Floriade is all about colour, creativity, and community, making it the perfect setting for an interactive art installation. For 2024, The Property Collective invited me back to paint their latest activation—two larger-than-life, face-in-hole gnome cutouts designed to bring a playful touch to the festival. Positioned across two locations, these gnomes encouraged visitors to snap a photo and share it on Instagram for a chance to win a Diamond Family Pass to Canberra Zoo. The final pieces were a hit, drawing smiles, social engagement, and plenty of Floriade fun.
FLORIADE GNOME HUNT 2024
After the success of the 2023 Floriade Cubby House, ACT Events invited me back to paint The Property Collective’s next activation for 2024. This time, the concept was playful and interactive—two hand-painted, face-in-hole gnome cutouts placed in different locations across Floriade. Visitors were encouraged to snap a photo with the gnomes and share it on Instagram for a chance to win a Diamond Family Pass to Canberra Zoo.
“We've had the pleasure of working with her on several commissions… it's evident that she pours so much care and attention into every project.” – Sarah Stanton, Social Media Specialist, TPC
In collaboration with The Property Collective and REP Building, we set out to create something charming and eye-catching. I designed the gnomes with bright, whimsical details, ensuring they would stand out in Floriade’s vibrant gardens. Once the concept was approved, REP built the structures and delivered them onsite, ready for me to bring them to life.
With only two days to complete the paintings, everything was on track—until a surprise setback almost derailed the process. One of the gnomes had been positioned near a garden bed to make use of a beautiful floral backdrop. All was well until, on day two, the sprinklers switched on mid-session, drenching my workspace and causing wet paint to run down the gnome’s surface. Unable to reach my point of contact, I had to think fast. Luckily, a fellow painter saw what was happening and jumped in to help move the gnome and my materials to a safer spot. With warm weather on my side, the piece dried quickly, and I shifted my focus to the second gnome while waiting.
I returned on a third day to add finishing touches, ensuring every detail was crisp and polished. The final result was a fun, engaging activation that delighted visitors, sparked plenty of social media engagement, and left all parties involved—Floriade organisers, The Property Collective, and REP—extremely happy. The competition winners walked away with their prize, but the real win was seeing the gnomes bring smiles to so many faces.
