Joanne Braddy is a mixed-media artist and disability advocate based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Her art practice delves into the exploration of self, primarily through painting, drawing, and ceramics to create emotive self-portraits. Stylistically, Joanne’s artwork combines expressive and tender illustrative qualities. Her pieces often juxtapose dark, confronting imagery with a gentle sense of hopefulness.
Each of Joanne’s artworks represents a courageous emotional journey. Living with depression, she describes the bravery required to navigate the darkness of her mind and find light. While channelling her emotions into her art can be painful, Joanne tirelessly reveals the hidden beauty within. She eloquently describes her pieces as “fragments of her soul” infused into the work.
Joanne’s art aims to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health, both from societal and personal perspectives. She conveys that painful emotions are valid and essential to our life journey, not something to be ashamed of; they are beautiful because they are part of us all.
Through my art, I aim to communicate that it’s okay to show vulnerability, to shed tears, and to embrace one’s true self. Each artwork tells a unique story and expresses a different emotion, capturing the essence of art’s beauty and its ability to convey profound messages. My art is a direct reflection of my mind and soul, bridging the gap between thought and creation to tell meaningful stories.
—Joanne Braddy
