We exist to support emerging Australian artists.
By purchasing from ArtCircus, or by attending one of our retreats, you are supporting the livelihoods of our collective who can continue to inspire others through their practice. Follow their journeys on our instagram page: @art_circus
As Creative Director of ArtCircus, Shane has an innate ability to transcend traditional ideas, turning them upside-down and inside-out to design and develop innovative and original approaches to creative expression. In his mind, he sees constant opportunities for learning and growth – and through strong leadership and superb communication, Shane can inspire his fellow creatives to access truly beautiful results. Outside of ArtCircus, Shane loves surfing, painting, writing, tarot, gardening and spending time with his beloved Russian Blue Cat, Tsarina.
Living on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), Delvene Cockatoo-Collins is a Nunukul, Ngugi and Goenpul woman of Quandamooka Country, whose arts practice explores stories of her family's lived experiences on Minjerribah, and responding to representations of images and objects of Quandamooka. Two of the recurring features in Delvene's work reflects her matriarchal line, six generations from Delvene to her grandmothers' great-grandmother, and her grandmothers words which were recorded in a 1974 community meeting, 'weaving baskets and mats like our grannies did'. Working in printmaking and ceramics, Delvene develops work for exhibitions, provides workshops and her retail label of handmade items Made on Minjerribah. Delvene is a postgrad student in Indigenous Perspectives in Creative Arts at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, and is expected to have a final exhibition in mid 2018. Delvene is the official designer of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Medals.
Maggi McDonald is an artist & surface designer based in Sydney, Australia. With nature as her muse, Maggi's brightly coloured abstract gardens and landscapes are inspired by the natural beauty of her adopted country Australia, and South Africa where she grew up. Maggi loves traveling and learning about world cultures, and in particular the symbols and patterns used in textiles and art.
As far back as he can remember, Aaron Darcy has always loved creating things with his hands; including the process of painting, sculpting and drawing. Aaron's deep-rooted passion for the arts often inspires and gives joy to others, which he says motivates his own creative journey. With a love for travel and exploring other cultures, Aaron constantly experiments with different materials and enjoys discovering new techniques to apply to this work. He'll often source natural beads and fibres to assemble the majority of his work, all of which communicate a love of nature which is the muse that endlessly inspires him when introducing colour and textures. Aaron believes the creative community all have gifts to share and naturally finds collaborating with other Australian artists and those afar, very enriching. Aaron also enjoys styling and taking images of his product, almost as much as he does creating them! As for his creative journey, it’s only just begun. Aaron is looking forward to taking us all along the path of self-discovery that is consistently expressed through his incredible work.
Immersed within her idyllic studio on the shores of the stunning seaside village of Bermagui NSW, Natalie Carroll spends her days thinking, tinkering and making. In a collaborative approach to design and illustration, Natalie dives into adventures of sparking joy, illuminating narratives and creating strategic and beautiful experiences that resonate with her clients. When she's not working, you’ll find Natalie swimming, reading, growing her indoor plant jungle, or travelling; somewhere between her stunning homeland and other far-off lovely places in the world.
With nature as her muse, Freya aims to capture that ephemeral moment of beauty. Whether a single bloom or a display of excess. Those hidden moments where the light turns, the petals are on the edge of their last fullness, or the stems can just about no longer hold the weight of their abundance. Having a background in fashion and textiles, Freya describes how the sculptural qualities of flowers have consistently influenced her work, as she finds many similarities between flower structures and petals with the movement of fabric.