Artist Carla Jackett wearing a scarf and stood in front of one her abstract paintings.

Carla Jackett

Artist Carla Jackett. Photo supplied by artist.


Originally from Vancouver, Canada, I now work in paint and clay from my home studio on Dharawal land near Berry, NSW.

Expressive and sometimes chaotic, my abstracted works are an intuitive exploration of line, form, and colour. I paint in oils, acrylic, gouache, and ink and try to achieve balance and harmony in my paintings.

The inspiration and ideas for my work come from my love of the east coast Aussie bush, inland deserts, and the rainforest where I live. For many years I have been travelling across remote deserts where I find endless material for my work while at the same time searching for rare birds.

I have held three solo painting exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows, festivals, and art prizes in both painting and ceramics since mid-1990.

Recently, I returned to ceramics after a long break while I focused on painting. I am interested in hand built sculptural organic forms, often using textured slabs. Surface treatment may include oxides, underglazes, slips, dry and gloss glazes.

My glazes are made from scratch and all work is fired twice in my gas kiln to earthenware and stoneware temperatures. I hope to experiment more with “wild clay” which I have found in my backyard.

Currently, I am working on a new body of work for my Solo exhibition in July 2023 entitled “Wings”, to be held at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW.

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Available works

Exhibitions and awards

Education
Drawing & Painting, Regional Association for Visual Arts, Wollongong (2016); Creative Fine Arts II & III (painting) (2005); Painting I (2003); Visual Arts Certificate IV (sculpture & ceramics)(Distinction) (2005); Wheel Forming Techniques, (ceramics) (2002); Surface Treatment & Design (ceramics) (1995); Ceramics I, (1986).

Ceramics exhibitions

Solo

2002
National Parks Visitor Centre, Fitzroy Falls, NSW.

Duo

2022
Fragility, SHAC Robertson, NSW.

Group (selected shows)

2006
Earthly Delights - Seechange Festival, Jervis Bay.
Meroogal Art Prize - Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW.
Shoalhaven Art Society - Art Prize, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW.

2005
Meroogal Art Prize - Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW (chosen for touring exhibition).
SAC - Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW.

2004
Viva - The Art Group, Berry School of Arts, Berry.
Port Hacking Potters - Port Hacking Art Prize, Gymea, NSW.
Ocean Motion - JBBARTS, Lady Denman, Huskisson, NSW.
Earthly Delights - Seechange Arts Festival, Jervis Bay, NSW.

2001
Inanna - Garden Sculpture Exhibition/Art Prize, Bellawongarah, NSW.

1999
Woodbyne - Garden Sculpture Exhibition/Art Prize, Jaspers Brush, NSW.

Painting exhibitions

Solo

2021
The SHAC Gallery, Robertson, NSW.

2020
Fern Street Gallery, Gerringong, NSW.

2012
A Bird and a Brush, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW.

Duo

2022
Passions and Patterns, Jing Jo Restaurant Gallery, Kangaroo Valley, NSW.

Group (selected)

2022
Jing Jo Restaurant Gallery, Kangaroo Valley, NSW.

2021
Wollongong Art Gallery National Contemporary Watercolour Art Prize. Finalist.

2020
Making Community, SeeChange Arts Festival (JBBARTS), Online exhibition.
Jing Jo Restaurant Gallery, Kangaroo Valley, NSW.

2019
Postcodes from the Edge, Art Prize, Wollongong Art Gallery, NSW. Finalist.
Jing Jo Restaurant Gallery, Kangaroo Valley, NSW.
The Haven, SeeChange Arts Festival/Arts Prize, (JBBARTS), Huskisson, NSW. Finalist.
Thirroul Seaside Arts Festival/Art Prize, NSW. Finalist.
Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival/Art Prize, NSW. Finalist.

.2018
Sandholme Salon Show, SeeChange Arts Festival/Art Prize. Huskisson, NSW. Finalist.

2017
Blacktown City Art Prize, NSW. Finalist.
NOW Contemporary Art Prize, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW. Finalist – Highly commended.
Postcodes from the Edge, Art Prize, Wollongong Art Gallery, NSW. Finalist.

2016
Tetch Gallery, Annandale, NSW.
Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival, Jing Jo Restaurant Gallery, NSW. Selected.

2015
Jervis Bay and Basin Arts Inc. members show, Lady Denman, Huskisson, NSW. Selected.
Hornsby Art Prize, Sydney, NSW. Finalist.
NOW Contemporary Art Prize, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW. Finalist

2013
NOW (Inaugural) Contemporary Art Prize, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, NSW. Finalist.
Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival/Art Prize, NSW. Finalist.

2012
Affordable Art Exhibition, Wollongong Art Gallery. Selected.

2010
Project Contemporary Art Space, Wollongong NSW. Member’s group exhibition.
The Drunken Boat Art Project (Marcel Veldhoven), Lady Denman, Huskisson, NSW.
SeeChange Arts Festival, (JBBARTS), Lady Denman, Huskisson, NSW. Finalist.

2009
Three Birds & A Cockatoo (S.Dale, J.Southern, C.Jackett), Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, NSW.
Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival, NSW. Finalist.

2008
Thirroul Seaside Art prize, Anita’s Theatre, NSW. Finalist.