Tamworth artist Joanne Stead admits that she is thrilled to bits after being invited to join an impressive line-up of emerging and established artists on new online platform, Art Lovers Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Art Lovers Australia was officially launched late last year and is fast becoming a national leader as an online platform for Australian artists to share their work with lovers of art.
The brand boasts strong sales from its website and is building large followings on Facebook and Instagram.
Joanne made a career change to reconnect with her passion to create just a few years ago, and the move is paying dividends, with the local artist being selected for two solo exhibitions last year.
The current year has seen her work booked in four joint exhibitions so far, and she says that she is looking for opportunities for another solo exhibition before the end of the year.
“I’m certainly well into creating a new body of work in preparation for another solo exhibition,” Joanne said.
“In 2016 I was lucky enough to be invited to do a major exhibition in Brisbane, so this year I am looking to pursue opportunities to get into Sydney.”
The busy mum balances her art practice with her own consultancy business and says she draws on the magic she finds in the everyday for inspiration.
“Art is definitely a kind of mindfulness for me,” Joanne said.
“It’s about taking time to appreciate the little things that spark joy and light you up every day.”
Nancy Donaldson, Director of Art Lovers Australia says that Joanne’s relatable subject matter and the connection she creates between the heart and imagination, contribute to her appeal.
“We love how Joanne Stead brings ordinary moments of mundane bliss into focus in her compositions - from tea drinking to wearing slippers,” Ms Donaldson said.
“We also love the quirky nature of her collages combining the domestic with flights of fantasy.
"We are always on the lookout for artists like Joanne, who have a strong body of work and dedicated art practice. We know these are the artists that are worth investing in,” she said.
“Joanne has a distinctive style and her dedicated practice is taking her deeper into the subject matter, bringing something special to the viewer," Ms Donaldson said.
Local art lovers can see Joanne’s work on display at the Currabubula Art Show this coming weekend, and then at the University of Newcastle’s Tamworth Clinical School as part of their Reconciliation Week Exhibition from 29 May.
Joanne will also be running a scraperboard workshop on May 26 at the Inland Café, as part of the Splash on Peel art events. Bookings can be made through www.jbrfoundation.com.au.