Art

Bright Bursts Of Winter Botanicals In 'Wonderland'

Hampton-based visual artist Antoinette Ferwerda celebrates the vast spectrum of winter botanicals in her upcoming exhibition, Wonderland.

Celebrating the one-year anniversary of opening her Brighton East studio and gallery, Antoinette invites us inside her recently transformed space to showcase her biggest and boldest collection of paintings yet! 

Written
by
Sally Tabart

Artwork – Hibiscus, Petunia, Tulip, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Poppy Boulevard), Side Table from Trit House, Sculptures, Design Stuff (Ferm LIVING), Arm chair from Trit House. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Blackcurrant Conserve and Lady Fingers. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork – Bluebell, Forget Me Not, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Vapour), Ottoman from Arthur G, Cushion from Cakebread. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Master Blue. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork – Water Lily, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Mineral), Side Table from Trit House, Lamp from Angelucci, Arm chair from Arthur G. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Master Blue and Blue Shell. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork – Camellia, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Onyx & Vintage Maroon), Side table from Voyager Interiors, Lamp from House of Orange, Ottoman from King Living. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Blackcurrant Conserve, Lady Fingers. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork – Royal Lily, Passionfruit Bloom, Coral Bloom, Gerbera & Lavender, Antoinette Ferwerda. Table from Globewest, Dining Chairs from Globewest, Purple Glass from Design Stuff, Blue Glass from Stylist. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Blue Shell, Lady Fingers. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork – Stargazer Lily, Japanese Lily & Orchid, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Onyx), Arm Chair from Voyager Interiors. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Lady Fingers. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork – Bougainvillea, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Miami) Arm Chair from Arthur G, Cushion from Cakebread, Magazine Rack from Trit House (AYTM). Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Master Blue and Blue Shell. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork – Desert Rose, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Miami), Side table from Trit House, Glass Bowl from Stylist. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Master Blue.Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Artwork –Wisteria & Ruby Bloom, Antoinette Ferwerda. Rug from Designer Rugs (Mineral), Console Table from Trit House, Lamp from Angelucci, Brass Sculpture from Stylist. Florist – Pomp & Splendour. Paint – Dulux, Master Blue. Photo – Lisa Cohen. Photo Assistant – Rochelle Eagle. Stylist – Bree Leech.

Writer
Sally Tabart
11th of June 2019

Initially studying graphic design at university, Antoinette Ferwerda went on to spend almost 15 years working in the pharmaceutical industry before changing lanes completely and choosing to focus on her blossoming art practice. Spending time living in remote pockets of Papua New Guinea, Darwin, and extended periods of time exploring her family heritage in Europe, Antoinette looks to her diverse life experiences, and the daily joys of nature from ‘the earth below to the stars above’ to inspire her vibrant work.

An extension of her previous Nebula collection, Antoinette’s upcoming Wonderland series observes the botanical world in the same way she does the cosmic. ‘Nebulas are derived by stars and have vibrant colour at their core,’ explains Antoinette. ‘botanicals are much the same, with the central heart at the core of the petals’. The latest collection explores the artist’s favourite winter blooms. Dramatic bursts of colour reach out to each corner of the canvas with large-scale pieces making a dramatic statement, while smaller artworks act as small windows of joy, bringing abstracted depictions of natural beauty indoors. As well as these original artworks, limited-edition works on paper offer accessible options for all spaces and budgets.

After spending the last decade working full time on her art practice, this exhibition marks the one-year anniversary of opening the doors to her Brighton East working studio and gallery space, where Antoinette showcases select bodies of work. ‘It was my vision to make my studio feel like it was alive with a winter garden wonderland,’ she tells of her recently transformed space, that has been almost a year in the making. Antoinette has explored ‘mediums, layers and textures’ and experimented with mixed mediums in Wonderland – with over 25 new works, it’s her biggest and boldest exhibition to date.

Wonderland by Antoinette Ferwerda
Opening June 13th from 6pm 
June 13th-27th 
659 Nepean Highway 
Brighton East, Victoria 

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