Name/TitleGilded Communities
About this objectIn Gilded Communities, 2023, the artist transformed models of three iconic western Sydney fibro homes by embellishing them with golden leaf. This artistic intervention turned them into ethereal shrines, drawing attention to their architectural beauty and historical significance, particularly in the context of public housing. By doing so, O’Donnell aimed to challenge cultural biases and encourage viewers to reflect on their own memories of home, housing design, affordability and suburbia.
Each sculpture in this series has been adorned with the luminous glow of gold leaf, creating an otherworldly and shimmering tribute to the architectural style that characterized government housing estates in the 1960s. This style of housing holds personal significance to O’Donnell as it was the landscape of her childhood in western Sydney.
MakerO'Donnell, Catherine
Maker RoleArtist
Date Made2023
Medium and MaterialsStereolithographic models with gold leaf
Place MadeOceania, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Blacktown
Inscription and MarksArtwork titles, numbers, and dates on underneath each part.
TechniqueSculpture
MeasurementsEach part: 14 h x 26 w x 33 d cm
Subject and Association KeywordsSculpture
Subject and Association KeywordsContemporary art
Subject and Association DescriptionCatherine O'Donnell is an artist whose focus lies in capturing the urban landscape, specifically the often-overlooked homes of Sydney suburbia, through abstracted forms. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (Drawing) from the National Art School (NAS) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Distinction and Deans Medal) from the University of Western Sydney (UWS).
Her artwork has been widely exhibited and can be found in both public and private collections, both nationally and internationally. Exhibitions highlights include the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennale, the Dobell Prize for Drawing, the Kedumba Drawing Award, the Trinity Buoys Wharfs Drawing Prize, London, the Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, and JADA. Her works have been acquired by esteemed institutions such as the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), Parliament House Art Collection, Artbank, National Art School, Korean Art Foundation, Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), WestPac Collection, Penrith Regional Gallery, MAMA, Grafton Regional Gallery, Grace Cossington Smith Collection, Blacktown City Art Collection, and the Kedumba Collection of Australian Drawings.
Artist residencies and grants have taken O’Donnell across Australia and Internationally. Highlights include the British School at Rome, Italy, Cité des Arts, Paris, Scuola International di Grafica, Venice, Italy, Bundanon, Grafton Regional Gallery, Gallery, Bilpin international ground for creative initiatives and Parramatta Artist Studios.
Named CollectionBlacktown City Art Collection
Credit Line© Catherine O'Donnell
Acquired 2024, Blacktown City Art Prize exhibition
Blacktown City Art Collection
Photo: silversalt Photography
Object TypeSculpture
Object numberBCC ODL 003.1-3
