Like all our lists in this edition, this was tough to whittle down. Gold Coast is home to a truly extraordinary number of talented and inspiring artists. Our awesome mates at Burleigh Brewing Co are such huge supporters of the local arts scene, we just had to ask them to present this one with us. We’ve tried to include a mix of artists who’ve done big things locally, nationally and internationally. Enjoy!
Go Suga
Go Suga is a Japan-born, Gold Coast-based artist who has gone from strength to strength over the past years. It has been a pleasure of following his career from exhibitions and public art on the Gold Coast to international exposure and exhibitions. Go’s distinctive style derives from the bright, tropical vibes of his hometown (the Gold Coast), the surfy lifestyle on our beaches and his interest in social, political and cultural issues.
Jeska Valk
Jeska’s large-scale paintings are extraordinary representations of detailed, realistic expression. Her portraits with layers of intricate lace and detailed and delicate human features have been presented in art and design magazines, tv shows such as Grand Design Australia and the Block and many of the most prestigious art prizes in Australia. An integral element of her art, the lace, has been inspired by Renaissance and Baroque artists and is symbolic due to its ability to be so fragile but strong in contrast. It has become the signature element of this award-winning, Gold Coast-based artist.
Dion Parker
Dion Parker is a multi-award-winning visual artist based on the southern end of the Gold Coast. His fun and often cheeky art has been regularly exhibited as part of the Swell Sculpture Festival. He often collaborates with other local artists bringing his signature style and flair to both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional projects along the coast and his signature character “Lil Dusty”, a stylised dog, is part of Gold Coast’s cultural scene from public sculptures to the trophy design for Gold Coast Music Awards.
Virginia Star
Virginia Star is a contemporary abstract artist and photographer. After a decade as an award-winning photographer, she has focused on painting, drawing inspiration from the beautiful surroundings of her home on the Gold Coast. Her bright, joyous art has been regularly featured in tv shows such as The Block and House Rules and recognised by art prizes and exhibitions nationwide.
Erica Gray
Erica Gray is a multi-disciplinary artist with a fascinating and quirky style. Initially influenced by fashion, design and garment construction processes, she now works with similar principles to produce soft sculpture and wearable art pieces as well as paints. Her paintings express joy and an array of memories and experiences with her pets, home and close family as regular features. Erica is presented by several galleries Australia-wide, exhibits her sculptures in numerous solo and groups exhibitions and her wearable art is displayed within exhibitions and projects such as the World of Wearable Art (WOW), Sartorial (Vivid, Sydney), The Iconic Mars Modern Art Museum (RU), runway shows and performers and artists.
Libby Dyer
Another one of the award-winning artists residing on the Gold Coast, Libby Dyer is a self-taught, intuitive abstract artist inspired by nature. Her floral themes have been frequently chosen for Australian magazines, interior design projects and tv shows. While the Gold Coast might lose her to Tasmania soon, her art will always have elements of the subtropics and the Gold Coast, we are sure.
Brad Turner
Brad Turner is an indigenous artist who was born, raised and paints on Bundjalung country. His art is a way for him to connect with his daughter and his heritage. He works individually and collaboratively on expressing positivity and joy through his style and choice of earthy, coastal tones.
Ivan Lovatt
If you have come across Ivan’s art, whether knowingly or not, you will recognise it with ease. His galvanised wire sculptures are as unique as they are impressive. By layering, twisting, shaping and pinning this very ordinary medium, Ivan creates both abstract and realistic representations. As a regular exhibitor at the Swell Sculpture Festival, his portraits of famous and recognisable people and depiction of animals are recognisable throughout the coast while his art is commissioned across Australia and overseas. Most recently, he has created a series of sculptures for the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.
Kellie North
Self-portrait artist Kellie North is a photographer and a visual storyteller blurring the lines between photography and art with her use of light, colour, and texture. Her beautiful, ethereal and delicate feminine forms have been described as visual poetry and have won prizes and accolades in magazines, tv shows and art prizes alike.
Andrew Cullen
Andrew Cullen is a sculptor and public artist working on the southern end of the Gold Coast. He works predominantly in metals and wire variants with large public sculptures on display in Kingaroy, Murwillumbah, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Lismore. His first significant public art piece, 'Dune Grass', was exhibited in the Swell Sculpture Festival in 2010 and now resides in the Gold Coast Broadwater Parklands.
THIS PIECE WAS CREATED FOR BLANK'S SPECIAL 100th EDITION, DISTRIBUTED IN MARCH 2023.
