Petra's art is inspired by Outsider artist practices, folk-art traditions and her ongoing collection of vintage books and catalogues, old photographs, folk music and textiles. She is particularly interested in the form of the catalogue, her own collection features catalogues of Birds, musical instruments, knitwear, furniture, and antiques. This collecting obsession informs her own work on timber. During the pandemic she experimented with using colour pencil on wood partly inspired by a Aldolf Wolfli drawing that he made on a wooden wardrobe. Now using pencil on board she records things, including sweaters, sweater vests, vases, watches, and shoes creating an expanding catalogue of objects. Petra infuses these works with feelings and memories. Objects and things, both lived with, and lively though her own beautiful recordings of them.
Petra is an Australian artist living in Ballarat, Victoria. Petra completed a Bachelor of Fine Art, Painting with Honours (First Class) at RMIT University, Melbourne in 2002 and a Diploma of Visual art (dual award recipient) at RMIT TAFE, Melbourne in 1999. Petra has practiced as an artist for 25 years, she has exhibited extensively in Melbourne, across Victoria, Australia and the United States.