Emerging artist Clare McCracken was born in rural north-east Victoria and moved to Melbourne in 2001.  She graduated from a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne in 2004, majoring in Visual Arts and Theatre Studies.  She then completed a Masters Degree in Art in Public Spaces through RMIT University in 2008.

Clare’s current practice has two distinct avenues. The first is centred around interactive works within the public realm.  Working site-specifically, she undertakes a thorough site analysis to inform her creative output, creating a variety of works that encourage communities to develop a relationship with their local milieu.  This work is often interdisciplinary and she has created works in collaboration with architects, traffic engineers, projection artists, theatre makers and textile designers. While her public interventions are generally ephemeral, Clare installed Speed Cheek, a permanent installation beside the EastLink shared-user path in Noble Park, in 2009 and collaborated with Techne Architects on the refurbishment of the old Richmond Post Office into a bar, in 2008. She has worked with, and installed ephemeral works in: the City of Greater Dandenong, the City of Knox, the City of Melbourne, City of Frankston, the City of Moonee Valley, Shire of Yarra Ranges, Federation Square, 600 Bourke Street and at the National Gallery of Victoria’s Kids Corner and within the Victorian rail corridor.  As well as practising within Public Art, Clare also lectures in the area at RMIT University and has been involved in significant public art think-tanks and conferences, such as the Urban Screens conference in 2008 and the 1200 Building Public Art Commission supported by Melbourne City Council, Green Spaces and Carbon Arts in 2011.

The second area of Clare’s practice is more private – based around a series of fictitious characters.  These works explore the characters’ domestic sphere and private thoughts, as a way of exploring current issues and the nature of contemporary life.  Works generated as part of this practice were included in the State Library of Victoria’s rare books collection in 2008 and presented as a solo exhibition at No No Gallery in 2010.  Clare is currently working towards another exhibition of this work, which will be exhibited in January 2013 at Gallery Smith.

The second area of Clare’s practice is more private – based around a series of fictitious characters.  These works explore the characters’ domestic sphere and private thoughts, as a way of exploring current issues and the nature of contemporary life.  Works generated as part of this practice are included in numerous privet collections and the State Library of Victoria’s rare books collection.