Joe Hurst (1960-2022)

Joe Hurst was a multi-disciplined Murrawarri Artist who worked across areas of design, construction, sculpture, printing and painting. Joe was involved in many exhibitions both nationally and internationally and was a long-time member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative.

Joe worked as a set designer and scenic artist from the late 1980s to early 2000s, in the fields of television, theatre, dance, drama and puppetry.

Joe was been commissioned for large-scale public artworks and architectural projects. In 2014 Joe designed the Rocks Boatshed, a party hub on the lawn of the MCA, which coincided with the Corroboree Sydney festival of Indigenous arts and culture.

In 2018 Joe was commissioned by St George Community Housing to create artwork designs for a new social housing development at 11 Gibbons St in Redfern, designed by DKO. Joe’s artworks were integrated into the feature ceiling, terrazzo floor treatments and façade brickwork. 11 Gibbons St was the winner of the Affordable Residential Development award at the Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards and received the top award in the Affordable Development category at the UDIA NSW Crown Group Awards for Excellence.

Joe was commissioned in 2021 to create animal sculptures and stencil designs for the new Kyeemagh Primary School playground. Joe was commissioned by Inner West Council for the Gadigal Wangal Wayfinding public art project. Joe created a sandstone sculpture titled Nawi, which is situated in Steel Park, Marrickville. The Gadigal Wangal Wayfinding project won the prestigious Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award.

Joe was made a Life Member of Boomalli in 2022.