About Carla

Carla Gottgens wears 2 hats, one as a practicing professional artist and the other as a professional photographer.  Her photographic work takes her all over Australia photographing anything from giant prawns in tropical Queensland, to an ex-Shanghai policeman turned farmer in Kununurra, Lithium mining in Western Australia, truffle hunting in Tasmania and any potential Australian Prime Minister on the campaign trail.

Her art practice is multi disciplinary and ranges from public sculptures and installations for councils around Australia, street art murals and wall and window work for exhibitions and councils, and a wide range of community based artworks involving community groups and school students who are involved in the design, creation and delivery of permanent and temporary based artworks within a community setting.

Carla completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the College of Fine Arts (UNSW) in Sydney before pursuing an honours degree and then a Masters degree in Photography at RMIT in Victoria. 

Artist Biography

Commissions / Workshops / Residences / Mentorships

Current/Upcoming

ShellHarbour highway entry statement, NSW

2023

Wet Land Dry Land“, Formosa Street precinct activation, Canada Bay, NSW

Rodd Point shopping precinct design, Canada Bay, NSW

My Little Piece Of Home“, Follet Road precinct activation, Kingston Council, VIC

Sunburn, Sunnyboys, Speedos“, Pakenham Pool perimeter fence artwork, Cardinia Shire, VIC

Dear Eadith“, Concord West Underpass tunnel mural, Canada Bay, NSW

The Guardians, Metro Tunnels Creative Program hoarding design, VIC

2022

Love Springs Eternal – temporary artwork public benches, Canada Bay, NSW

My Weekend Mural for Simmons St Park Pump House, Wagga Wagga, NSW

Playground artpiece, “In my backyard”, Urban Edge Architects, VIC

Stockland Shopping Centre “Factions” mural, ShellHarbour, NSW

Gould Street, street activation artwork and design, Deer Park, Brimbank Council, VIC

Whitton Water Tower Sculpture, Soldier Leeton Shire Council, NSW

Highett Sports Reserve public art, “Half Time” Bayside Council, VIC

2021

Augmented Reality artwork for Flinders Quarter – Metro Tunnel Project

Artist in Res, Braybrook Community Hub with David Wells – Maribyrnong Council

Best in Show – Public Facility Privacy Screenwork, commissioned by Shellharbour, NSW

Mooroolbark Street Art Mural – Mooroolbark Council

Fence mesh design for St Albans Community Centre – Brimbank Council

Street activation for Wilson Ave – Moreland Council

Shared Zone trial artwork design for Albert and Victoria Streets – Moreland Council

Parklet artwork for Lygon Street (Brunswick East), Albert Street (Brunswick East), Hadfield shopping precinct (Hadfield), Clayton Road (Clayton), Hughesdale shopping area (Monash Council) – Moreland and Monash Councils

Ephemera – I wish you were here….  Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, QLD (July 2021)

Whitton Town Mural design, Leeton Council, NSW

Pavement activation design, Maroondah Council

Shared zone trial street gamesStewart Street, Moreland Council, VIC

2020

Secrets Out Loud, Red Centre lead artist commission for Wyndham Library window decals  – Wyndham Council

Artist in residence (Working for Victoria) – Moreland Council

Botanical Armour, UooUoo for the Royal Children’s Hospital Art Trail, Melbourne

commissioned by the Royal Children’s Hospital

Brimbank Council – Dynamic Young Citizens artist residency

2019

Artist mentor for RED CENTRE 2019, Wyndham Council

Hidden in Plain Sight, Elwood Playspace public artwork, commissioned by Port Phillip Council

The Curiosity Cabinet, Signal box artwork for Anthropocene, commissioned by Maroondah Council

Can you find this? Yulong Reserve Public Art Mural, commissioned by Banyule Council           

Church St Child Centre, public artwork, commissioned by Maribyrnong Council

Brimbank Council – Dynamic Young Citizens artist residency

Brightening Bentleigh, I Am….. Mural, commissioned by Glen Eira Council

Workshop facilitator for Huntingtower Mural, Monash Council

2018

Bayside Ripple, major public art commission, Dendy Park, commissioned by Bayside Council

Charred Memories, Leeton Lanterns, Wind Messenger, Lyrics, Landscape & Lintels, public sculpture, commissioned by Leeton Shire Council

Brimbank Council – Dynamic Young Citizens artist residency

Education and Community artist, Lorne Sculpture Biennale

Giant inflatable Babushka dolls, Fromage e trois, commissioned by Wyndham Council

2017

Community Workshop Mural consultant, Monash Council

Canada Bay Placemaker banners, commissioned by City of Canada Bay

Seasons, Ashwood Chadstone Gateway Mural, commissioned by City of Monash

My Favourite Season, Merinda Park Community Centre wall panel, commissioned by City of Casey

Artist in Schools artist with Keysborough Secondary College

Kids Thrive, KiCArts workshop artist (St Pius X Primary)

