This mixed media artwork is a response to the title ‘The Garden of Loss & Triumph’. My consideration took into account the positive/negative, the space in between, what is buried and what is shown to the world. The tree seemed the perfect symbol of how far things can be underneath with the roots and also how high we can stretch in our successes. I included some words that are particular to my experience as well as hair collected from myself and my daughter.

Jo Roszkowski works in a variety of media including ceramics, textiles, encaustic, mixed media and painting. As with all of her creative output, this body of current work is inspired by the forms, colours and textures of nature, in particular the unseen layers and the ephemeral details that form the greater universe. The ongoing engagement with these elements and the immediacy of the technique attempts to evoke the changing nature of the natural world while providing homage to the fleeting passage of seasonal and generational change. In particular the painting medium has provided an opportunity to explore layers of meaning; what is hidden and what is revealed. At this time of global crisis there is also evidence of a conversation going on between the land and humanity.

Jo is a Melbourne based artist who has studied photography, visual arts and therapeutic arts therapy. She was selected for the Bayside Artist in Residence program at Billilla in 2016, and has been an artist in residence at Kingston Arts in 2017 – 2019. Her work has recently been exhibited at Altman Gallery, No Vacancy, G3, Incub8r and the South Art Dealer in New York. Her work is included in the Benetton art collection Imago Mundi, Italy as well as other private and online art collections.