Anna McDermott is an artist, writer, and arts worker based in Narrm. Her practice is informed by a queer-feminist lens and rests upon choreographic methodologies to better understand, contemplate and challenge how we move and are moved.

Anna holds a Masters of Contemporary Art from the University of Melbourne (2020), and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) form RMIT University (2016). She has exhibited at various Artist Run Spaces across so-called Australia. In 2017, she was awarded the Nillumbik Prize for Contemporary Works of Excellence, and in 2020, the Fiona Myer Art + Australia Internship.

Anna is a producer working in experimental contemporary dance and multi-art form practice, most recently as Program Producer at Temperance Hall, and currently as Executive Producer at The Substation.

This is Anna’s first exhibition of ‘new’ work since she quit drinking three or so years ago.

Paul Hogarty (1960-2019) was an artist and musician born in Melbourne in 1960. He was awarded the Painting Prize at Prahran Art School upon graduating in 1987.

Paul was drawn to the figurative, working predominantly in painting and drawing to observe those around him; public transport commuters, fellow drug addicts, customers at the pub, and friends – who now hold most of his collection.

In 1999 Paul exhibited at Footscray Library with Anna’s mother and Paul’s sister, Bridget McDermott. Paul had another exhibition northside, but Bridget can’t recall the details. Paul was also the lead singer of 80s punk band, Roaring Mugrel, alongside Anna’s father, Peter McDermott who played the guitar and piano.

Paul worked as a bartender early in his life, and shortly thereafter, as a set painter at Scenic Studios. Later in life he was unemployed. Paul thought contemporary art was rubbish.