Our Story
Mondocherry
PAPER ARTWORKS THAT CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE
We are Clare and Joy, sisters and artists whose work explores the quiet relationship between nature, light and material.
For more than two decades, we have worked side by side, developing a distinctive artistic practice using hand-painted paper as our primary medium. Drawn to its ability to capture both light and shadow, we build each artwork through carefully composed layers that create depth, texture and sculptural relief.
Our inspiration comes from the natural world - not to reproduce it exactly, but to interpret its rhythm, softness and ever-changing beauty. Weathered botanicals, shifting landscapes, delicate feathers and organic forms become the starting point for original compositions that invite stillness and reflection.
Paper has a long and respected history within fine art, offering remarkable versatility as both a surface and a sculptural medium. We are fascinated by its expressive possibilities. Every botanical form, feather and organic element begins as a blank sheet of watercolour paper. Each is individually painted, shaped and cut by hand before becoming part of a larger composition. We don't work from templates or machine-cut forms; instead, every mark and every edge reflects the quiet decisions made throughout the creative process.
Our artworks evolve gradually. Rather than following rigid plans, we allow each composition to develop through observation, experimentation and intuition. Layers are added, removed and refined until colour, balance and texture find their natural harmony. This slower approach means every artwork is entirely original and impossible to replicate exactly.
In 2012, we opened the Mondocherry gallery and studio in Melbourne as a place where our original artworks could sit alongside a carefully curated collection of objects made by Australian designers and artisan makers. Together, they reflect our shared appreciation for thoughtful craftsmanship, enduring materials and homes that feel deeply personal.
Whether creating an original artwork or curating objects for the home, our intention remains the same: to make pieces that bring warmth, beauty and a quiet sense of permanence to the spaces people live in.
We believe the most meaningful homes are not designed all at once. They are collected over time, layer by layer, story by story.
We hope our work becomes part of yours.
Clare & Joy