About

Since 2013 Council has partnered with Eramboo Artist Environment to host an Artist Residency Program offering a mid-career artist the opportunity to develop their art practice among the creative community of Eramboo – located adjacent to the Ku-ring-gai National Park in Terrey Hills.

Return to the Artist Residency Program page

portrait of Kate Butcher, a blond woman wearing a black top with angular zips, looking to the left with high contrast lighting

2024: Katherine Butcher

Katherine Butcher (she/her) is an Australian visual artist and producer. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from The National Art School in Sydney, and a Master's degree in Fine Art from Trondheim Academy of Fine Arts (Norway). With a diverse artistic practice, Katherine's work spans various mediums, collaborations, and 'making public' formats.

portrait of Bronte, a blond woman wearing a black dress, in front of a corrugated iron wall

2023: Bronte Cormican-Jones

An emerging contemporary visual artist and writer, Cormican-Jones often explores the field of spatial practice through her sculptural works, installation, performance and documented works. Having recently completed an Honours in Visual Arts (Sculpture) at the University of Sydney’s Sydney College of the Arts, she is drawn to glass and the industrial materials of steel, bricks and timber and is interested in the way that these materials are used in architecture and the infrastructure of the world around us.

Julie Bartholomew in her sunlit studio, sculpting a large piece of clay.

2022: Julie Bartholomew 

The ceramics practice of Dr Julie Bartholomew has been inspired by cultural issues and social debates. Over her career, Julie has explored communication technology, global branding and female identity. Since 2010 her work has responded to environmental issues including the precarious existence of threatened Australian birds and flowers, the significance of ice core extraction from Antarctica and recently the declining population of bees.

Julie Bartholomew completed a PhD in 2006, Masters of Visual Arts in 1999 and previously, a Bachelor in Visual Arts from the University of Sydney. Julie has exhibited both nationally and internationally in Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea and New Zealand.

Artist standing in front of large woven artwork.

2021: Catriona Pollard 

Catriona Pollard’s unique sculptural work offers glimpses of shapeshifting natural forms, from unnoticed branches, leaves and vines into stunning works that celebrate the abundance of nature. She uses foraged and discarded plant material with traditional basketry techniques.

macro photo of a flannel flower, with one open flower facing away from the camera, a closed bud in the foreground

2020: Kirsten Fazio 

Kirsten Fazio is an Australian filmmaker and photographer with a background in producing Academy Award winning animation and visual effects for feature films. With a commitment to both the still and moving image, Kirsten has formed her own visual aesthetic in the creation of award-winning films and photography.

Kirsten’s passion for innovative storytelling is informed by decades of experience working throughout Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. Kirsten has covered all aspects of the film making process from script development to post-production. Built on the highest creative and technical standards, Kirsten’s unique language has emerged from her collective experience and exposure to a variety of cinematic and media screen platforms.

Currently supporting her creative teams as Senior Manager at Lucasfilms' Industrial, Light & Magic Kirsten's feature film credits include The Batman, The Mandalorian, X-Men and Happy Feet.

Kirsten holds a BA with a double major in Fine Art and Philosophy (Hons.) from the University of Sydney, Australia and has been awarded numerous International Artist Residencies.

Person in an art gallery looking at fabrics hanging from the ceiling with organic shapes painted on them. Another person is blurred walking out of shot.

2019: Gloria Florez

Raised in Anserma, Colombia, a small town with a population of 20,000, Gloria enjoyed a simple life with little expectations and humble surroundings. Her back garden was her supermarket. She had chickens, fresh eggs daily, carrots and other vegetables just a few meters from her back door. Here, every day she would help her grandmother make tortillas by hand, while listening religious stories.

Gloria’s grandmother wove linen tablecloths and beautifully detailed quilts. This had a profound influence on Gloria and her work. With a strong connection to nature, Gloria spent many holidays walking in the tree line, collecting rocks and vegetation, contemplating their shapes, colours, and textures.

Creating her artworks takes Gloria back to her childhood. Through her creative processes, she explores ancient techniques and sustainable methods to transform fibres into hand-made papers, natural dyes, and prints.

Michelle stands holding a ceramic flower

2018: Michelle Perrett

Michelle Perrett is a visual artist working in ceramics and installation. Michelle is interested in threatened species and researches native plants and ecosystems. Her nursing background has informed her interest in healing properties of plants, and previous bodies of work about hospitals and maternity.

She has exhibited as a finalist in art prizes for her porcelain botanical sculpture and installations including the North Sydney Art Prize 2018, Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2016, Little Things Art Prize 2020, 2021, The Environmental Art & Design Prize 2021 and The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2021. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Fine Art from The University of New South Wales, College of Fine Arts (COFA) and an Advanced Diploma in Ceramics, Northern Beaches TAFE.

Michelle received the six-month Northern Beaches Council residency Award at Eramboo Artist Environment 2018 and was an Open Winner in the Northern Beaches Art Prize 'Postcards from Home' 2020. Her exhibitions include those at Craft NSW, Sir Hermann Black Gallery, 9 Designers at Manly Art Gallery and Michael Reid Southern Highlands Gallery 2022.

picture of the gallery space at Eramboo

2017 - 2014

  • 2017 - Ainslie Murray
  • 2016 - Jessica B Watson
  • 2015 - Harriet Birks
  • 2014 - Imogen Cranna