About

Jane Coffey is an artist based in Perth, Western Australia. She completed a Master of Arts at the Royal College of Art in London in 1999. She is the artist and designer behind Future Shelter, a product range inspired by the biodiversity of flora and fauna found in Western Australia.

ARTIST BIO

Jane works from her studio at the Midland Railway Workshops in Western Australia. Jane’s work ranges from oil painting and large scale botanical installations to industrial-process inspired sculptures. Jane regularly exhibits in group exhibitions in Western Australia.

Jane’s work is on permanent display at WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth. She has been shortlisted annually for the York Botanic Art Prize since 2020. She completed an artist residencies in Donnelly River and Hobart creating paintings inspired by the surrounding forest.

Commissions include annual artwork installations for Kings Park Botanic Gardens and artist cards for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2018 Jane worked with her husband to create a 10m long  x 7m high lasercut steel sculpture ‘ISOForm‘ inspired by the industrial landscape and manufacturing processes of Liebherr Perth located in the City of Belmont.

She has previously been commissioned to create artworks inspired by the local history and urban development of the City of Kwinana, City of Subiaco, City of Vincent, Port Hedland and the industrial landscapes of the Pilbara.

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

 

My current practice focuses on exploring the extremes of both natural and built environments and the ecosystems that form them. I hope to inspire the viewer to form a deeper connection the unique biodiversity found in Australia.

I have a particular interest in the interface between biodiverse and urban environments where boundaries contract and expand over time due to changing environmental policy. 

How I respond landscape is directed by how it has developed. Folded rocks of Karijini are painted with rich pigments in blended folds echoing how the rocks were first formed. A certain amount of chaos allowed into the painting process. Urban environments require a more structured response, formed by imposed boundaries and the development of infrastructure over time. These may be painted in a more controlled style.

I’m increasing focused on creating work that conveys the more experiential aspect of being in a natural or urban landscape.