Kaleidoscopic queen of kitsch arrives at Brisbane Powerhouse
The Brisbane Powerhouse’s prismatic new Artist in Residence for 2026-2027 plans to help visitors restore junk jewellery, make their very own zines and melt multicoloured keychains.
Artist Rachel Burke said she’s looking forward to sharing a space where people can make freely, play with materials and turn ideas into something joyful and tangible.
“I want people to feel free to experiment, make mistakes and just enjoy the process,” Ms Burke said.
“These works are about curiosity, collaboration and finding magic in the everyday.”
Known for her exuberant use of colour, tactile materials and handmade embellishment, Ms Burke is a Brisbane-based artist and designer whose practice spans wearable art, performance, installation and participatory craft.
Her work transforms everyday and discarded materials into playful sculptural forms, drawing on childhood nostalgia, kitsch aesthetics and a deep celebration of individuality.
The residency will open with Flower. Puppy. Show in August, a surrealist performance created by Rachel Burke in collaboration with Patience Hodgson.
The work features handmade fashion, live music performed by Ms Burke, Ms Hodgson, Joel Woods and Tom Fletcher, and a craft activation inspired by vintage swap cards, ornaments and beloved puppies.
Later in August, Junk Jewelling invites participants to rework discarded trinkets, broken jewellery and small objects into bold wearable pieces.
Guided by curiosity and play, the session celebrates creative reuse, revealing the unexpected beauty of overlooked materials.
For those who have always dreamed of creating their own magazine, Zine Making in October will offer a relaxed space for personal storytelling.
The workshop embraces imperfection and intuitive making, with participants leaving with a unique self-published zine and a renewed sense of creative direction.
Everything will be coming up roses in December as Ms Burke leads a Rosette and Badge Making workshop which reimagines traditions of adornment and celebration.
Participants will use textiles, ribbons and found materials to create layered rosettes and custom badges.
Early next year, the program concludes with a Melty Bead Keychain Workshop, where participants experiment with colour, pattern and form to create retro-inspired, pocket-sized artworks designed to be carried, gifted or kept as personal talismans.
A selection of Burke’s handmade works will also be available to purchase at the Powerhouse Store, including craft books, zines, badges, washi tape and illustrated greeting cards.
