17 Jul Episode 1: Julie Fragar & Justene Williams
Episode 1
Join us as we delve into the vibrant world of art education with renowned artists Justene Williams and Julie Fragar. Discover their insights on balancing art creation with teaching and family life.
In this very first episode, we talk with two celebrated Australian artists and Brisbane locals, friends and colleagues, Justene Williams and Julie Fragar. Their long friendship was documented so beautifully in Julie’s 2025 winning Archibald Prize painting, called Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), which was a striking portrait of Justene and her art practice. It investigates the issue that many art teachers face: how to continue making art while juggling teaching and family. We talk about this painting and other things including the state of art education and what students need to know about Art.
About Julie Fragar
Julie Fragar (born Gosford, 1977) grew up and went to school in Wee Waa in regional New South Wales and she has been exhibiting her paintings since the nineteen nineties. Julie’s work explores human emotions and experiences using a distinctive painting style, which draws viewers in through the thoughtfully layered imagery which hovers and hides, sometimes only revealing itself upon close and lengthy observation. She is Deputy Director of Research at the Queensland College of Art and Design.
About Justene Williams
Justene Williams (born Sydney, 1970) grew up in Sydney and has a background as a dancer. She works across a broad and diverse range of media and materials, including photography, video performance, installation and sound. Justene’s work explores corporeality and references art history. It is joyful, noisy and absurdist. Her practice was featured in the National Gallery of Australia’s Know My Name project that acknowledged the art practice of key Australian women artists. Justene is a senior lecturer in sculpture at the Queensland College of Art and Design
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Episode highlights
Archibald prize painting
We ask about Julie’s Archibald prize winning work called Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene), and discuss the ideas within it.
Justene's influences
Justene talks about the artist Paul McCarthy (born August 4, 1945). He is an American artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
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Julie's influences
Julie talks about being influenced as a child by a book of realist paintings by Gustave Courbet
Justene's show at QAGOMA
Justene Williams: Once We Were Mudskippers
3 October 2026 – 7 March 2027
Queensland Art Gallery
Gallery 3 (Kenneth and Yasuko Myer Gallery) & Gallery 4
Brisbane, Australia
Free entry
Justene's workshop at QATACON
During the conversation we talk about a workshop that Justene ran at a QATA conference, which explored the ideas in her show Justene Williams: The Curtain Breathed Deeply 2015, a series of commissioned video installations at Monash University Art Museum. In this rich environment of pattern, colour and texture, curtains and screens act as thresholds between the energy of one realm and another.
Useful links to learn more about Julie Fragar
- Julie Fragar’s website
- QAGOMA COLLECTION
- Video: Portrait of an Archibald Prize winner: Julie Fragar
- Video: Artist Julie Fragar talks about her work in the exhibition Wilderness: Balnaves contemporary painting. https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/art/watch-listen-read/watch/180/
- Video: QAGOMA Julie Fragar discusses her work
Useful links to learn more about Justene Williams
- Anna Schwartz Gallery
- Art Gallery of NSW
- Campbelltown Arts Centre
- Monash University Museum of Art Justene Williams: The Curtain Breathed Deeply
- Education resource: Monash University Museum of Art education kit, The curtain breathed deeply
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- National Gallery of Australia, Project 4: Justene Williams Victory over the Sun
- National Gallery of Australia Know My Name
- Site includes education resources for Australian women artists.
- QAGOMA COLLECTION
- Video: NGV Artist Interview | Justene Williams
- Video: Justene Williams, Vulvarine | HOTA Collects | Home of the Arts
- Video: Carriageworks: The National 2017 – Justene Williams
Listener Feedback
“This episode opened my eyes to the real struggles art teachers face. It’s inspiring to hear how they manage to keep their passion alive!”
“I loved hearing about the friendship between Justene and Julie. It adds a personal touch to understanding their art and teaching methods.”
“Such an entertaining first episode. Well done Jo and Vicki!”
“Hearing about the Archibald Prize painting was fascinating. It gave me a new perspective on how art can tell personal stories.”