THE ARTISTS
Meet the Visionaries
Our hotel is more than a space; it's a canvas adorned by the unique vision of our talented local artists. These creative spirits have breathed life into every corner, infusing our walls with their imagination, passion, and local flavour. They've woven the rich tapestry of our neighbourhood into every piece, allowing guests to explore the soul of our city without leaving the hotel. Come, immerse yourself in their extraordinary narratives and discover the vibrant pulse of our creative muse.
Caitlin Ziegler
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Caitlin’s cut and paste pieces are the perfect juxtaposition of the playful craft and elegant, sophisticated compositions. Layered both literally and figuratively, Ziegler’s art is, in some ways, like the publications that supply the materials; it's likely you'll find something new each time you take another look.
“I’ve played around with collage for a long time, mostly for my own fun. I’m pretty obsessed with colour – it’s how I organise most things – and the style I’m currently playing with came out of creating colour studies. I love the process of physically cutting and pasting and moving elements around until the composition works but also love the flexibility and scope digital collage can add. I use a lot of fabric texture. Particularly the way fabric is used to both hide and reveal bodies and create movement and drama.
Amanda Johnstone
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Amanda has diverse training with a strong background in fashion and design, including a degree in Fashion Design and a Diploma in makeup artistry; strongly focused on fashion and film. With a passion for interior design, photography and contemporary art, Amanda’s art is a blend of fashion icons and striking colours, merged with textures and landscapes, resulting in a stunning collage effect.
All of Amanda’s pieces have a strong focus on femininity, fashion and pop art, mixed with a sense of contemporary luxury.
Amanda is based in Melbourne, a culturally rich and diverse city that allows her to showcase and explore her passions of art and beauty with inspiration around every corner.
Jordan Drysdale
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Jordan’s works is heavily influenced by beautiful landscapes, striking faces and bold yet intimate artworks.
Alluring to a fantasy world, Jordan demonstrates an innovative approach to photo making and is passionate about capturing engaging moments.
Jordan’s 2022 Exhibition Love Letters introduced the artist to the fine art realm; celebrating love’s duality as the state between sensuality and turmoil, longing and loss, mystery and clarity.
Jordan has worked alongside clients such as Chanel, Nike, Maybelline, Dave Jones, Dion Lee and L’Oreal. His work has featured in Vogue Australia, Dazed, i-D Magazine, Nowness, Marie Claire and Wonderland.
Di Allison
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Diane Allison was a finalist in the inaugural Hadley's Art Prize in 2017 and has exhibited as a finalist in the Glover Art Prize for landscape in 2014, 2015 & 2018.
In 2007 Di was commissioned to design and make the State of Tasmania's official gift for Princess Isabella of Denmark.
Her work has been collected by the Tasmanian Museum Art Gallery and the Clarence City Collection. Diane is also represented in various private collections.
The Gallery
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In the 1880s, large soft goods import warehouses established Flinders Lane as the heart of the clothing trade. This was due to the Lane's proximity to wharves and railway stations, and its centrality to Melbourne's population.
For over one hundred years ‘The Lane’ was an Australian institution due to its clothing and textiles. The number of clothing firms on the street reached 610 in 1939, and this level of activity was maintained until the early 1960s.
Helmut Newton
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Helmut arrives in Australia 1940 and serves for five years in the Australian army.In 1946 becomes an Australian citizen.In 1946, Newton set up a studio in fashionable Flinders Lane in Melbourne and worked on fashion, theatre andindustrial photography in the affluent postwar years.
From his studio, Newton would walk down Flinders Lane, the hub of the rag trade and to showoff his work“hoping for a break as a fashion photographer.” While Australia didn’t necessarily offer international exposure,he did acquire an Aussie muse—his wife June Newton (née Browne).Browne, the Victorian theatre actressanswered an ad for some modelling work at his studio in 1947.
In 1948, he married June Browne, who performed under the stage name June Brunell.Later she became a successful photographer under the pseudonym Alice SpringsIn the late ‘50s, Newton moved back to Europe in hopes ofgreener pastures and bright lights.
Inigo Txikirrin
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Spanish born Inigo is a Melbourne based artist who specialises in gilding, decorative glass art, pinstriping, realistic portraits and murals.
He has worked with an impressive list of large and small clients offering a flexible range of creations from private commissions to larger commercial projects including activations and art direction across Australia and overseas.
Jordan & Collin Anderson
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Jordan Anderson, a Whitehouse Institute of Design graduate, is concept-driven and an innovative designer focused on tailoring and structure. Inspired by history to push for a modern-day twist.
