ART ACQUISITION - PERMANENT COLLECTION HURSTVILLE MUSEUM & GALLERY - 2025

I’m thrilled to announce the acquisition of two of my works into the permanent collection of Hurstville Museum and Gallery through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

The two acquisitions are mixed media works ‘In the wake of my insomnia’ and ‘Playground in my wake’ which were created in 2022 as part of my awarded artist-in-residence at Carss Park through Georges River Council and Hurstville Museum & Gallery and were exhibited as part of my solo show ‘In the wake of…’

During my residency I focused on the site of Carss Park and reflected upon my childhood home across the bay. The residency provided me with the opportunity to investigate my past, inspiring poetic evocations that explore residual experiences through the subconscious whilst simultaneously exploring elements drawing on my Maltese heritage and local connection to the South/South West of Sydney.

Feel so honoured to be part of this great collection.

Image 1: ‘In the wake of my insomnia’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

Image 2: ‘Playground in my wake’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

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‘In the wake of my insomnia’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

‘Playground in my wake’, watercolour and photomontage on watercolour paper, 2022

UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITION - IN THE WAKE OF - HURSTVILLE MUSEUM AND GALLERY

Hot on the heels of my exhibition ‘Nebuchadnezzar Tree Dreaming’ currently on at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery (on until February 26th) I’m excited to announce my new upcoming exhibition ‘In the wake of…’ (opening 26th Feb) at Hurstville Museum and Gallery. This exhibition explores my time spent as artist-in-residence with Georges River Council Carss Park Cottage. The exhibition consisting of 24 works on paper and ceramics are presented as poetic evocations about my childhood looking across the bay. Please join me for an afternoon tea on Sunday 6th March at 3pm to view the exhibition. It’s a very different show to others I’ve had, with mostly bite sized works all for sale to the public. Much thanks to art curators Claire Baddeley and Renee Porter and the stellar crew at Hurstville Museum and Gallery for their care and invaluable support. You are fantastic!

UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITION 2022 - NEBUCHADNEZZAR TREE DREAMING - SHOALHAVEN REGIONAL GALLERY

I’m really excited about my upcoming exhibition at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery this February which includes works on paper and ceramics. Huge thanks to the lovely curatorial team Bronwyn Coulston and Bridget Macleod at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery for their incredible support and assistance in helping me make my show such a pleasurable experience.

Artist Statement:

…”I fell in love with a tree. As ludicrous as it sounds, this was no ordinary tree. It was a tree within a tree. And as my love for it grew, so did my need to connect with its environment.

This infatuation began in 2018 when I was Artist-in-Residence at Bundanon Trust. I made a subconscious connection to this tree through Arthur Boyd’s painting: ‘Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the tree’ 1966-69. The discovery took me on a journey like Nebuchadnezzar, on a lusting experience to creatively claim everything around me without any acknowledgement of God.

The exhibition illustrates personal and universal evocations exploring power, lust, greed, pleasure, guilt and emotional, spiritual and physical deprivation and highlights my ongoing interest in hybrid dialogues between art history and psychological phenomenons.

Each work on paper is accompanied by a response in clay to further reinforce surreal and existential insights into the artists’ work and creative process”.

- Louisa Chircop 2021

Due to Covid the official public opening of the exhibition has been cancelled however a private event may be organised at a later date and bookings will be made available via a bookings link.

IMAGE: LOUISA CHIRCOP,

'NEBUCHADNEZZAR TREE DREAMING (SERIES)'

MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER, 50CM X 40CM

UPCOMING! 'RECIPROCITY' EXHIBITION AND BOOK LAUNCH AT HAZELHURST ARTS CENTRE - Curated by Caitlin Casey

Not long now before the official opening of our group exhibition ‘Reciprocity’ opens to the public at the wonderful Hazelhurst Arts Centre curated by the amazing Caitlin Casey. The exhibition features contemporary established and emerging ceramicists and painters working together collaboratively and the project was designed as an open-ended conversation between these two artforms. Artists involved: Louisa Chircop, Kiata Mason, Jean McGhee, Tim Allen, Natalya Shinn, Tatiana Wans, Hayley West, Mirra Whale, Charmaine Pike, Ann Thompson and Agatha Pupaher.

To accompany the exhibition there will be a book launch of ‘Reciprocity - The Book’ published through Dr Gareth Jenkins’ Apothecary Archive which also includes poetry of his own accompanied by a contextualising essay written by Curator Caitlin Casey. The book will also contain images of the artists’ collaborations and work. The book provides an intimate view into the practices at play when diverse artists are inspired to make together.

Exhibition opens Saturday 26th June 2021 in the Broadhurst Gallery at Hazelhurst Arts Centre 2-4pm.

Covid restrictions apply. Please RSVP Caitlin Casey: Caitlincaseya@gmail.com

Please see exhibition invite below and accompanying image of the publication which can be purchased by clicking here.

Exhibition Invite

‘Reciprocity -The Book’ published by Apothecary Archive published by Dr Gareth Jenkins and essay by Curator Caitlin Casey.

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS AT HAZELHURST ARTS CENTRE 20|20

We’ve made ‘The Leader’ and The Shire is celebrating!

Hazelhurst Arts Centre turns twenty years old and is in the spotlight and so am I along with these amazing artists Michelle Cawthorn, Bob Marchant and George Gittoes along with Hazelhurst Art Centre chairman Byron Hurst and 350 artists in Hazelhurst 20|20 a group exhibition curated by Carrie Kibbler opening this month. I couldn’t be prouder to be apart of the Hazelhurst family and to be invited to represent our local regional gallery.

Keep an eye out for the Hazelhurst Exhibition program called Twenty Arty Acts, an online arts program in which I have been invited to contribute along with nineteen other artists. New content will be released each week with art making, videos, instructional activities and more! I’ll also be interviewed for a short feature film documentary about Hazelhurst Arts Centre.

Exhibition opens 21st November 2020 until 31st January 2021 (Free admission daily 10am - 4pm)

See ‘The Leader ‘ news HERE

Picture: Hazelhurst artists and Hazelhurst Art Centre Byron Hurst from left to Right, Louisa Chircop,Bob Marchant, Byron Hurst, Michelle Cawthorn and George Gittoes.