G'day Legends!
Australia isn’t just a place - it’s a personality disorder we’re strangely proud of.
Australia - where the fiercest of warriors smear Vegemite across their faces like war paint.
Australia - where those forced to drink Ovaltine as kids now mainline Milo until their next fix.
Australia - where koala bears are cute, eucalyptus-stoned, and capable of killing you with a single side-eye.
Australia - where if you’re not using a Tim Tam as a straw in your coffee, well… we can’t be friends.
Australia - where we don’t call them shrimp 🍤
Happy Australia Day. Welcome to the land down under.
Naturally, a place this strange produces artists just as distinctive - so today we’re spotlighting Australian creatives who couldn’t come from anywhere else.
"Love Me With Roses", 2021
The Art Scoop: "I love experimenting, and that is how my work is developed. Each piece is created through trial and error, studying other artists' work and processes and merging them into mine. Most of the time, my pieces start with photography and digital collage to create limited edition prints, and then I take it a step further by using mixed media to add another layer of depth." ~ Amanda Johnstone
"Cocaine (Justonemorebump)", 2015
The Art Scoop: The cartoon characters of your childhood, like you, have grown up. They’ve lived through trauma, battled addiction, found Jesus, entertained deviant fantasies—and just like you, they’re still working on it.
This is the provocative world built over 30 years by Australian pop artist Ben Frost. His hybrid art fuses the clean aesthetics of pop art - flat colours, iconic branding, and cartoon imagery - with a jarring social critique that cuts deep. Like the pharmaceuticals that often feature in his artwork, Ben's paintings sooth and sicken in equal measure, inviting the viewer to confront the contradictions of modern life.
"Cocaine (Justonemorebump)" is no exception.
"Geisha Yume", 2009
The Art Scoop: The artist's detailed style reflects a refined monochrome palette with her name, 'Nanami' (meaning "Seven Seas" in Japanese), stamped in red. Fluid line-work, watery creatures, cranes and goldfish feature heavily in her work.
"STRAYA NED", 2024
The Art Scoop: Ned Kelly, a notorious Australian bushranger, has become a significant figure in Australian folklore, mythologised as a symbol of resistance against colonial authority and perceived injustice, even though he was a thief and murderer.
While Ned Kelly was a real person who committed crimes, his story has been transformed into a powerful myth, with some viewing him as a hero and others as a villain.
The Ned Kelly legend often portrays him as a man forced into crime by corrupt authorities, making him a symbol of rebellion against the established order.
His story has permeated Australian literature, art, and folklore, appearing in ballads, bush ranger melodramas, and even the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.
The saying "as game as Ned Kelly" (meaning brave) is a testament to his enduring place in Australian culture.
Kelly's gang, consisting of himself, his brother, and two friends, became known for robbing banks, taking hostages, and engaging in acts of defiance against the authorities.
The Kelly Gang's final confrontation at Glenrowan, where Ned Kelly was captured in his homemade metal armour and helmet, became a pivotal moment in the Kelly legend. He was executed by hanging at the Old Melbourne Gaol on November 11, 1880. While some accounts claim his last words were "Such is life," most observers reported them as "Ah well, I suppose" or "Ah well, I suppose it has come to this".
Ned Kelly's story is intertwined with the turbulent relationship between the law and the common people in 19th-century Australia, particularly the experiences of convicts and settlers.
The Kelly story continues to be re-imagined and re-evaluated in Australian culture, reflecting ongoing debates about national identity and the legacy of colonialism.
"Tales of Monkey Island", 2011
The Art Scoop: With a background in fashion, illustration and graphics, Shannon has also been inspired by street art and graffiti in particular.
"Embrace Your Journey", 2025
The Art Scoop: "AR [Augmented Reality] blew my mind because it’s like the perfect bridge between my old world and my new one. It allows me to add layers, movement, and a bit of magic to each of my paintings. Suddenly, a static image can tell a story, move, and even interact with you. It’s like the art comes alive, and that’s something I just had to dive into.” ~ The Space Cowboy
"Embrace Your Journey" has a secret...
Concealed within the artwork lies a secret augmented reality animation made by the artist. A treasure of mystery that patiently awaits discovery, to be unveiled only when "Embrace Your Journey" steps into its everlasting home.
Are you ready?
Curious? Keen? Slightly obsessed already?
If you’d like more information on any of the works featured - or just want to talk art, editions, or why Milo is objectively superior - get in touch with us anytime. We’re always happy to help you find the one.
📩 blair@addictedgallery.com | elena@addictedgallery.com
🌏 www.addictedgallery.com
Happy Australia Day 🇦🇺
Until the next one… see ya round like a rissole!
Aussies
Blair & El xox