Fleur Wickes - its beautiful here

Your work feels deeply personal. What draws you to share that kind of vulnerability in your art? How do you maintain a balance between personal and professional life?

I’m a person with big feelings. Making art is my way of getting relief and release from those feelings. That’s why I make it. I have a driving need to do it. My artwork is often made as a counterpoint to the difficulties – a way to find light in dark places.

I also often make art with words I need to hear. “We share the same sky” was written when I was missing people I loved, who I was separated from geographically or who weren’t in the world anymore. It was a reminder to me that we were connected, and I needed that reminder. What I’ve noticed working with and connecting with so many people over my thirty six year career, is that no matter who someone is, and how they present on their exterior, we all have the same struggles and desires. To be loved, to be safe. To be seen. To find safe harbour. To have enough. To be enough. And we all hurt. We each have our own grief, difficulty, trauma. In my work, I share my vulneralibitlies because it helps others to know that they’re not alone in their feelings. I have a real desire to help people know it’s okay to feel. Especially in this world where everything is spinning so fast, and there is so much expectation to have all the things, be all the things.

I maintain a balance between professional and personal by having clear boundaries around what I share publically. I’m open to share how I feel, because how I feel is universal really – we all feel these things. I think I’m just more willing/able to articulate those feelings than most. But I very rarely share details of my personal life in public. I don’t talk specifics about my partner or family or friends or son. I don’t share photographs of my home. In this way, I have privacy.

Has there been a moment—big or small—that changed how you think about making art?

There have been so many moments! I’ve had a long career so far. But this ones springs to mind because I was thinking of it only this morning.. About six years ago a woman I didn’t know but who had bought an artwork of mine ang me out of the blue from Melbourne. She had just been diagnosed with aggressive cancer, and knew she wouldn’t have long to live. She said that she felt a strong need to call me to tell me that my art mattered. To keep going. We talked for about half an hour, and at the time it felt a little odd. But I have so often since thought what an important conversation it was. In times when I was feeling unsure of myself and my direction and what the hell the point was of doing what I was doing, I have thought of her, and that conversation, and thought how she said my work mattered. And I’ve returned to doing what I do – keeping turning up to the work, putting one foot in front of the other and making the work. That conversation made me realise that the whole point of my work is to make work that matters to others in their day to day domestic lives. My work as a backdrop to their everyday lives, that maybe gives them a point of lightness during a tough day. Her sister told me that she had my artwork beside her bed as she died. Nothing could mean more to me than that.

Now that the studio’s open—what’s next?

Any upcoming projects or ideas you’re excited to explore in this new chapter?

Now that the studio is open, amongst other things, I’m turning my attention to a new project called Post Art. My art and words in your real-world mailbox, every month that you can put on your wall or fridge or pinboard. I’m releasing PostArt #1 later in June. I did a similar project about a decade ago, and I loved sending my work out into the world for people to hold in their hands and read/touch. It feels even more relevant now, in this world where so much is experienced through a screen. It’s also accessible to a lot more people – not everyone has the want/need/funds space for one of my framed artworks, but the PostArt artworks are purposefully small. It’s been in the planning for about a year, and I can’t wait to launch it.

And of course, I’m dying to do more posters! I’ve got a taste for having my work in the public sphere, at scale, and I want to do more!

If you’re keen to check out more of Fleurs work, check here or keep an eye out for a street poster near you.