ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE EXHIBITION
Rosie O’Brien • Simon Petkovich • Patrick Francis • Christian Den Besten
Jump Left launches its inaugural Artists in Residence exhibition in June — featuring Rosie O'Brien (Arts Project Australia, Melbourne), Simon Petkovich (Melbourne), Patrick Francis (Arts Project Australia, Melbourne) and Christian Den Besten (ArtGusto, Geelong).
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Jump Left's first Artists in Residence exhibition brings together four artists whose practices span painting, drawing, and mixed media — each offering a distinct perspective on the world around them. Working across painting, drawing, and mixed media, the featured artists present a vast range of interests and subjects.
Rosie O'Brien renders her deep love of the natural world through the patterning of vibrant flora and fauna; Simon Petkovich brings a three-dimensional quality to his spray-painted canvases, rich in text and texture; Patrick Francis channels the gestural confidence of his artistic heroes and landscapes through bold brushwork and impactful colour; and Christian Den Besten's meticulous drawings map the rhythms of urban design. Together, the presentation of these artists marks Jump Left’s commitment to supporting artists with diverse practices.
This project is supported by Creative Projects funding from Creative Victoria, ArtGusto, and venue partner Impact Neighbourhoods.
Exhibition Details
Launch
Saturday 13 June 2026, 2-4pm
Free | Accessible | All welcome
Exhibition
13 June - 4 July 2026
Hours
Thursday & Friday 11am-4pm
Saturday 11am-3pm
Location
Jump Left is located in Donkey Wheel House at 673 Bourke Street, Naarm (Melbourne), near the intersection of Bourke and Spencer Streets, behind Movenpick Hotel, opposite Southern Cross Station.
Other Information
Media Release
Easy Read
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Rosie O’Brien
Rosie O'Brien's practice spans painting, drawing, digital animation, and textiles, rooted in a deep fascination with fauna expressed through vibrant palettes, rhythmic patterning, and delicate intimacy. O'Brien joined Arts Project Australia in 2015 and has exhibited widely, including co-curating 50 Birds as part of Arts Project Australia's 50th anniversary celebrations. In 2025-2026, O'Brien completed an Artist in Residence at Jump Left. Her work is held in private collections in Australia. She is represented by Arts Project Australia.
“I have really enjoyed my Artist in Residence at Jump Left and the fact that I have been able to do lots of drawings has been really good for my art practice. The environment has been lovely to work in. It’s been really nice meeting and getting to know other artists. The residency has really created a lot of benefits for my art practice, hopefully down the track I get to do another residency at Jump Left.” —Rosie O’Brien
Below: (L) Rosie O’Brien during her artist residency, (R) Untitled (Flowers) 2026 pencil and marker on paper.
Image credit: Jump Left.
Simon Petkovich
Simon Petkovich (b.1962, Perth) is a contemporary Art Brut artist engaged with the evolving Art Brut scene in both Europe and Australia. His work explores typography and vivid spray-painted canvases and box frames, combining text, spatial composition, and expressive surface techniques to striking three-dimensional effect.
Petkovich has exhibited extensively, including a solo exhibition at PICA, Perth (1995) and group exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb (1998, 2000, 2020), the Museum of Naive and Marginal Art, Jagodina, Serbia (2023), Infeld Haus der Kultur, Halbturn, Austria (2023), and Jump Left, Melbourne (2026). In 2026, Petkovich undertook an Artist in Residence at Jump Left.
“I just completed a three-month art residency (March‑May 2026) at Jump Left gallery in Melbourne-a space that actively champions diverse voices and inclusive creative practice. The gallery director Sim Luttin provided input with things like colour combinations and mixing of fillers and colours. The residency helped me to expand my practice, deepen my research (many reference art books available at the gallery) and connect with fellow creatives. I saw the residency as both a space for creative growth and a platform for building lasting relationships with the gallery staff and other creatives.” —Simon Petkovich
Below: (L) Simon Petkovich visiting the studio of Norman Rosenblatt during his artist residency, (R) HER LIPS THE BIRTHPLACE OF OBOE NOTES THAT MAKE TULIPS TREMBLE WITH DELIGHT (detail) 2026 acrylic and plastic tulips 2026 acrylic and plastic tulips on canvas.
Image credit: Jump Left.
Patrick Francis
Patrick Francis is a prolific figurative painter working primarily in acrylic on paper. His bold, expressive portraits draw on personal experience, popular culture, and art history — ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Renaissance masters. A member of Arts Project Australia since 2009, Francis has exhibited widely, including Melbourne Now at the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Art Fair, and was a recipient of the Art & Australia/Credit Suisse Private Banking Contemporary Art Award in 2012. In 2026, Francis completed an Artist in Residence at Jump Left. His work is held in public and private collections in Australia.
“Our son Patrick Francis has been working with Sim Luttin for some time and it has been an incredibly positive and inspiring experience. The Artist Residency at Jump Left, Melbourne is truly exceptional, combining creativity, professionalism, and genuine care in a way that empowers people with disability to thrive both personally and artistically.” —Greg Francis, Patrick Francis’ dad
Below: (L) Patrick Francis with one of his paintings during his residency at Jump Left, (R) Untitled (Mona Lisa from Leonardo da Vinci) (detail) 2026, acrylic on paper.
Image credit: Jump Left.
Christian Den Besten
Christian Den Besten (b.1972, Geelong) is an artist with ArtGusto whose work interprets his community — its infrastructure, current affairs, and the rhythms of everyday life. Moving freely between drawing, sculpture, and new media, Den Besten is a prolific maker whose idiosyncratic works often accumulate small components into striking wholes. He has exhibited extensively across Victoria, with solo exhibitions at Liminal Gallery, Geelong (2024) and the Art Gallery of Ballarat (2022), and group exhibitions at Geelong Gallery, Federation Square, and the National Gallery of Australia. In 2026, Den Besten completed an Artist in Residence at Jump Left.
Below: (L) Christian Den Besten working on one of his drawings during his residency at Jump Left, (R) 2026, pencil on paper.
Image credit: Jump Left.
Access
Jump Left is located on the ground floor of Donkey Wheel House. The project space is situated towards the rear and can be accessed via the main entrance (with a single shallow step) or through the side entrance, conveniently positioned to the right of the main entrance in Godfrey Street.
Wheelchair Accessible
Assistance Animals Welcome
Easy Read
Auslan Interpreter (on request)
Quiet Space
Seating Available
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