Jordan was awarded two Designer of the Trimester Awards in 2021 and 2022. Her collection was featured in Melbourne Fashion week’s student runway and Melbourne Fashion Hub.
Jordan Anderson is a fashion designer originally based in Melbourne. Her philosophy is inspired by rebellion and wanting to push the boundaries of fashion through concepts and bold design choices, showcasing a story behind each collection. While creating designs, she aims for one goal, which is wanting people to look at the garments and see something more profound, to watch a story unfold in front of their eyes to make the audience feel emotion.
Considered a generalist, Colin’s work is stylistic, conceptual and often narrative based. A vision, that has been shared with such diverse companies as NATO, The United States Air Force, Adobe, Amazon, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, Newsweek, Time, EMI, Fuji, Harper Collins Publishing New York, Penguin Books New York, Random House New York, Macmillan Publishing New York, Scholastic Publishing New York, Samsung, Telstra, Toshiba, Warner Bros, Universal and many more.
Kritikon Khamsawat & Mira Pedlar
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Kritikon originally from a small village in Chiang Mai, Thailand, now is based in Naarm (Melbourne) is a fashion practitioner that works with body performances in traditional garments and objects. Recently graduated Masters of Fashion Design (2022) at RMIT, Kritikon current practice captivates the context between taking traditional garments and the unorthodox way of dressing in everyday objects. To create a new exaggerated garment form and how it performs on and off the body. Kritikon approaches fashion through the lens of an art from within surrealism, allowing the audience to question and interpret fashion in an unconventional yet organic way, inviting new experiences to the audience and fashion making.
Mira Pedlar's photographic work delves into the realms of tension, fragmentation, and the abstraction of the human form. With an unwavering exploration of gender and femininity, her imagery strikes a harmonious yet often provocative chord. Employing a delicate balance between visibility and a concealed desire, her visuals invite viewers to embark on a journey of unravelling its many layers.
Nixi Killick & Mardiana Sani
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NIXI KILLICK (NXK) is an innovative and contemporary hybrid. Articulating alternative technologies with original artwork, A mix of vibrant streetwear, balanced with sculptured technology infused wearable pieces. NXK is an independent, Melbourne-based fashion label with a strong commitment to unique products, ethical production and quality. As a future-positive maverick-hybrid, NXK is establishing a global Colourtribe to connect creative communities and expand a growing global network. Accelerating innovative ideas and refining a contemporary streetwear aesthetic to propel NXK as a colourful beacon amongst the global fashion community.
Artist born Imagineer, Killick uses fashion to articulate a utopian freshness while drawing parallels between the possible and impossible. Fostering inspiration from her background growing up in the circus, performance and the arts, Killick embraces creative escapism and indulges in the bizarre. With clients like Lady Gaga, SIA, Kimbra, Hiatus Kayote, Brainfeeder and collections hitting runways around the world, NXK is set to become a powerhouse in Australian fashion.
Malaysian-born photographer, Mardiana Sani graduated from the RMIT with a Bachelor of Arts (Photography) in 2011. Sani takes primary inspiration from the emotional conscience. Her images incite viewers to feel their content, before turning their thoughts to them. She currently resides in Zurich, Switzerland.
Theresa Sarjeant
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As an experienced photographer with a career spanning three decades, Theresa has developed a specialization in studio photography, appreciating the level of control that it offers throughout the creative process.
She has drawn inspiration from photographers such as Chris Knight, Peter Lindbergh, Annie Leibovitz and Robert Maplethorpe. Their distinct styles and contributions to the field have influenced her own artistic vision and approach to photography.
With her extensive experience, technical knowledge, and forward-thinking mindset, she brings a unique perspective to the world of photography
Cihan Bektas
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Cihan Bektaş is a Turkish-born Australian photographer, poet, digital art writer and NFT artist.
An acclaimed creative, his work is extremely engaging and dynamic, earning Cihan many awards throughout his artistic endeavours including the Australian Photographer of the Year by Canon in 2019 and winner of the SUNSTUDIOS emerging photographer award for his portrait series, Her, in the same year
Mark Davidson
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Mark Davidson is an award-winning street photographer and radio producer from Melbourne, Australia. In 2022, Mark was awarded the Australasia's Top Emerging Photographer (black and white) award by a panel of local and International judges.
Karen Coull
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“I have an obsession with and adore the process of collage. The intimacy and quiet of cutting and pasting a pastiche of images to re-imagine new work to tell a story.”
Karen is the recipient of a William Fletcher Trust grant. Her work has been in group and solo shows across Australia and in France.