In this episode, I revisit my conversation with Hobart-based painter George Kennedy, who takes us inside his creative world, where suburban landscapes and childhood memories collide with the rhythms of contemporary life. George opens up about his upcoming solo show The Same as Ever at Despard Gallery and how feedback from fellow artist Maggie Jeffries helped shape this body of work.

We explore George’s journey from academic studies in maths and science to becoming a full-time artist, and how experimentation across mediums helped him find his voice in painting. He shares insights into symbolism in his work — from everyday scenes to iconic references like the golden arches — and how his practice engages with themes of change, memory, and place.

Listeners are invited into George’s studio process, use of unconventional tools, and reflections on artistic discipline and chaos. This episode is a must for anyone interested in how artists grow through community, reflect the places they know, and use painting to understand the world around them.

Themes: painting and memory, suburban symbolism, Despard Gallery artists, art career beginnings, Tasmanian painters, Hobart art scene, academic-to-artist journey, place and transformation in art, artistic community and feedback, George Kennedy artist

🎙️ Connect Curate Create is a podcast about creative courage, community, and place-based storytelling in regional Australia.