Together

TogetherRachel is an emerging artist from Brisbane Meanjin who has been creating since she was a child. As a new mum to an incredibly unsettled baby who rarely slept, Rachel struggled to adjust to early parenthood with two young children. During a time she assumed would be joyful, Rachel was plagued with overwhelm relating to fatigue, lack of control, and feelings of worry. Painting allowed Rachel to bring a centring balance to her life, where she could

This piece explores that difficult duality and the internal struggle it creates - the fight to accept that while I can buy myself flowers

Whilst not a linear path

often appear just when I need a lift

She finds it truly gratifying when others appreciate and connect her work

Kojay is an artist who strives to create visual narratives that bridge the gap between imagination and reality

This imaginative combination reflects my love for cats

Her passion for art as a form of healing has become especially meaningful following a period of ill health

she often scavenged pens to teach herself how to draw

and deeply earned through experience

Depicting myself slumped beneath a giant prawn

I turn to nature to balance and quiet my mind

speaking of familial ties and the story of who we were