Artist Talk: Fiona Rafferty

Dear ECF Members and friends of the gallery,

You are cordially invited to join us for an Artist Talk with visual artist, Fiona Rafferty.

Fiona will be in conversation with curator, Gemma Ben-Ary, and together they will be discussing the artistic journey and the inspiration behind the solo exhibition, Topophilia in the Valley, on display at Ellenbrook Arts in June - July, 2024. 

Fiona's art practice is inspired by a lifelong interest in the natural world and observations of the increasing impact human intervention has on the environment. Her work begins with a particular region, is site-specific and informed by social, anthropological, ecological, and political issues. Excavation, industrialization, site-lines, and mapping are key components, and her multi-disciplinary practice includes photography, drawing, painting, print-making, and artist books.

Born in Geelong, Victoria, Fiona has lived in the UK, Northern Rivers NSW and currently lives in WA. She has a BA (Art) 2009 and a MPhil (Media, Culture and Creative Arts) 2021 from Curtin University, and has exhibited Nationally and in the UK. She won the Emerging Artist Award in the SWAN Awards, WA (2022), and was a finalist in the John Villiers Outback Art Prize Qld (2023), the National Libris Awards, Qld (2020), the Waterhouse Natural Science Prize, SA (2016), and the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, NSW (2016). Her work is represented in public and private collections in Australia, the UK and USA.

Gemma Ben-Ary is a visual artist and curator as well as the Executive Director of the Ellenbrook Art gallery and the Chairperson of Art on the Move, with a particular fondness for ecological and feminist art, and a passion for promoting and developing Western Australian artistic careers. Her career has seen her working in the field of cultural development, collection management and exhibitions, with over a decade's experience in both local government and non-profit settings.

Please RSVP using the links provided.

We hope to see you there!

From the team at Ellenbrook Arts