Throughout our history, we’ve been fortunate to have had many talented women teach the at the CAE and share their passion for art in all its forms.
We’ve reflected on the contributions of five of our influential art teachers from our past and present. Across different mediums, each have unique artistic backgrounds which is part of what has made their classes so special and impactful for many students over the years.
Mirka Mora
Mirka Mora’s art is ingrained in Melbourne’s cultural history. Her distinctive and colourful works can be found across iconic sites like the St. Kilda Pier, Flinders Street Station and even the halls of the CAE.
Mural by Mirka Mora painted in 1984 hangs proudly outside the library on level 2 of the main CAE City Campus building.
Mirka taught at the CAE for 23 years, running both one-day workshops and short courses. She was a thoughtful teacher, always adjusting her classes to suit her students. As a result, her classes were about more than just art. Both her and her students often found learning at the CAE to be a cathartic experience, especially when they were going through difficult times.
Her devotion to her students extended beyond the classroom. Mirka often invited students to collaborate on the large projects that she worked on, including painting train carriages in Castlemaine.
Helen Maudsley
Melbourne artist Helen Maudsley (who taught at the CAE and also practised under her married name, Helen Brack) first exhibited her work in 1954. Across her career, Helen’s work has considered the conflict between the popular and the serious. She also explored the language of art, using numbers, letters and symbols in her work and capturing the attention of Melbourne’s art scene.
Helen taught painting and drawing at the CAE for almost 50 years and shared her love of creativity by leading art appreciation classes.
Mirka and Helen were trailblazers in the Australian art world and at the CAE. They helped build our reputation as a provider of choice for budding artists looking to hone their skills and style.
Their work forged a path for our art teachers of today who are continuing our mission to help adults explore new creative skills and transform their lives through lifelong learning.
Dr Anne Bennett
Dr Anne Bennett is a visual artist whose practice includes drawing, print media, painting, artist’s books, and curatorial projects.
Her first solo exhibition was in 1986, and she has held 15 solo exhibitions in the time since. Throughout her career, her work has focused on collapsing the divide between Melbourne’s nature and culture and exploring how they intersect. Her large-scale pieces have been installed across the city, from Docklands to the Tilde Music Festival and the Warringal Shopping Centre.
You can learn firsthand from Anne’s expertise in Botanical Painting and Botanical Drawing in Colour.
Eleni Rivers
A professional painter and artist for over 25 years, Eleni’s practice centres on the theme of ‘place’ – where we live, our environment, our country and our home. Eleni has a Master of Fine Arts from JFK University in California and is now based in the Southern Grampians. Her craft explores nature and environmental issues through watercolours and other water-based art.
Learn watercolour art from Eleni in our short courses: Landscapes in Watercolour, Ink and Watercolour Art, and Watercolours: Intro.
Mila Faranov
Mila is multi-dimensional artist whose range extends across sculpture, costume design and visual arts. Mila finds satisfaction in seeing any creative project come to fruition, especially when it feels like it communicates something meaningful.
Want to take your art skills to another dimension? Join our Sculpture for Beginners course.
Painting, drawing, printmaking, picture framing, ceramics, sculpture… you name it, we have an art class for it! Whether you’re a beginner or experienced artist, the skills and wisdom of our teachers will inspire new life in your creativity.