Layers of emotion
As a mature student, Tracey completed a Diploma of Visual Arts at CAE in Melbourne, majoring in painting. The following year she followed her heart and made the move to Auckland to be with her now husband, who hails from New Zealand. The family's journey led them to Waipu in early 2022, drawn by the opportunity to purchase land and her husband’s involvement in establishing Waipu Botanicals where he is the farm manager. Tracey and her family of five currently reside in a tiny home, awaiting the construction of their permanent dwelling on their new land.
Recently, Tracey showcased her artwork in a duo exhibition titled Touch of the Wild at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery. Her inspiration stemmed from observing her children navigate the complexities of developing their identities and finding their place in the world - watching them wrestle with staying true to themselves while also feeling that pull to fit in. The series Falling Girl delves into the tumultuous journey of being a teenager and falling into an abyss of the unknown. Stepping into the second gallery of the exhibition, visitors were greeted with paintings of children’s heads donning furry animal hoods. While dark and moody, they portrayed a sense of humour as they appear to be floating heads against the black backgrounds.
Tracey's narrative work is deeply emotive, inspired by her experiences as a mother, her friendships, mental health and life in general. Her art predominantly features figurative and portrait paintings executed in a realism style. Using herself, family members, and friends as models, she crafts scenes to photograph and use as reference material to paint from. Her process involves painting in layers to achieve desired tones and textures, and to create a smooth finish with as little visible brush strokes as possible noting “it’s what I love about oil paint, its versatility offers the luxury of time so I can blend on the canvas itself while it’s wet.”
Over the years, Tracey has showcased her art in exhibitions for both group and solo shows across Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland, and various locations in New Zealand. Since committing to painting full- time in 2017, her talent has been recognised through numerous accolades, including being a finalist in esteemed art awards such as the Cleveland National Art Awards 2019 and 2021, Arts Gold Award 2019, and Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Awards 2020 and 2021. She has also been honoured with awards such as the Outstanding Artist award at the Hibiscus and Bays Art Awards 2019 and top placements at the Kumeu Art Awards in 2020 and 2021.