about
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is driven by the freedom I feel when painting. I’m drawn to capturing moments that come alive with colour, movement, and spirit, and my hope is always that this sense of freedom reaches beyond the canvas. My art is inspired by individuals with a unique sense of self, the bravely quirky, and those who find beauty in contrasts. Each piece is one of a kind, created from a feeling sparked in time, never to be repeated.
Over recent years, my work has focused on a blend of botanical shapes and intricate patterns—a combination I found myself coming back to almost intuitively. It took a while to realize that this approach was rooted in my love of textiles and interior design, and even longer to understand why it resonated so deeply. The orderly nature of patterning set against the wild, abstract forms of nature reflects a tension I think we all carry: the push and pull between our desire for control and the inevitability of surrendering to our true selves. I see these elements as a mirror to our internal lives—how we navigate between structure and freedom, the managed and the unbridled.
Colour is also a foundation of my work, often unfolding in themes that echo nostalgia or the warmth of simpler times. The layers in my paintings speak to the depth and history we all carry, growing more vibrant as they build. For me, a painting only feels complete once it has this layered complexity, when each brushstroke contributes to a harmony of details, allowing colors to settle and emerge, blending into something meaningful.
I believe we’re in a time of deep, often paradoxical change—a time of both chaos and calm, light and dark, the masculine and feminine, the head and the heart. This duality is present in my art. I see these opposites not as tensions to be resolved, but as forces that complement and enhance one another, urging us to see beauty in the contrasts and to honour the whole. Through my paintings, I hope to evoke an appreciation for this balance, an invitation to embrace and integrate the diverse aspects of ourselves and our world as we journey toward a future of greater unity and purpose.
Amanda Ketterer is a Melbourne based abstract artist whose immersive paintings evoke a sense of freedom, not only in the artist as she creates, but also beckoning the audience to experience the same.
Amanda has been creating and selling her work in Australia and throughout the world for the last 15 years. She is represented by and sells her work through galleries in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Regional NSW and London, UK., offers commissions and occasionally sells work direct from her Melbourne studio
FEATURED ON ARTISTS ON COUCHES
How important is self-awareness in your artistic practice and why?
"Self-awareness is crucial to my artistic practice. My journey as an artist has been deeply intertwined with my path to self-discovery.
Creating from an authentic place means confronting myself in front of the canvas daily, which is often the greatest challenge.
For my work to hold meaning, I must draw from a place of genuine self-reflection.
As a woman raised to prioritise other' happiness and conform to societal expectations, painting has been a transformative outlet. Through art, I have found my voice and learned to break free from these ingrained 'rules'.
Painting isn't just a passion - It's my sanctuary. It's where I untangle the knots of life, where there's no hiding from the raw truth staring back at me from the canvas. On good days, I paint from a place of joy; on tough days, when emotions threaten to overwhelm, my studio becomes my refuge.
Amanda Ketterer