Above: Ivan’s amazing artwork on display at our last art showcase.
The Bold and Beautiful – paintings that inspire joy
Above: Ivan outside his home with his artwork Cityscapes #2.
For the past four years Ivan has attended regular art classes at DADAA (Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts, Australia). Ivan loves spreading joy through his use of colour, he remembers as a child how a $2 pack of textas and pencils could make him happy and now, he now has access to high quality paints. He says, “I’m catching up on a bit of childhood I lost out on with my art, and it brings me joy.” Ivan also loves playing and collecting guitars, having taught himself to play by ear.
Ivan has been a Housing Choices WA tenant for 24 years and a passionate painter since he engaged in art therapy aged 19. Ivan has lived with mental health challenges and experienced periods of homelessness as a young adult. Having a stable home for over two decades has allowed Ivan to stay well and be creative. “Having my own place was life-changing - it was a new start. Since I’ve been housed with Housing Choices, I’ve stayed out of hospital”. For the past two years Ivan has participated in the Resident Art Showcase, his colourful work has been very popular with residents, staff, and stakeholders. “Having somewhere to show my art makes me feel I’m worth something. It means a lot to me,” he says. One of Ivan’s artworks called Cityscapes #2, was selected from the Resident Art Showcase to be featured throughout the 2024-2025 Housing Choices Australia Annual Report and on our new compliment slips. “This painting was a long experiment,” he explains. “I studied it for a while. I feel I have an IQ with colour and just used my imagination, and things popped out at me.”
Ivan’s new artwork will be on display at this year’s Housing Choices Resident Art Showcase at the Gary Holland Community Centre on May 6th .
Right: Ivan playing one of his favourite blues guitar.
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