Gloria Richards transforms public furniture by hand, painting site-specific geometric and interlocking patterns that pop thanks to a bold and varied colour palette, evoking the energy of Darwin’s vibrant tropical life.
Since 2021, Gloria has focussed on sites in Fannie Bay and throughout East Point Reserve, specifically on a range of aged concrete tables and seats. Gloria draws inspiration from the built environment, human activity, as well as the surrounding natural environment and biodiversity. Her aim is to ignite a sense of collective identity, unity, and joy, and strengthen Darwin as a dynamic city that celebrates art, culture, and nature.
Gloria is a local Darwin visual artist and graphic designer and founder of Studio G Darwin. Across her work, Gloria applies creative and bold use of colour to create unique spaces people want to be in and evoke positive experiences as a result.
Commissioned by City of Darwin, and proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government through a Tourism Town Asset Program grant, the Happy Place project is about reinventing weathered, urban outdoor public furniture into moments of delight to enliven our communal spaces.
City of Darwin is committed to supporting and growing the local creative, arts and cultural communities for the benefit of all who live, work, visit and study here.
Locations of Happy Place 2.0 artworks at East Point Reserve
Hand painted artworks on outdoor furniture:
- Concrete picnic table at Dudley Point
- Concrete picnic table near Gun Turrets
- Concrete picnic table between Dudley Point and Tower
- Concrete picnic table in Singh Park
- Wooden bench seats x 2 in the Monsoon Forest Trail
Digital artworks on infrastructure:
- Shed door, located next to Lake Alexander and next to the Happy Tank vinyl artwork.
- East Point amenity block (ocean side next to car park)
- on the disabled toilet door, switchboard cabinet, utilities door and panels covering mesh cage.
