Get To Know… Donovan Christie
A deep dive into all things ‘arts and ents’.
Words Indigo James // Image Emma Appleyard
Donovan Christie is a self-taught visual artist who transforms overlooked corners of daily life into hyperrealism paintings that capture the charm of shared memory. From busking outside the Exeter as a kid, to exploring graffiti and suburban streets, he’s always been drawn to the playful and familiar. Working in oil paint, he immortalises corner stores, ghost signs and pop culture relics, blending his 90s Adelaide upbringing with a love of kitsch architecture. In 2022, he teamed up with pastry chef Emma Appleyard to recreate Women’s Weekly Birthday Cakes as large-scale paintings and sculptures. Today, his work is showcased in exhibitions across Australia
What do you do?
Tell us about your practice. I’m a self-taught visual artist working primarily in oil paint. My practice focuses on capturing and immortalising the often overlooked, from streetscapes that quietly frame our lives, to the pop-cultural objects that inhabit them. By highlighting the character and charm within the so-called “mundane”, I aim to shift attention toward the everyday details that shape our shared memory.
Your work often celebrates the everyday. What draws you to preserving these moments in time, and what do you hope people feel when they encounter them?
Growing up in ‘90s Adelaide, I was always tearing around on my bike, building forts, and raiding the corner store. That carefree mischief fuels my work today. I try to place that playful spirit in my paintings. They often spark nostalgic memories, even if it’s not someone’s own local milk bar; the feeling is familiar. I love that. For me, it’s about making the everyday feel special again.
You came from Adelaide’s graffiti scene, and Adelaide itself plays a strong role in your work. How have those influences shaped your perspective and your artistic practice?
I was busking outside the Exeter at four and running with older kids soon after. I’d seen a lot, and Adelaide shaped me fast. My older brother introduced me to hip hop, which naturally led to graffiti, my first real creative outlet. It felt rebellious but fun, and it gave me the drive to keep making. Adelaide was my launchpad, and as I’ve travelled, my art has evolved with me.
What’s your earliest memory of making art, or realising you wanted to become an artist?
I was always an industrious kid, mum taught me to be ambitious from a young age. Around the same time, I was busking in town, I was also making handmade gift cards to sell door to door. Making something from nothing, enjoying the process and then making some coin in exchange. It seemed like a fair trade! Years later, I’m doing the same thing and making a living from it.
Your works are incredibly detailed. Can you walk us through your process, from spotting a subject in the world to turning it into a finished painting?
I’m drawn to old architecture, vintage signage and anything kitsch, so I’ve been photographing shopfronts, ghost signs, and pop culture objects for well over a decade. I first create an exhibition concept, then sift through my archive to select images that fit the narrative. Once I have the number and arrangement of pieces, I get to painting. Each hyperrealism painting can take a month or more to complete.
Tell us about your upcoming exhibition in Melbourne.
I’ve been meticulously planning this exhibition for nearly three years. In 2022, I teamed up with pastry chef extraordinaire Emma Appleyard to recreate cakes from the Women’s Weekly Birthday Cake Book, which were photographed and turned into large-scale oil paintings and sculptures. Everyday’s A Birthday opens on my birthday at Lennox St. Gallery in Melbourne from October 2 to November 1.
Find out more about Donovan’s exhibition, Everyday’s A Birthday via @donovan_christie.
