Background

Marie Larkin is an Australian artist and Creative Arts teacher working from her loft studio overlooking the plains and hills on the outskirts of Tamworth NSW. She graduated in 1979 with a BA Visual Art Education from Alexander Mackie and has over 30 years experience as an Art Educator at both public and private schools, TAFE and as an Education Officer in the Regional Galleries of Australia.

In the 1990’s she began her career as an artist, making fine embroidered pieces revealing aspects of her daily life as a mother. She won both The Dame Nancy Buttfield Embroidery Prize and The Namoi Valley Cotton Fibre Acquisitive Award for her work. She has also been a finalist in the Blackstone Works on Paper Prize and the Lethbridge Small Works Prize and a semi finalist in the Doug Moran National Portraiture Prize. Her exhibition ‘Revealing Threads’ was the recipient of a 10,000 AUD Arts Grant and toured regional galleries in three states. Through this grant Marie was able to conduct embroidery workshops in many of the galleries during the tour.

From 2010 to 2020, Marie earned her place as one of Australia’s most successful Lowbrow artists with a substantial global following of fans and collectors. She has exhibited with galleries such as Corey Helford Gallery and Copro Nason in Los Angeles, Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco , AFA Gallery in New York and Urban Nation in Berlin.

Marie’s embroidery and Pop Surrealist artwork has been published in leading art journals, magazines and books, in Australia and worldwide. Her works are held in private and public collections in Australia and overseas, including The National Textile Collection. She has also written for newspapers and magazines, including Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

Artist Statement

Across a long and rewarding career as both an artist and a teacher, I have developed a deep respect for the creative process and the transformative power of art. Years spent experimenting with texture, textiles and mixed media in the studio, combined with the daily practice of nurturing curiosity and technique in the studio and classroom, have shaped my belief that creativity flourishes when practice and guidance are joined. I now want to bring these two strands together, sharing my knowledge and passion for the creative arts with others, so that students of all levels can discover their own voice, build confidence and experience the quiet joy of making. I am passionate about inspiring students and helping them build confidence in their creative abilities.