Master of Art Therapy student, Laura Peacock, was a finalist in this year's Archibald Prize.
Her entry, Peter at Home, is a portrait of the writer, Peter O’Neill.
In 2023, Laura worked with Peter as a support worker and "bonded over literature, music and art."
"He would give me feedback on my paintings and I gave him feedback on his plays. We often joked about me painting his portrait, but were busy with the practical tasks of the support work itself.”
When Laura commenced studying and was unable to continue working with Peter, they decided to undertake the portrait to commemorate their time together.
The result: Laura’s painting was selected out of more than one thousand entries as a finalist in the 2024 Archibald Prize.
Laura received the news during one of her art therapy workshops, but had to keep it a secret until the finalists were publicly announced.
“It was a little overwhelming! I desperately wanted to share the news with my classmates, but it wasn't public yet. Initially, I was speechless, but I was very proud of myself self once the shock wore off,” she says.
Laura says she chose to pursue a Master of Art Therapy after learning about the benefits of art therapy practice firsthand.
“I have always had an interest in the expressive qualities of art and found it a useful tool in my own mental health journey.”
“When I found out about art therapy as a profession, I was intrigued. After learning more about it and gaining experience as a support worker in the community, I became confident that it was the career for me.”
When she graduates next year, Laura hopes to find a role as an art therapist with an existing institution, supporting them to expand their therapeutic services.
“While art therapy is gaining a lot of ground in mainstream therapeutic services, many people still don't understand what it is, why it's important and how it differs from other forms of therapy,” she says.
“Advocating for the field is an important part of the practice. I also hope to upskill in more specific therapeutic service interventions and expand my practice as I grow into a professional art therapist.”
Find out more about Laura’s Archibald entry, Peter at Home.
Find out more about La Trobe’s Master of Art Therapy.
