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Initially studying graphic design at university, Antoinette Ferwerda went on to spend almost 15 years working in the pharmaceutical industry before changing lanes completely and choosing to focus on her blossoming art practice. Spending time living in remote pockets of Papua New Guinea, Darwin, and extended periods of time exploring her family heritage in Europe, Antoinette looks to her diverse life experiences, and the daily joys of nature from ‘the earth below to the stars above’ to inspire her vibrant work.
An extension of her previous Nebula collection, Antoinette’s upcoming Wonderland series observes the botanical world in the same way she does the cosmic. ‘Nebulas are derived by stars and have vibrant colour at their core,’ explains Antoinette. ‘botanicals are much the same, with the central heart at the core of the petals’. The latest collection explores the artist’s favourite winter blooms. Dramatic bursts of colour reach out to each corner of the canvas with large-scale pieces making a dramatic statement, while smaller artworks act as small windows of joy, bringing abstracted depictions of natural beauty indoors. As well as these original artworks, limited-edition works on paper offer accessible options for all spaces and budgets.
After spending the last decade working full time on her art practice, this exhibition marks the one-year anniversary of opening the doors to her Brighton East working studio and gallery space, where Antoinette showcases select bodies of work. ‘It was my vision to make my studio feel like it was alive with a winter garden wonderland,’ she tells of her recently transformed space, that has been almost a year in the making. Antoinette has explored ‘mediums, layers and textures’ and experimented with mixed mediums in Wonderland – with over 25 new works, it’s her biggest and boldest exhibition to date.
Wonderland by Antoinette Ferwerda
Opening June 13th from 6pm
June 13th-27th
659 Nepean Highway
Brighton East, Victoria
