Eliza Gosse

Sydney-based emerging visual artist Eliza Gosse draws inspiration from mid-century architecture, evoking a sense of nostalgia and memory in her pastel-hued paintings.

Words: Holly Terry

Eliza Gosse is drawn to the simplicity of mid-century architecture for her pastel-hued paintings. Photo: DL

‘When I say “I paint houses” people often look me up and down, sizing me up and decide my arms don’t quite look strong enough to be a house painter!’ says Eliza Gosse. Photo: DL

‘I love painting – I’m one of those artists who is in the studio every day, whether I’m reading, drawing, painting, emailing or just looking. I truly feel beyond lucky I get to do this as my profession. My studio is the best place to just be,’ says Eliza Gosse. Photo: DL

‘My studio is filled with materials I’ve collected from the 1950s: from Women’s Weekly magazines to all sorts of drawing gear – there are endless things one could create,’ says Eliza Gosse. Photo: DL

Sydney-based artist Eliza Gosse in her Sydney studio. Photo: DL

Sydney-based visual artist, Eliza Gosse paints houses. No, not literal houses, but pastel dreamscapes of idyllic architectural settings. Exploring the space surrounding architecture, the creative focuses on the clean lines of mid-century design, washed with muted, opaque tones.

Eliza has this sense of wisdom or understanding that extends beyond her years and filters through to her work in a knowing way. Having read her CV and scrolled through the extensive list of solo shows, group shows and awards, I’m hardly surprised. Her work captures this type of complexity and mastery, whispering to era’s long before she was born.

Incorporating pared back, muted palettes to allow a sense of nostalgia to filter through, the artists’ works are an ode to post war design. Cleverly, she matches this style with titles ‘snatched’ from pop culture; it is safe to say Eliza’s work is both utterly cool and timeless.

Drawn to the simplicity of mid-century architecture, Eliza quickly found that her work was a suggestion of time or place, and one that viewers could interpret based on their own unique ideas and memories.

‘I found viewers would attach their own memories to the works and enjoyed experiencing and listening to their nostalgia. This led me to some of the books I’ve made that bring together my paintings and the stories people were telling me.’

‘My studio is filled with materials I’ve collected from 1950s: Women’s Weekly magazines to all sorts of drawing gear, there are endless things one could create,’ says Eliza Gosse. Photo: DL

“I always loved painting and drawing and claimed very boldly as a child that I wanted to be not just an artist, but a ‘famous artist’ when I grew up.”

— ELIZA GOSSE

‘I create pared back images that evoke an era or a place with a muted colour palate and titles snatched from pop culture,’ says Eliza Gosse. Photo: DL

For Eliza, an artwork has an ability to transport a viewer into another’s experience, or act as a point of reflection for tricky topics, ‘It can also just simply be a moment of pause, awe at the hand of a talented soul, a reflection on beauty. It can do so many different things,’ she says.

When asked about being a career artist, Eliza jokes, ‘When I say “I paint houses” people often look me up and down, sizing me up and decide my arms don’t quite look strong enough to be a house painter!’

Jokes aside, the artist speaks of feeling lucky to enable memories for the viewer, such as a time where they played with their siblings in the pool or sipping on milo in a cabin at the snow, ‘Those moments are important as what is more powerful than story telling.’

Nostalgia is a central element of Eliza’s work, which by using quirky titles such as Spoonful’s of Milo at Kosciusko (2020) and Wet Feet Tip Toed Over the Carpet in Search of a Towel (2021) is just one of the ways she brings this to life.

Since studying fine arts in 2017 and again in 2019, Eliza’s years have been getting bigger and better as they progress. Coming up for the artist is a solo exhibition, Pool Towels Are Softer at Tennis Club at Mars Gallery, in Melbourne.

‘Pool Towels Are Softer At Tennis Clubs is a series of paintings based on a recent trip to California. The works are derived predominantly from motels, bars and clubs in Palm Springs and Los Angeles – rarely was I staying or dining at any of them but it was our honeymoon and we managed to pull on some heartstrings,’ she says

Eliza will also be exhibiting at Sydney Contemporary with Olsen Gallery, later this year.

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ELIZA GOSSE