Gemma Rose Brook graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Adelaide Central School of Art in 2019 and since then has established a strong emerging practice throughout South Australia and more recently New South Wales. Gemma's paintings are made from life and are a direct emotional dialogue with the environment she is observing. She paints what she sees and what she feels informed by contemporary painting, personal experiences and research into different historical narratives within the land. In Gemma’s first year of professional practice she was awarded a year long Artist Residency at Carclew House and the Carclew Fellowship where over three years she had the opportunity to be mentored by Sydney based painter Tom Carment and travel to Sydney for opportunities, including a masterclass at the National Art School. In 2020, Gemma was a finalist in the Heysen Prize for Landscape and in the same year won first place in the Royal Society of the Arts Youthscape Prize. In 2021, Gemma received a grant from Adelaide Central School of Art to support her successful solo exhibition at Floating Goose Studios that was based on her time that year living in Pukatja (Ernabella) in the APY Lands as an arts centre manager. She also partnered with SALA Festival as a feature artist which led to an artists in schools workshop and exhibitions at Good Bank Gallery and End-space Gallery. In 2022 Gemma was also selected for the Gallery M Art Prize, invited to exhibit interstate and worked in multiple arts and teaching roles all over South Australia, including the Art Gallery of South Australia. In early 2023 Gemma exhibited a series of interiors at Art2 Muse Gallery and a series of landscapes in partnership with the Centre of Creative Health. Soon after she was awarded the prestigious Kangaroo Island Country Arts SA residency. During this residency she was able to refine her professional practice and develop new works for 4 new exhibitions including a group exhibition at Project Gallery 90 in Sydney and 3 Adelaide Based shows at Murdoch Hill winery, The Burnside Council and the State Library of South Australia. Her paintings are held in private collections both nationally and internationally.
