CLAIRE ANDERSON WOOLLEY (b.1989)
Claire Anderson Woolley has been a contemporary mixed media artist based in Gippsland, Victoria for over a decade, having completed her studies at both RMIT and Monash University. Inspired by nostalgia Claire uses found materials such as the blank pages in books and used stamps to bring history and texture to her work. Intrigued by Americana Claire uses the mediums of Graphite, Collage, Acrylic Paint and Screen Printing to share her fascination with pin up girls, cowboys and alien’s to the page whilst focusing of themes of life, death and duality with a touch of humour.
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Her latest body of work LONELY COWBOY is a collection of mixed media works that tells a story of a man travelling aimlessly in search of deep love and connection while fighting addictions and traumas of life, death and social norms. Heavily inspired by the Marlboro Man, it’s a look at what it means to be a ‘Man’ and whats really going on under the surface. Is it just about looking ‘cool’? Or can he work through these constructs of what he thought life was meant to be and what role women play in that. Symbolism plays a large role in her work as visual motifs and iconography of Americana appear across the collection that represent the obsession of any addiction. The Cactus that appears throughout can suggest he in fact can survive these harsh environments. In contrast, the skulls are used as a stark reminder of our mortality and thus the cycle repeats. The use of text throughout can be seen as ritualistic and can turn into a mantra either good or bad and becomes the confirmation bias of his own existence. How can you get out of a deep hole when it keeps consuming you?
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Claires 2023 solo exhibition, ‘Duality,’ was an array of conflicting imagery sitting within one space. Things can look perfect on the surface, however often there are secrets hidden beneath which can be seen with the deep history and texture of the old paper she uses as her starting point for many of the works. And by using this type of paper as her canvas it will continue to age much like ourselves.
With these ideas she has been looking at life and death or what’s inherently good or bad in this world and perhaps accepting that all of those things can exist simultaneously. Duality is a love story filled with joy and sadness. For many life itself is a constant reflection of the unknown and where that sits within the here and now. For some that can be religion or spiritually or perhaps it’s aliens? Everyone is experiencing their own story although there can be similarities which can be seen through the use of motifs such as a cactus or an old whiskey bottle that can be almost ritualistic.
With such seemingly heavy subject matter Claire likes to add a playful side to her work with the use of text and collage which confirms the state of two opposing forces balancing ones life.
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For the near future Claire hopes to expand her skills by working in a larger format. Travel through parts of Australia and hopefully America to gather reference images and inspiration for future exhibitions and/or artist in residence.
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If you'd like to contact Claire for exhibitions, commissions or collaborations please do so through email at
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claireandersonwoolleyart@gmail.com
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