Nicole Buckland
I am a collage and mixed media artist, occupational therapist and Somatic Experiencing practitioner devoted to creative exploration and what it opens up, in myself and in the people I work alongside.
I make art as a form of daily self-communion. It is a facilitated conversation between my adult, child and adolescent selves. Often it is an argument that ends badly. Sometimes it is divine.
Over ten years of working closely with people navigating neurodivergence, mental health and a life that doesn't always cooperate, I have come to believe that self-expression can open doors that talking alone sometimes can't. Creative practice is not a detour from the therapeutic work. It is often the most direct route.
Why Collage?
I work in several different mediums, but my creative practice always returns to collage for inspiration and innovation. It is a medium which is both entirely accessible and endlessly complex. It’s also really fun.
Collage is a perpetual treasure hunt, from collecting materials to finding the perfect elements for a piece. The practice of collage is an opportunity to reimagine the world in ways that are surprising, hilarious and unexpected. It gives a purpose to my inner packrat.
In 2023 I co-founded Sugar House Studios, a gallery, workshop and studio space in Brookvale. It is home to my ongoing creative project and studio, The Museum of Intrepid Exploration, which houses the artefacts from many creative expeditions and provides a space to welcome other would-be intrepid explorers to get lost in the creative act.