Philippa Croll

I am a self-taught artist and owe a great deal of my knowledge to my artistic friends and the Melbourne Studio School run by Richard Birmingham. I have an honours degree in Anthropology (Archaeology) and am interested in the relationship between humans and the environment having worked in the protection of Aboriginal, Historic and Natural heritage for many years.

Portrait of Joan

My university thesis investigated a bias expressed in the early 1900’s that Aboriginal people were unable to choose the size and shape of their stone tools. I measured thousands of bondi points from 3 sites near Sydney and found that they used a number of stone types that had the capacity to form a blade. Within the sites there was no statistical variation. However, when the sites were compared there was sufficient statistical variation to determine that cultural differences were present. Thus, disproving the long-held bias.

The Frogs who wanted a King

My artworks span drawings, paintings, mixed media and sculpture looking at everyday objects, still life, landscapes and the human form mostly through abstract figurative works. I am also drawn to depicting individuals using portraiture.

Forest Falls

Through mixed media and more abstract works, places, people and objects are reconstructed in the same way an archaeologist puts the pieces of a pot, or the information gathered in a dig, back together to make a narrative. The end result comes from my imagination and the influences of world events or lived experiences.

When the Moon Kissed the Sky

My recent work evolves through mark making, trashing, turning and developing layer upon layer (like the stratigraphy of an archaeological site) until I see figures that are then brought out to a greater or lesser extent.

Joined by a Thread

My current solo exhibition Spectrum begins with a painting when I was 11 years old, then my final work for the Higher School Certificate. I came back to painting in my 40’s with 3 small children in tow. Starting with weekly life drawing sessions over 6 years and moving into painting then sculpture and mixed media.

The exhibition covers every aspect of my artistic life through to works completed in the last month.

Time Capsule

I have immersed myself in learning, attending classes at Oriel Gallery Brisbane, Melbourne Art Central, Studio 32, Melbourne Studio School, the Hawthorn Artists Society and attending a workshop with Wendy Sharpe and Bernard Ollis. I paint in the studio with Euan Macleod when in Sydney.

Intertwined

I have held 4 solo exhibitions and been part of 21 group shows from 2012 to present and was a finalist in the National Contemporary Art Prize 2022 and 2024 and in 2025 won the Curators Award at the Victorian Artists Society Winter Select Exhibition.