63 Layers of Hope

Justin is a Logan-based performance artist, storyteller, singer-songwriter, and most recently an award-winning published poet. Visual art has proven an additional place of respite for Justin in managing his bipolar diagnosis. Justin's family is shaped by art, with his mother a seasoned artist from New Zealand and his daughter an up-and-coming young Logan artist. 

2026 is Justin's third appearance at the Recovered Futures exhibition, with previous mediums including ping pong balls on canvas, and a fired clay sculpture accompanied by audible and written poetry. This year Justin is exploring storytelling through acrylic on canvas.

Check out Justin's website.

Informed by my work in the challenging space of suicide prevention, this piece explores the concept of vicarious hope for people in crisis. This artwork contains 63 different colours, shades, and hues, representing the 63 people who die by suicide every week in Australia. The word 'hope' on this piece has been layered 63 times to represent the hope we can all hold for those struggling in our families and communities.