2016

Lead Artist – RED Werribee – temporary public art exhibition

Snapped: Melbourne – Photography competition judge COM

Hopscotch, Laneway activation, Churchill Ave, commissioned by Maribyrnong Council

Bayside Street Art Crew Project, Bayside City Council

A Day in the Life of Pinewood, Pinewood Shopping Precinct mural, commissioned by Monash Council

Journey, Public sculpture – Mayone Bullick FCC, commissioned by City of Casey

Piccollo Bakery Mural – StreetWorks 2016, commissioned by Maribyrnong City Council

Cabarita park history – Picnic shelter photographic wall panels, commissioned by City of Canada Bay

2015

Out of the Woods – Ringwood station mural, commissioned by Maroondah Council

Clayton Hall Window mural, commissioned by Monash City Council

2014

Tribes – Urban Platform mural commission, commissioned by Georges River Council (Hurstville), NSW

2013

Starlight Reserve Treasure Hunt interpretive signage, Permanent Discovery Walk Signage and Sitting Circle, commissioned by Knox City Council

2010

Many Hands Make Glenroy – permanent public art installation, commissioned by Moreland City Council

2007 / 2008

‘Cocoons and Butterflies’ a booklet tackling anxiety and depression, commissioned by Moreland Community Mental Health Organisation

2006 / 2007

‘Illuminations’ digital illustrations tackling domestic violence, commissioned by Kyabra Community Association

Group Exhibitions

20.07.20 – 02.08.20 

Plants, Lion’s Gate Gallery, Sydney Botanical Gardens, NSW

26.07.19 – 04.08.19

Strand Ephemera, Townsville, QLD

28.09.18 – 03.10.18

Brunswick Nature Sculpture Walk, Brunswick Heads, NSW

17.03.18 – 02.04.18

Small Sculpture – Lorne Sculpture Biennale, Lorne, VIC
WINNER SMALL SCULPTURE PRIZE

30.11.17 – 02.01.18

RED, Werribee, VIC

25.07.17 – 06.08.17 

Strand Ephemera, Townsville, QLD

17.12.16 – 05.01.17

RED public art exhibition, Werribee, VIC

19.07.16 – 07.08.16

Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Survey Show, VIC

15.04.16 – 13.06.16

The Alice Prize, NT

01.05.16 – 12.06.16

Toorak Village Sculpture Prize, VIC

12.10.15 – 06.12.15

Yering Station Sculpture Prize, VIC

24.10.15 – 22.11.15

MoreArt Public Art Prize, VIC

03.10.15 – 05.10.15

Brunswick Nature Sculpture Walk, Brunswick Heads, NSW

10.09.15 – 20.09.15

Swell Sculpture Exhibition, Currumbin, QLD

02.08.15 – 10.08.15

Strand Ephemera, Townsville, QLD

14.05.15 – 12.07.15

Wyndham Art Prize, Werribee, VIC

01.05.15 – 13.06.15

Toorak Village Sculpture Prize, Toorak, VIC
WINNER TOORAK VILLAGE TRADERS ASSOC. PRIZE

10.04.15 – 30.05.15 

Sculpture on the Greens, Wyong, NSW
AWARD recipient

21.01.15 – 02.02.15

Adelaide Airport Brighton Jetty Sculptures, SA
WINNER Environmental Award and Runner Up Indoor Prize

18.12.14 – 28.12.14 

RED public art exhibition, Werribee, VIC

26.10.14 – 14.12.14

MoreArt Public Art Prize, VIC

13.10.14 – 07.12.14 

Yering Station Sculpture Prize, VIC

24.10.14 – 09.11.14 

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, NSW

27.08.14 – 29.10.14 

Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2D, Caloundra, QLD

24.08.14 – 20.10.14  

Noosa Art Award, Tewantin, QLD

08.03.14 – 27.04.14

Musswellbrook Photo Prize, FINALIST, Musswellbrook, NSW

01.03.14 – 02.03.14 

Lens Mist, FINALIST, City of Kingston VIC

23.08.13 – 26.08.13

Wilson Visual Arts Award, FINALIST, Lismore, NSW

16.07.13 – 16.07.13 

Nikon Photo Story presentation, Eleven40, Malvern

16.03.13 – 17.03.13 

Lens Mist, FIRST PLACE, City of Kingston

01.03.12 – 13.03.12

Lens Mist FINALIST, City of Kingston Arts Centre, VIC

11.01.03 – 21.01.03 

The 20th McGregor Prize, Photography, Toowoomba, QLD

16.05.00 – 22.05.00

Cybagent 2000, video projection installation, Melbourne, VIC

Photographic Clients

Bloomberg News

City of Melbourne

Moreland Council

City of Greater Dandenong

City of Monash

Kids Thrive

Melbourne International Writers Festival

L’Oreal Fashion Festival

Melbourne International Arts Festival

Big West Festival

Brimbank Council

Maribyrnong Council

Leeton Shire Council