With a brilliant sense of fashion, a fascination with technology and a wry sense of humour, it’s no surprise that Cathy Staughton is Third Drawer Down‘s latest art crush!
As part of our AUSTRALIANA merchandise collaboration with Third Drawer Down (TDD) and National Gallery of Victoria, Cathy was invited by TDD to recently paint one of her signature Luna Park works on TDD’s Fitzroy shop window. Along with this, TDD have created an amazing feature on Cathy and have interviewed Arts Project Australia’s Studio Manager James McDonald on Cathy’s practice, her never-ending interest in Luna Park and her inclusion in the AUSTRALIANA collection.
We’ve included the feature below and you can find the original piece on TDD’s website. You can also find the AUSTRALIANA collection at NGV’s Design Store and NGV Design Store Online, or here at Arts Project Australia.
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ART CRUSH 12. CATHY STAUGHTON
Bold, brave, often humorous and sometimes autobiographical, Cathy Staughton of Arts Project Australia is an artist we shall always follow. Cathy has just recently painted our Fitzroy window with her unforgettable Luna Park work, and we couldn’t be prouder to feature her as our latest Art Crush in celebration! We spoke to Arts Project Australia’s Studio Manager James about Cathy’s journey as an artist, her love of Luna Park and her involvement in our latest project with Arts Project, Australiana.

Where did Cathy’s focus on Luna Park come from?
Luna Park has been a constant theme in Cathy’s work since she was a young girl, having grown up in Saint Kilda in the late 60’s just down the road from the famous amusement park. Cathy could see the park from her front garden of her Marine Parade home. Cathy has painted the Luna Park face many, many times throughout her career, often morphing her own likeness into the open mouthed face of the entrance. Cathy relishes all aspects of being an artist, and enjoys the reward of success as well. Attending exhibition openings, selling her work and, of course, making money all appeal to Cathy.



What was Cathy’s favourite part of working with Third Drawer Down and seeing her artwork become a product?

Bonus question!
