Rowena Martinich recontextualises the tradition of abstract expressionism, upscaling and positioning it into diverse public and private locations, and transforming once ordinary spaces into luscious colour-scapes. In the studio Martinich is driven by process. Her paintings are constantly shifting and evolving, building on each other to reflect a particular interest in the technical capacity of paint, each new body of work displaying a curiosity in the application of fluid layers. Informed by years of painting, Martinich works intuitively to create seemingly spontaneous and playful yet balanced compositions; rich in luminous colour and gesture. Often, Martinich’s works are found in unexpected places; stairwells, train stations, building façades…out of the grey mundanity of the urban landscape, colour leaps from the walls; ‘I love that saturating the retinas of my audience can momentarily distract them enough that they can have a dose of pure joy, where they are immersed in the energy that my artwork is imbued with, where the physicality of its creation is visually depicted through giant sweeping brushstrokes and liquescent expression.’
The vibrant abstract expressionist works of Rowena Martinich span the realms of public art, painting installations, permanent and temporary interventions, murals within streetscapes, awe inspiring architectural applications and powerful compositions on canvas.
Martinich has worked extensively with Australia’s leading architects and interior designers to create bespoke immersive art experiences in both domestic and commercial environments. Her artwork has been sought after by major clients globally, such as Nike, Facebook, Mecca Cosmetica, Mirvac, Bombay Sapphire and The National Gallery of Victoria to name a few.
Creating landmark works that change how the public visually engage with their environment inspires Martinich and has lead her to travel to create major public works and exhibitions in France, Italy, Turkey, China, the UK and the United States.