This season, Coco Republic presents Art in Residence, a collaboration with acclaimed Australian artist John Wren as part of his national exhibition tour. Hosted across our Balgowlah and Fortitude Valley showrooms, the exhibition thoughtfully integrates Wren's expressive paintings within beautifully curated interiors, exploring the enduring dialogue between contemporary art and considered design.
Blurring the line between gallery and home, Art in Residence invites visitors to experience how original artworks can enrich everyday living, adding depth, character and a deeply personal sense of place.
ART, INTERIORS, AND THE POWER OF TEXTURE
Known for his expressive use of colour, texture and layered compositions, Wren's paintings span abstract portraits, dynamic figures and richly textured works that invite personal interpretation. Yet for the artist, the relationship between art and interiors has always been central to his practice.
"When Art is considered part of the whole space, it can either anchor a room or blend seamlessly into it. My work is designed to be lived with. When I paint, I'm always thinking about the furniture, the architecture and the natural light. I want the artwork to reveal itself throughout the day and gently lead your eye through a space, creating a sense of flow rather than demanding attention."
- JOHN WREN
DESIGNING WITH INTENTION: SCALE AND ATMOSPHERE
This philosophy aligns closely with Coco Republic's approach to creating layered, considered interiors, where every element contributes to the atmosphere of a home.
Scale, too, plays a defining role in how Wren envisions his work within an interior.
"Scale is everything."
"You'll notice much of my work is portrait oriented. By drawing the eye upward, it creates a greater sense of height and grandeur within a room. I also like pairing a large-scale work with a much smaller piece, ideally in a gilded frame. The larger work provides immediate impact through scale and colour, while the smaller piece becomes a curiosity, something that invites you to step closer and discover the finer details. Together they create both drama and intimacy."
- JOHN WREN
Presented throughout Coco Republic's showroom interiors, Art in Residence offers visitors the opportunity to experience contemporary art as it was intended to be lived with, not in isolation, but as part of a complete interior story. Each room demonstrates the dialogue between furniture, materiality and original artwork, encouraging collectors and design enthusiasts alike to consider the transformative role art plays in creating a deeply personal home.
For Wren, every exhibition is a creative journey.
"Each painting simply marks a moment in time. One work naturally leads to the next. While I occasionally enjoy looking back, I'm far more interested in what's ahead. Every finished painting is simply another step towards the next one."
- JOHN WREN
EXPERIENCE THE EXHIBITION IN OUR SHOWROOMS
We invite you, your friends and family to join us for the exhibition across our showrooms Balgowlah and Fortitude Valley showrooms head to our events page to view all the upcoming exhibition dates and launch events.
