Catherine Vicki, 2022 Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund recipient, exhibits funded work

Catherine Vicki is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans painting, photography, and textiles, weaving together personal history, faith, and familial legacy. Her artistic journey started in photography, where she worked professionally for more than 20 years. An early influence was 19th-century photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, who exemplified the exploration of the symbiotic relationship between creativity and spirituality.

With over 30 exhibitions to her name, including shows in Japan and San Francisco, Vicki’s work has gained growing national and international recognition. She has been a four-time finalist in the Blacktown Art Prize and was awarded the Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund in 2022. In 2024, she was honoured as part of The Banner Project, a civic installation celebrating 21 women of significance across the Blacktown CBD.

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Visual Communication (Photography & Digital Imaging) and an Associate Diploma of Fine Arts. Her work is held in respected public collections, including the William Wilkins Art Collection and the Blacktown City Art Collection, affirming her impact within the evolving Australian contemporary art scene.

Through the 2022 Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund, she was able to create a cohesive body of work named Love Songs. The collection of works are now on display at the Dennis Johnson Library in Stanhope.

Love Songs is a collection of abstract paintings and textile works by Catherine Vicki, inspired by love, faith, and the Song of Songs. Blending personal stories with spiritual themes and family heritage, the exhibition explores ideas of devotion, longing, and connection. Catherine creates artworks that invite viewers to slow down, reflect, and feel. Each piece tells a story—one that speaks to something sacred and universal.

Check out our Q&A with her below.

How would I describe my artistic practice?
My artistic practice is my way of life. It is an expression of my experience of life, faith, purpose, and love.

How did I start my art practice?
I began creating art in high school. Art was always a part of who I am. I did art for my high school certificate and was selected to be in art express which was a great encouragement to me to continue in art. I studied an Associate diploma of Fine Art and then fell in love with photography. I studied a bachelor of visual communications in photography and digital imaging, then worked as a photographer for the next 20 years. Throughout that I continued to do fine art photography. It wasn’t until 2017 when I picked up my first brush to create a mixed media with photography for an art prize. That was the Blacktown City art prize.

What inspires you when making your work?
Exploration of faith, spirituality and love. My mum has also been a great source of inspiration for my art making.

Why did I apply for the Blacktown City Creative Arts Fund?
I saw it as a great opportunity to be able to get assistance in creating a body of work. CAF enabled me to be able to buy canvases, paints, brushes and artist materials in the quantity and quality I needed for the project.

Have you seen a change in your professional practice and what have you accomplished/created since applying?
Winning CAF gave me great encouragement to move forward in my art career. Someone else believed in what I was doing, so that’s always a great encouragement. Through applying I was able to create a body of work of abstract paintings that now form part of my latest art exhibition, Love Songs.

How would you like to see yourself progress in the future?
To continue creating, evolving and growing in my art. To have exhibitions, show my work and have people connect with it all around the world.