Patricia Piccinini

Patricia Piccinini lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. Piccinini earned her first degree in economic history and then painting. Now Piccinini works primarily in a hyperrealist tradition of sculpture, exploring themes of empathy, evolution, climate crisis, genetic manipulation, and motherhood.

Piccinini begins each artwork by creating drawings, after which she and a small team translate concepts and designs into sculptures. Hand- and computer-based techniques are used to create artworks that are often composed of silicone, human hair, and fiberglass.

Her work has been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Australia; Art Science Museum, Singapore; and Centre for Contemporary Art, Torun, Poland. It was also exhibited at the Australian Pavilion for the 50th Venice Biennale (2003).