May 2024 It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of not one, but two, remarkable Australian artists and women, both the subjects of Piper Press books. Vale Destiny Deacon, one of our leading indigenous artists and Rosemary Laing, the extraordinary photo artist. May their life and work live on in their many works throughout national collections. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues. Rosemary Laing was represented by Tolarno Galleries who stated, "With a heavy heart, we wish to acknowledge the passing of Rosemary Laing on Thursday, 23 May 2024 following a short illness. One...

Virginia Trioli's series Creative Types, currently features artist Patricia Piccinini. In this episode, Virginia explores Patricia's childhood, key influences and her many hyper real creatures. The episode also reveals one of Patricia's latest works called Vernal Glade, which is comprised of more than 500 handmade and individually fired and coloured tiles of Japanese clay. The work is now permanently installed on the entrance wall of the Flinders Street Station in Melbourne and will act as a greeting travellers as they descend into the station, It will open to the public next year following the stations renovation.

Five years after its closure and sale in 2019, the Sirius building on Sydney Harbour remains one of Australia's best known social housing sites and examples of Brutalist architecture.  Emptied of its long-time residents and sold by the NSW then-Liberal government for a pitiful $150 million and views never to be built out, the efforts to save Sirius continue to resonate.This article covers the new Sirius, which will be adapted from the original by Phillip Rossington, a principal with BVN – which won a design competition to adapt the building. He says his firm took on the project only because of a...

A courageous performance by Julia Savage in Del Kathryn Barton's 'Blaze'. 12-year-old Blaze witnesses a brutal sexual assault that leads to her own crisis framed by fear and powerlessness. Alone in her bedroom, Blaze is rescued by her own imagination, bringing to life an inner self, a fantastic dragon and an entire army to stand behind her. Puppetry and stop-motion animation combine with live action to take us into a world that is both Blaze's and Del's, fantasy and reality, and a celebration of the power of the imagination. Premiered at the 2022 Sydney Film Festival, Blaze is a major...

Patricia Piccinini’s Skywhale family of hot-air balloons is about to launch during the National Gallery of Australia exhibition Know My Name.  Patricia Piccinini captured international attention when she exhibited another family, her Young Family which caused a sensation at the Venice Biennale. Her entire body of work before Skywhale is presented in the only book available on her practice. Patricia Piccinini: Nearly Beloved provides an insightful and engaging journey through her major art series. Patricia Piccinini: Nearly Beloved is reduced to $49.95 to celebrate the launch of the Skywhale family and the Know My Name exhibition. Available for purchase: Patricia Piccinini: Nearly Beloved

There's been a number of new articles about Patricia Picinini's Work and here's a summary of what we think are some great articles and essays. Caitlyn Burford. "The Empathetic Move: The Spirit of the Carnivalesque" (Medium) Chari Larsson, "What does it mean to be human? Patricia Piccinini’s transgenic creations probe the boundaries" (CNN/The Conversation) Embracing the Monster (The Australian) What inspired Patricia Picinini’s hyperreal art? (The Australian Magazine)