Artist CJ The Kid has curated an exhibition at Verona in Paddington, Sydney. Opening with a dynamic event on Thursday 22nd August, THE ART SHOW features the work of three artists as well as CJ The Kid’s own pieces. Notably, and excitingly, the work of the three artists will be their debut Sydney gallery showings, so it’s an excellent opportunity to not only support the city’s art scene but also to get in early on impressive new work.
“This has been an absolute pleasure putting this show together, and my first time curating a show involving other artists,” says CJ The Kid. “Excited is an understatement.”
The artists on debut are Brooke Madsen, Georgina Hare and Charlotte Wilson, while @seani____ will be providing music for the opening night and Glenfiddich is drinks sponsor. Design enthusiasts might recognise Charlotte, or CJ, from a range of events with Habitus in recent times – from the Milan Design Week panel with V-ZUG to the 2024 Winnings x Habitus House of the Year jury. As Senior Associate, she co-leads the interiors team alongside Victoria Judge at SJB’s Sydney studio.
Charlotte, under her artistic arm of CJ Wilson Studio, is a contemporary artist specialising in painting and sculpture who has previously exhibited in London galleries, while her work was also shortlisted in The Royal Academy Summer Show. We of course know all about the connections, overlaps and mutual dependencies of art, creativity and design, so it’s surely an encouraging sign when professional designers put their creative work out for public view.
“I have previously shown my work in London, but this is the first time showing in Sydney,” says Charlotte. “I am really proud and excited to be involved in this exhibition.”
Her efforts predominantly began in the pandemic with the early works of the Crowded series, a creative expression of emotions felt at various life stages – whether it be celebrating or longing for human connection during the depths of the pandemic, using floral arrangements as a form of self-love, or expressing her dreams through the canvas.
The wider experience in interior design and architecture has allowed Charlotte to embrace rational design principles while deepening her understanding of how colour and form can influence the perception and emotion of the viewer. Her background has also shaped her practice in understanding composition and the further ability to create pieces for specific spaces or curating collections that complement spatial settings.
Brooke, meanwhile, is a self-taught abstract artist who has made her mark in the art world with her visually stunning and unique paintings. Her artwork is known for its use of vivid colours and dreamy textures that seamlessly blend together to create beautiful and ethereal pieces. Her artistic journey also began as a therapeutic outlet for self-expression and, over time, her style has evolved and grown in popularity.
Finally, Georgina is an emerging contemporary British painter who has exhibited in London, Melbourne and Europe more widely, as well as featuring in British Vogue 2022. She has completed a number of live art installations in the UK in collaboration with Gone Rogue, Pikes Ibiza and Marston Park. In 2023, she completed an Artist Residency on Hydra Island, Greece, and her art was also featured on The London Underground 2023.
Having moved from London in 2024, Georgina is now working out of Greenhouse Studios, Sydney. Her work incorporates bold colours, mixed media and movement inspired by her dance background – a cathartic expression of her internal emotional world, created using embodied expression of impulsive brush strokes and intense scratching.
Art, music and connection are the pillars of the exhibition, while it’s also clear that the work of each artist on show is drawn from deep wells of personal experience. “Come get amongst this energy, connect and gawk at beautiful art!” adds CJ The Kid. It’s not every day that you can see an exhibition of inspiring art by artists who are exhibiting in the city for the first time.
THE ART SHOW opens at Verona (17 Oxford Street, Paddington) on 22nd August 6:30pm at Verona.
Read about the Winnings x Habitus House of the Year 2024 jury here