Petra Rodgers

Artist statement

During the pandemic I experimented with using coloured pencil on wood, partly inspired by a Aldolf Wolfli drawing on a wooden wardrobe. Instinctively I drew a jumper on a little piece of Tasmanian oak that I had in my studio. It was a revelation that has since sparked many coloured pencil drawings on plywood. The subjects I render on the timber boards are sourced from old photographs, catalogs and archives. The drawings, paintings and assemblages explore many aspects of my life ranging from early childhood memories to current affections for folk music and textiles.

I am an Australian artist living in Ballarat, Victoria. I have worked as an artist for twenty-five years, graduating from RMIT university in 2002 with first class honours in painting. I have recently entered the art scene after a significant break with a renewed passion and direction gained from years of experimentation with different materials and an exploration into the work of outsider and folk artists.

Petra Rodgers
2025