JOANNE BROOKER
Artist | Illustrator | Caricaturist
Australia

ARTIST STATEMENT

Art is my language. This is how I interact, comment and reflect on the influences, experiences and situations that shape me. I work through the materials I connect with—primarily acrylics, oils and ink.

Acrylics allow me to build semi-opaque layers, working quickly and with detail to capture precise visual intention. Oils attract me with their intense colour, creamy texture and unpredictability. Ink is exact—honest, immediate and uncompromising.

Ink is bold, exacting and graphic. It gives me negative space, clarity and the haiku of line.

Much of my visual language comes from the imagery of my childhood—comics, graphic novels, cartoons and fantasy films. These forms taught me economy of line, visual storytelling, composition, movement, character and the joyful tension between illustration and words. My paintings are streams of consciousness; every mark and colour choice is a moment, a thought, a feeling made visible.

These skills shaped my decade as an editorial artist for News Ltd newspapers, including The Courier-Mail, from 1992 to 2001. Working to daily deadlines, I developed a realistic understanding of artistic production, the commercial realities of the creative world and the political power of visual commentary. I have spoken on media industry panels, writers and arts festivals, and conducted workshops around the world on the craft and impact of illustration and political cartooning.

Since leaving the media industry in 2001, I have travelled extensively, expanding and redefining the context of my work. I have exhibited in Qatar, Dubai, Bolivia, China, France, the UK and Australia.

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

The Clarion Awards
• Nomination, 2011

Queensland Media Awards
• Best Cartoon, 2007
• Best Cartoon, 2006

NSW Journalism Awards
• Best Artwork, 2005

Old Parliament House, Canberra
• People’s Choice Award – “Bringing Down the House”

The Stanley Awards
• Artist of the Year – Gold Stanley
• Caricaturist of the Year
• Nominated – Best Realist Artist
• Nominated – Best Caricaturist

EXHIBITIONS

2021
• Aspire Gallery, Paddington, Brisbane
• Royal Queensland Art Group – The Art of Imagination, Brisbane

2010
• Six Degrees Group Exhibition, Air Gallery, Luton, London

2009
• 9th Tehran International Cartoon Biennial, Tehran
• Esfahan House of Cartoon Exhibition, Iran
• DUCTAC D-Pict Illustration Exhibition, Dubai
• Hozeye Honary Esfahan Cartoon Association Anniversary Exhibition, Iran

2007
• Creative Women and the Art of Comic, La Paz, Bolivia
• Encuentro International Cartoon Festival, La Paz, Bolivia

2006
• Galleriazero, Barcelona
• Saales Gallery, Tehran
• Metro Arts Gallery – Faces, Brisbane
• Coolac Festival of Fun – Bald Archies, Sydney
• St Justin Cartoon Exhibition, France
• Sunday Mail Art Exhibition, Australia
• Ayr Cartoon Festival, Scotland
• Brisbane State Library – Media Art: Past, Present and Future
• Sydney Art Gallery, Darling Harbour
• Bunker Cartoon Gallery – Australian Women Cartoonists
• Back to Back Gallery – Hope, Newcastle

China Promotional Art Tours
Extensive education and cultural workshops in Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Chungdu, Shuhai and additional cities
• Oct 8–25 2003
• Apr 8–21 2003
• Mar 15–Apr 14 2004

Presentations, residencies and workshops delivered for:
• Foresight Partners
• Evans and Peck
• Holmsglen
• Heide Museum of Modern Art, Victoria
• Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria
• Charles Sturt University, Canberra
• University of Southern Queensland
• McGregor Summer & Winter Schools, Toowoomba
• Darwin Parliament House
• Alice Springs Community Library
• Newcastle Community Arts Centre
• Hunter Community College
• State Library of Queensland
• Grafton Artsfest
• Bunker Cartoon Gallery
• Brisbane Institute of Art
• Newcastle State Library
• Woodford Folk Festival
• Palais Newcastle
• Maryborough Artsfest
• USQ McGregor Winter School
• Flying Arts Queensland – statewide workshop programs

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