Our latest Artist Profile features Vika Fifita, a Melbourne based Tasmanian artist, and resident Brunswick Street Gallery studio artist.

Her artworks are mostly documentations of her everyday average life and memories put to paint, favouring the use of big, bright colours, layers and text. Fifita lets inspiration take her when it comes, and the results are nothing short of amazing.

What medium(s) do you work with, and why have you chosen them?

I work in acrylic, oil pastel & ink, usually on Linen, paper & blinds.

I like working on Linen, but sometimes if money is an issue, I paint on found materials such as blinds, projector screens, cardboard & plastic boxes.

Can you elaborate a little more on your making process – how does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?

For me there is never really any planning in regards to concept. If I saw something shitty through out the day and it stuck with me, then there is my painting. Or If I’m missing my housemate’s dog, then there is another for example.

Who or what are the biggest influences to your work?

I guess some of the usual suspects are Jean-Michel Basquit, Frida Kahlo, Ken Done, Mirka Mora, Mambo and Tom Polo.

How do you keep your creative juices flowing? How do you push past creative block?

I don’t. I never try and force anything, maybe that’s lazy but I will paint crazy for a couple months, then I won’t paint at all for another couple of months, this I am ok with.

How does where you grew up, or where you live now affect your art?

Like most artist, art for me was a form of escape. I grew up in a small town in Tasmania, which wasn’t a very multi cultural place…it had its flaws, especially to someone who was of mixed race.

I guess that’s where it started.

Who would your dream collaboration be with, and why?

I would love to work with a clothes designer where I would paint the fabric like any normal piece of art & they would construct a gorgeous structured garment out of it.

Everyday. Every Day. by Vika Fifita will be exhibited at Brunswick Street Gallery from 17 May – 2 June.