health and emotional landscapes. Through dreamlike compositions and layered textures, Edney invites the viewer into a contemplative space of calm and introspection.
Katherine Edney 

Her portfolio spans portraiture, still life, and landscape. Notable works include David, Teena, and the black dog (Archibald finalist, 2020) and Ariel as a Green Cat (finalist, 2024 National Emerging Art Prize). Edney’s paintings often blend realism with symbolism, creating narratives that resonate on both personal and universal levels.

Alongside her painting practice, Edney is committed to arts education and runs classes for children on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Her work continues to evolve, underpinned by a strong dedication to storytelling and emotional nuance.

Discover more at katherineedney.com.

Thanks Katherine, we really appreciate your time!

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 We are back ... 2022 is going to be a great year - we are excited about all the things we are wanting to do this year ..  and we are starting with a fabulous artist who is owning it and is in our opinion is killing it in the art world ....

Thanks so much to Jordy Kerwick for chatting to us from France .. you can find out more about him on  https://vigogallery.com/artists/113

Vivo Gallery describes Jordy as

"An outsize and generous character, Australian born Jordy Kerwick lives in a Chateau and former school in the South of France. Inspired by his wife and kids he makes paintings he and they think are awesome; tigers, bears unicorns and snakes, are juxtaposed with his favourite books, still life flowers, trees, nudes, and chief like feather arrangements within folkloric almost fairytale narratives. The paintings are natural, fun, punkish and unapologetic. Vigo will have a solo show for Jordy Kerwick in June 2022."

Jordy's instagram is https://www.instagram.com/jordykerwick/?hl=en

Jordy is with galleries in 
Sydney, London, New York,  Paris,  Greece, check out his socials for details of where and when he's showing next.

Thanks 
Fiona and julie 

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Ana Young is an interdisciplinary artist represented by Curatorial and Co. She is wise, articulate, and an intelligent thoughtful painter. We learned a lot from this conversation. We spoke to her before we were asked to open the Movers and Shakers exhibition by Louise Chircop, it was just a. coincidence we talked about it in the podcast, and then Louise approached us the next day! We had the best chat with Ana about being a woman in the arts, her art education as a mature student, her sculptural works, and much more. 

Thanks, Ana, we loved talking to you. 

'My wall works and 3d constructions are informed by my relationship to the natural world connections between time, silence, and memory. recording via Plein air notations I observe changes in light, volume, space within a particular locale painting are a process of addition/ attrition, they grow skins. A sense of delay occurs as I go back and forth, facilitating processes of change. The paintings acquire their own rhythm. Stillness, optical sensations moments of entering a particular space are critical to their resolution.

Sculptural constructions encompass the human traits of accumulation and collecting the idea of the "wunderkammer", voyaging and discovery, and the humble everyday utensils and paraphernalia are grouped in uncategorised assemblages constructed, they question temporal and associative versions of past physical presences and emotional states we are left to puzzle their connective roles these " remains" and simple fragments speculate and offer the possibility of new stories beyond their physical entities.'

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Zoe Grey is a painter from Marrawah in Tasmania 

You can find more about her on her website 
https://www.zoe-grey.com/about

or on her instagram, https://www.instagram.com/zoe__makes/?hl=en

You can read the article from artist profile we discussed here https://artistprofile.com.au/zoe-grey/