Meet the A-team who’ve got joy down to a fine art

Sarah Williamson
and
Marina Gainulina
03:00pm December 05 2024

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but for the artists at Studio A it can be distilled to just one: joy.  

Studio A in Sydney’s St Leonards is an assisted artist studio dedicated to nurturing the careers of talented artists with intellectual disabilities. The social enterprise, founded in 2016 by CEO Gabrielle Mordy and principal artist Emma Johnston, addresses a critical need, as those with intellectual disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to the national average.*

“Our point of difference is that we specifically support artists who have an intellectual disability,” Mordy tells Wire in an interview. “Despite their incredible talent, there's been a real under-representation of their work in Australia's mainstream cultural life. This isn't due to a lack of talent but a lack of the right support systems.”

Thom Roberts, who has been diagnosed with autism, has been a professional artist with Studio A for eight years. He draws inspiration from what he loves, such as trains and big buildings. As in art, so in life – his playful, avant-garde style is evident in his abstract portraits, often featuring duplicate facial features. 

Roberts’ portrait of his friend and the studio’s cleaner, Subita Bhandari, affectionately called "Dinkie Duck," was a finalist for the Sulman Prize – awarded to the best subject or genre painting by an Australian artist.  

He’s also a four-time Archibald Prize finalist and has participated in several international art residencies. 

“Being in the Archibald makes me happy, smiling and proud. I would like to be an artist until I am a very old man,” he says. 

Studio A artist and four-time Archibald Prize finalist Thom Roberts' work is instantly recognisable, often featuring multiples. 

Another artist making waves is Meagan Pelham, a romantic at heart who describes herself as an "artist, model, poet." Love makes Pelham’s world go round. She lives every day like its Valentine’s Day, creating paintings infused with whimsical symbols of devotion – hearts, wedding cakes, fireworks, and her signature 'love owls.' 

Pelham’s many talents were spotted by an Australian fashion brand, aptly named Romance Was Born, who signed her up for a creative partnership featuring Pelham’s artwork and poetry on couture gowns and ready-to-wear garments. 

Studio A helps artists with intellectual disability to overcome the obstacles they face in promoting their work and participating in the art world, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents and earn an income. 

“If you can't read or write, if you can't send emails or compile a CV, or document your artwork, then you're really locked out of the professional art world,” Mordy says. “Studio A provides these systems, enabling our artists to shine and reap the benefits, including self-esteem, income, and a more inclusive cultural world.”

Studio A's impact is further amplified by its recent Inclusive Employment Grant from the Westpac Foundation, valued at $50,000 over two years. The grant is part of a broader Westpac initiative, which has awarded over $5 million to 85 charity partners this year. The grant includes non-financial support such as skilled Westpac employee volunteers, impact measurement support, and peer coaching programs.

Mordy herself was a recipient of the Westpac Social Change Fellowship, which allowed her to connect with international arts institutions and explore how they support neurodivergent artists. 

“Some milestone achievements include major solo exhibitions which demonstrates the national significance that our artists achieve in the Australian art world,” Mordy says. “With the Westpac Social Change Fellowship, one of the initiatives I worked on was connecting with arts institutions internationally. So places like the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art, and looking at how those institutions are working with neurodivergent artists.”

This year alone, 7 of the 16 neurodiverse Australian artists in residency at Studio A were finalists in prestigious art shows, including the Archibald and Sulman Prizes. Their work has also been commissioned by  institutions including the Sydney Opera House, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Carriageworks, and the Spilt Milk music festival.

And as Studio A’s artists continue to gain recognition for their work, what drives them is more profound than money or fame. As 2023 Archibald Prize finalist Catherine McGuiness puts it, her art and life’s work are simply her way of “making everybody happy.”

*Source: ABS, 2018 

Studio A artist Catherine McGuiness has thrice exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, twice in the Archibald Prize (2022, 2023).

Sarah Williamson

Sarah Williamson is a video producer for Westpac Wire. Sarah joined the team in 2024 bringing with her nearly a decade of experience across all aspects of video production. She's worked with high profile companies including Canva and Lego.

Marina Gainulina

Marina Gainulina (she/her) is a Content Producer for Westpac Wire. Graduating with a Bachelor of Communications & Media (Journalism) degree, Marina has spent a decade as a lifestyle journalist and luxury marketer, crafting commercial and editorial content for global brands including Tiffany & Co., Hugo Boss, NIVEA and GRAZIA.

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