Amanda Johnstone - Artist

Q: How did you end up where you are now? Give me your potted history.
A: I did a fashion degree at Massey University in New Zealand, then a makeup diploma in Auckland. After that I moved to Australia and ran an Italian furniture showroom in Melbourne for 17 years. During COVID, when I couldn’t open the showroom, I started making art to stop myself from going bonkers.

Q: Why did you move to Australia?
A: We had to finish the showroom here in Melbourne.

Q: So you started making art during COVID?
A: Yes. I was going nuts not being able to open the showroom.

Q: Why Italian furniture?
A: Honestly, I think we fell into it. We manufactured in Christchurch and went to the Italian Furniture Fair. We decided we wanted to do modern as well as classic.

Q: When you were at school, what did you think your trajectory would be?
A: A racing car driver.

Q: Really?
A: Yes.

Q: And then you changed your mind? What happened?
A: I was heavily guided—basically told that no girl of my father’s was going to be a grease monkey. So off I went to university to do a fashion degree. Honest truth.

Q: Looking back over what you’ve done, any regrets or obstacles that have been a challenge?
A: I regret not getting into racing.

Q: Why didn’t you?
A: I have no idea. I was too involved hanging out in the pits with the boys and never got behind the wheel.

Q: Is there still scope?
A: No, but I’m still friends with them all. I’m still heavily involved. It’s still fun.

Q: And you were a pit girl?
A: Not one of those ones. I was the one actually working—more like an NGK spark plug T-shirt type.

Q: What is it about racing that appeals to you?
A: I’m absolutely petrified of everything about going fast.

Q: Amazing. So what is your “going fast” now?
A: Probably putting myself out there with my art and not caring if no one likes it. It’s daunting, putting something out to the public.

Q: Your art—where did that come from?
A: My background in fashion design and makeup artistry. A lot of my work is quite editorial in style.

Q: And the idea of embellishing photos—why that direction?
A: Probably my textile design background. Turning something flat into something 3D.

Q: What’s next for you? You’re not one to stand still.
A: Overseas art shows next year.

Q: So art is your main drive these days?
A: It’s my main outlet, but I also run an NDIS business as a support worker. It’s 50/50 at the moment—the art is busy.

Q: Hopefully more toward the art?
A: Yes. And with overseas art fairs—there are so many: New York, Singapore, LA. Great places to show work.

Q: One of my friends did New York last year.
A: Austin apparently was amazing too.

Q: New York seemed pretty interesting.
A: And sizable—100%.

Q: So more abroad?
A: Yes, it’s an exciting new market.

Q: Brilliant. Thank you for that.
A: Thank you.