One of the things that truly stood out about Josh’s time at Coorong Life was the late-night chats in the studio. I also loved the tiny mouse that would sneak in, stepping across his palette and leaving little footprints. In a way, it felt like a special collaboration—Josh and the mouse creating side by side. - Kate
JOSH JUETT BIOGRAPHY
Josh Juett is a visual artist based in Adelaide, South Australia. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Visual Art from the University of South Australia in 2021, he has primarily focused on still-life oil painting, using symbolic objects and their relationships to explore personal and emotional ideas. His work often investigates the relational dynamics between object and viewer, encouraging a dialogue that reflects on themes of imperfection, ambiguity, identity, and the way objects can represent human feelings or experiences. At the core of Juett’s practice is an interest in how identity is formed and how creativity can serve as a tool for self-exploration. While oil painting remains central to his practice, he also works across a range of materials and methods to develop and communicate ideas. Recent exhibitions have explored themes of self-acceptance, vulnerability, and fear of the unknown through painting, textiles, ceramics, and installation. In 2024, he undertook a mentorship with prominent Adelaide textile artist Julia Robinson, focusing on the development of large-scale textile sculpture and the symbolic and historical significance of objects.
Juett has exhibited nationally and internationally, led workshops, and engaged with the public through activations for major exhibitions. His work has been supported by project and professional development grants, artist residencies, and recognition through numerous art prizes.
Q: What was a typical day for you during the residency?
A: Well, having successfully escaped reality, I was able to focus my time on the important things. I painted while watching season after season of South Park and when I wasn’t doing that, I was sitting around eating and playing Breath of the Wild. I mean, what else could I ask for?
Q: What inspired you during your stay?
A: I was inspired by the openness of both my schedule and the surrounding landscape. I used the time to create a number of works for a solo show I had coming up, so it was nice to undertake the residency so I could focus on the task at hand and forget about the crushing pressure of a forth coming deadline.
Q: What surprised you about the residency?
A: How insanely quiet the property was at night. I would walk back to the room from the studio at like 1 – 2am and the silence was deafening. As a suburbanite, this was quite foreign to me.
Q: Has this experience stayed with you?
A: It certainly has! I’ll always think fondly of my time at Coorong Life. It was the first artist residency I had undertaken, and after having participated in a handful now, this one still stands prominent in my mind. I feel like having the time and space to focus
is invaluable as an artist and this residency has both of those things in spades. And plus, the doggos were a huge bonus! How could I forget about Edwin and Brandi Lee?
Q: What three words would you use to describe your time at Coorong life?
A: Let’s go with: Quiet, productive and Indulgent.
Q: Any advice or tips for the next artist?
A: Make the most of it! And I don’t mean get a bunch of work done. I mean, relax. Take the time to do the things you can’t do at home with the pressures of the everyday nipping at your heels. Make something weird, befriend a bush mouse, watch 6 seasons of South Park while you throw paint around. Enjoy it while you can.
