Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep 67 Tracey Deep

For over twenty years, Tracey Deep has been transforming forgotten remnants of the natural world—from dried botanicals to recycled organic and industrial materials—into captivating, tactile sculptures.

Her art celebrates the regenerative power of the earth through the art of what’s been called intentional imperfection.

Today her work spans gallery exhibitions, immersive installations and major public artworks across Australia. Whether delicate and intimate or monumental in scale, her sculptures invite us to slow down and reconnect with the natural world.

But I think the best description of Tracey is... a creative adventurer, a biology enthusiast, and magical botanical sculptor.

“My passion for working with nature, my love for art has been the inspiration behind where I am today. Mother nature is my teacher, creating floralsculpture installations over decades has been the most inspiring tool in training my eye to assemble unique forms, patterns, shapes & tones together to create “living art”.” Tracey Deep

We had a wonderful conversation as, amongst many things, we discussed her creative journey, her fabulous (and random) gathering process, and her devotion to protecting our land and environment.

Tracey is represented by Saint Cloche Galleries (@saint_cloche)

Head to the link in my bio to hear our conversation or go to wherever you find your podcasts.

Images of Tracey and her work were supplied by the artist

Australian Women Artists

The podcast

Ep 66 Dagmar Cyrulla

Dagmar Cyrulla is an Australian contemporary artist whose work grew out of a lifelong interest in people, relationships, and the emotional texture of ordinary life.

Born in Germany and raised in Sydney from age one, she developed an art practice that blends portraiture, domestic scenes, and psychological observation into stories about human connection.

She is a distinguished figure in the Australian art scene, frequently appearing as a finalist for prestigious awards such as the Archibald, Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Dobell Drawing Prize, Portia Geach, Fishers Ghost and many more.

She has been described, wonderfully I think, as a seasoned storyteller of the contemporary human condition.

“My work is about feelings, based on how we relate to one another. My aim is to engage the viewer in the same thought process as mine, so as to open an opportunity to self questioning. My paintings are stories which hopefully reflect my love of people. The life experiences I use to develop my work include; Father and daughter relationships, power relationships, relationships to parents, being and having a role model, sibling rivalry etc. I have clarity with each artwork in regard to the ideas I am exploring, however it is more important for me to be engaged emotionally with each work. I play with colour and light to help create the mood that I want the viewer to experience.” Dagmar Cyrulla

Head to the link in my bio for our conversation and or from wherever you get your podcasts.

Dagmar (@dagmarcyrulla) is represented by Lennox St Gallery (@lennoxstgallery) and Wagner Contemporary (@wagnercontemporary)

Etre is showing at Lennox St till 25 April

Images

1. DC

2. The keeper of secrets, 2009, pastel on paper 205 x 142

3. Etre III, 2025, oil on linen 50 x 40

4. Le marriage, 2024, oil on linen, 82 x 61

5. Woman bathing after Rembrandt, 2025 oil on linen, 41 x 36

6. After Hopper study II, 2025 oil on paper on board 45 x 25

7. Wendy Paris and Minerva, oil on canvas

8. If you can’t stand the heat, 2010, oil on canvas

Australian Women Artists

The Podcast

Episode 65 Shay Docking

Artists of Influence: Shay Docking (influencing Margaret Ackland, ep. 5)

Welcome to another edition of AWA artists of influence.

For those who’ve heard some of these podcasts, you’ll remember that the last question I ask is: Is there an Australian woman artist who has inspired or influenced you and if so, who and how?

I’ve decided to explore a little further the artists who were named as influences by my podcast guests.

If you’d like to hear in more detail about Shay Docking, then follow the link in my bio to a ‘mini’ podcast about this extraordinary woman.

In ep. 5, I asked this question of critically acclaimed Australian contemporary artist Margaret Ackland. And the artist that was an influence on her was Shay Docking.

Shay Docking is one of the most original landscape painters of the twentieth century. The extraordinary work she produced deserves greater recognition.

Examples of Shay’s work are displayed at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, the National Gallery Victoria and the Art Gallery of NSW as well as other major state and regional galleries across Australia and NZ.

And Shay Docking was such a good friend and influence on Margaret Ackland that, in 1987, Margaret painted a portrait of Shay for the Archibald Prize and was a finalist. The same portrait won the Portia Geach Memorial Award the following year.

Head to my Instagram account to have a look at Shay’s work (a larger carousel of her works will follow) and Margaret Ackland’s beautiful portrait of Shay Docking. And make sure you have a listen to her episode on Australian Women Artists.

Margaret Ackland is represented by

@flinderslanegallery

@stanley_street_gallery

Images

1 Margaret Ackland’s award-winning portrait of her friend, Shay Docking

2 Shay Docking’s Volcano Blue Lake and Plains, 1979, pastel and acrylic on paper on board 76 x 98

More images of Shay’s work to follow on instagram