Rosie Deacon, Creative Artist is a home-grown Nyngan kid and proud of it. Not known for talking about herself, this young artist has already amassed wealth of knowledge and a long list of achievements with exhibitions in galleries from Sweden to the Sydney Opera House and a collaboration with Australian icon Ken Done. 

Rosie is dismissive of her artistic success but she has left a huge impression on many art galleries, patrons, and fellow artists around Australia. 

Using her country upbringing as inspiration fodder, Rosie has created a strong community-engaged craft practice by using easily accessible materials to create pieces that include materials and items some might refer to as ‘everyday junk’ culminating in contemporary art, craft, and jewellery. 

Known for her explosion of bright colours and joyful interpretations she is the epitome of uniqueness and individuality. Her works evoke feelings of happiness and celebrate what it is to be Australian in a gleeful, playful way that attracts the eye of both young and old. 

Her artworks are flush with all sorts of materials, acrylic paint, jewels, glittering stickers, clay, rainbow colours, koalas being her current animal of choice.  

After finishing University at Sydney College of Fine Arts with a First-Class Honour’s degree in 2009, Rosie ventured out into the world still a little unsure of what direction to take, excited to see what she could achieve, she began with small projects and according to Rosie progressed from there. 

“Even though I had completed my Arts degree, I still struggled to think of myself as an artist. I knew what I loved doing but I was unsure of where exactly to start.” 

“After a combined exhibition at the end of our third year of University, I realised what could be achieved and I started attending lots of exhibitions and networking and collaborating with other artists. From here my career organically took off and bit by bit I was asked to create and exhibit my work and my style started to evolve.” 

Her humility is part of her charm and despite the fact she fails to speak of it she was the recipient of both the Gallery Barry Keldoulis Grant for emerging artists and the Dinosaur Designs Prize upon completion of her time at UNSW. 

In 2014 Rosie was selected as the inaugural Runway Annual Artist Commission and in 2015 she was invited as the Guest Artist for Studio A’s Project for Underbelly Arts Festival on Cockatoo Island.  

Add to that Rosie’s Exhibition at Abandoned Theme Park ‘Adventureland’ for Campbelltown Arts Centre’s Winter Wonderland and her inclusion in Performance Contemporary for Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Carriageworks and many more - Rosie and her work have travelled far and wide.  

In 2016 Rosie curated the Museum of Contemporary Art's Art Bar Koala Nutbush, at The Rocks, which gave Sydneysiders an insight to her country upbringing with line dancing, bush treats and local craft.  

The exhibition was an outstanding success and led to an immersive Video Installation at Campbelltown Arts Centre in 2016 titled ‘Bit Fat in the Da Back’ working off the theme of tourism and Australiana. 

Koala Nutbush anyone?

2016 Rosie was awarded Viewer’s Choice in the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize at the National Art School in Darlinghurst, while in 2018 Rosie was awarded the Sculpture Prize for the Fishers Ghost Art Award at Campbelltown Arts Centre. 

2019 saw Rosie commissioned for a new work ‘FFS’ (Fashion Forest Seduction) for Mona Foma and has her work held in collections including ArtBank, Campbelltown Arts Centre and Wollongong City Art Gallery and Powerhouse Museum. 

Rosie has held solo exhibitions at Varbergs Konsthall (Sweden) Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Bega Valley Regional Gallery, The Egg & Dart, The Cube Mosman Art Gallery, First Draft, Gaffa Gallery, 107 Projects as well as taking part in Group shows across Sydney, Newcastle, Bathurst, Brisbane, Townsville, Launceston and Sheffield, UK. 

“I grew up surrounded by creative people, particularly my mum. All around me were artists and makers and I soaked it all up. We had sewing classes and Christmas craft group and I was always making presents for my family and friends. I started making toys and everywhere we went whether it was to my grandparent’s farm, out in the paddock, or leftovers from class, I would pick up items that could be used in one project or another or that somehow inspired an idea in my head,” said Rosie.   

Now referring to herself as a processed based artist in sculpture and installation, Rosie has certainly hit great heights with 2022 being a year quite like no other.  

“This year has been a huge year for me so far. The Opera House in Sydney opened a new wing called ‘Centre for Creativity’ and I was invited to exhibit an Interactive Instalment, that invited the audience to be part of the process.” 

“Titled “Housewarming” it was a colourful and chaotic world of workshop stations hidden within the exhibit where kids got to make seagull puppets and pom poms and add them to the display.” 

In May this year, Rosie was contacted by Fashion label ‘Romance was born’ to produce a set design for their fashion show held in the Ken Done Gallery at The Rocks, in Sydney.  

“I loved the ‘Romance was born’ Show, I got to create a coral reef in full colour as a backdrop to the 15 models and 15 looks the design label created, and I was thrilled when the work was collected and archived by the Powerhouse Museum to be kept for reuse.” 

Rosie and legend Ken Done.

Things didn’t stop there, when Rosie was contacted to take part in a dual exhibition with her long-time idol and person she admires, Ken Done.  

On the outskirts of Bowral, NSW a heritage listed dairy gallery ‘Ngununggula” currently houses the amazing work of Rosie Deacon and Ken Done. 

“I have never been so excited as when I found out I was going to be working alongside Ken Done,” said Rosie. “I have always admired his work and feel privileged to be sharing space with him.” 

The combined works have brought a ray of sunshine into play in the aptly titled ‘Spring Collection’ exhibition. The two artists share a love of intense colour and an attachment to the iconic Koala. 

With only a few months left in the year, Rosie is heading to Melbourne for a three-month solo exhibition which will include workshops, working bees and craft activities. This is a change to her usual base of Sydney where Rosie feels her most comfortable, other than when she is in her hometown of Nyngan. 

“I am excited to branch out to new surroundings, meet new people and take on another great project. Life is exciting that’s for sure.”