About
Cara Sanders (born 1992) lives and works on Bundjalung Country in Queensland's Gold Coast. A self taught painter, Cara completed a Bachelor of New Media Art at James Cook University in 2013. Cara’s rural upbringing in the Kimberley and her connection to the natural world is reflected in her work, having grown up studying and playing in the light of the North-West sun and the red dirt of the land out West of Yawuru country.
Cara has undertaken large-scale commissions across Queensland for the Brisbane Lions AFL Team, Brisbane Street Art Festival, Mackay Regional Council, and Gold Coast Surface Festival. She has collaborated with artist Brad Turner, City of Gold Coast Level Up and the Mint Art House Collective for Bleach Festival and Big City Lights. Cara has exhibited at Dust Temple (2018), Vacant Assembly (2020), Level Up (2021). In 2022 her work appeared on season eighteen of The Block on Channel Nine nationally, and exclusively on the label of boutique gin distillery Granddad Jacks Gin. She has exhibited interstate with Gallery Alchemy (2023) and the Affordable Art Fair (2023 & 2024). She has been involved with the HOTA (Home of the Arts) Youth Advisory Group and is currently mentoring Gold Coast emerging artists (Level Up). Her alter ego ‘Owlet’ produces limited edition prints and murals. Cara is represented by Gallery Alchemy.
CV: Cara Sanders (B. 1992, Kununurra, WA)
Bundjalung Country, Gold Coast, QLD
Email: hello@owletart.com.au / Instagram: owlet.art / caraasanderss
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020 - Present: Co-Director, Mint Art House - Gold Coast
- Manage and curate exhibitions and foster creative collaborations.
- Represent Mint Art House at public art festivals and events, including Surface Festival and Affordable Art Fairs.
2025: Mentor for the Level Up x Mint Art House Program.
2021 - 2022: Youth Advisory Group, HOTA – Gold Coast
EDUCATION & TRAINING
2025: Amber Rose Wallis Mentorship - Gold Coast
2024 - Present: Creative Art Therapy, College of Conscious Living - Gold Coast
2023 - 2025: Pennylane Shen Consulting - Gold Coast
2021: Swell Sculpture and City of Gold Coast, Site and Situation - Gold Coast
2013: Bachelor of New Media Art, James Cook University - Townsville
GALLERY REPRESENTATION & ART RESIDENCIES
2024: Merge Creative Art Residency, New Brighton - New Brighton
2023 - Present: Gallery Alchemy - Sydney
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024: Affordable Art Fair, Mint Art House - Brisbane
- Paradise Gloss, group exhibition, Side Gallery - Brisbane
- Papercuts, Mint Art House - Gold Coast
- Dreamers, Mint Art House - Gold Coast
2023: SOLO EXHIBITION Internal Landscapes, Gallery Alchemy - Sydney
- Affordable Art Fair, Mint Art House - Sydney
- Echo’s, Side Gallery - Brisbane
- Ancarna, Mint Art House - Gold Coast
2022: Smalls, Side Gallery - Brisbane
- Brewing Local Artists, Burleigh Brewing - Gold Coast
2021: SOLO EXHIBITION Physical Meets Digital, NFT Launch and Activation - Gold Coast
- Released a large physical artwork as an NFT, destroyed it in front of a live audience.
- SOLO EXHIBITION The Untamed, Mint Art House - Gold Coast
- This Is Art, group exhibition and live painting – Gold Coast
2020: SOLO EXHIBITION This Is Art, Vacant Assembly - Brisbane
2019: Under the Milky Way, group exhibition - Gold Coast
2018: SOLO EXHIBITION Connection, Dust Temple - Gold Coast
2017: SOLO EXHIBITION The First Taste, Woodsters - Brisbane
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2024: Surface Festival Mural, Miami State High & Mint Art House - Gold Coast
- Commissioned by Surface Festival to mentor a student in creating a large-scale mural.
- Burleigh Brewing Mural, Burleigh Brewing - Gold Coast
- Live Painting for LSKD Event - Brisbane
2022: Mural collaboration, with Brad Turner, The Local Burleigh - Gold Coast
2022: Big City Lights Program, developed and facilitated 3 workshops with a public art outcome - Gold Coast
- Brisbane Street Art Festival - Brisbane
- Live Painting at the F1, Mr Consistent - Melbourne
2021: Live Painting at the Gabba, Woolloongabba - Brisbane
- City of Gold Coast Level Up Arty Bites Program - Gold Coast
2021: Mackay Base Hospital - Mackay
2020: Bleach Festival Installation with Mint Art House, Placemakers - Gold Coast
2019: Mackay City Council, 20m High Water Tower Public Mural Project - Mackay
2019: Exmouth Mural, Broome Mural, Margaret River Mural - Western Australia