Conversations with creatives to intrigue and inspire
Meet Aisha Phillips–Art Director, Curator, Backyart Boss
Aisha and Zoe setting up for a past Backyart–Image curtesy of Aisha Phillips
I recently caught up with Art Director and Backyart Co-Founder and Curator Aisha Phillips to have a chat on the lead up to the next Backyart exhibition. This event will be the first since the Covid lockdowns here in Sydney. In this interview we talk about how with a grungy inner west backyard and a couple of good mates, Aisha co-created a grassroots art project that has been building community, moving art out of the white cube and reshaping the way we experience the humble backyard.
Meet Thea Elder—Photographer, Writer, Ripper Yarn
Self Portrait by Thea Elder
In 2018 I was introduced to Thea Elder's photographs by our mutual friend Sugu. I was swept away by Thea’s intimate portraits, featuring stylish humans blissed out with their bits out, completely at one with themselves and nature.
Meet Dina Shirin—Photographer, New Yorker, Generously Collaborative
Dina Shirin by Carly Zavala
Dina Shirin's portraits are striking and intimate. The confidence and power she captures in her subjects offers a little ripple of ecstatic energy for the viewer.
Meet Olivia Chen—Designer, Creative Director and Uncompromising Creative
Magnificent Studio Chenchen portrait of Olivia Chen.
Olivia Chen creates incredible designs that have soul. Her work possesses a vivid, liveliness. Hers' is the sort of design work that sends you off into the rest of your day stoked to sit down and attempt to create something with that same energy and force.
Meet Kenny Pittock—Artist, Illustrator, Inordinately Funny Human
Forearms and fourarms (photographed with fourarms) Kenny Pittock. Mona Foma, 2019
I met Kenny years ago while I was volunteering at Alaska Projects. As a telling theme to that friendship, the first thing I did with Kenny the day after the exhibition was go on a city wide search through every convenience store imaginable for unusual kinds of chocolate bars.
Meet Katie Anderson—Artist and Curator at the Stove Network, Scotland
Katie Anderson.
Photographer: Galina Walls
Hey mate, can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do?
Trickiest question first! I’m an artist, based in a relatively rural part of South West Scotland called Dumfries.
Meet Jett Tattersall—Writer, Skater, Legend
Jett Tattersall is the kind of human being you want to have in your club. It’s just her energy.
This woman has a voracious appetite for life. To be around Jett is to have your creative fire stoked, kindled and loved into a blaze.