Gillian Richards is a visual poet who is passionate about examining our responses to social issues and an Earth in crisis.  Her art is an amalgam of writing and image-making through the mediums of: poetry, printmaking, painting, sculptural poetry, book arts and unbound books.

Between 2015 and 2018, Gillian battled mental and physical illness. She reflects on this with gratitude, acknowledging the gifts of time, guidance, and reflection in understanding her own story. This first-hand experience has been instrumental in her surrendering entirely to her art practice. Gillian started exhibiting in Brisbane in 2021, with the group exhibition Table 21 and had work selected for the 2022 Recovered Futures exhibition. Her 2023 Walk gently exhibition with Rachael Lee was at Logan Art Gallery.

Gillian is intrigued by the multiple masks or layers people use. A self-proclaimed observer of life, Gillian came to view time as an important gift that enables these layers of ‘self’ to be peeled back, thus revealing the richness of real stories.

Originally from Melbourne, Gillian now creates on Bullongen country, on Australia’s Gold Coast where she has a purpose-built studio.