Hi, I’m Jo. I am a Melbourne-based artist, painting under the pseudonym of N2O since 2016. My practice began with hand-cut stencils and has evolved in recent years to include sculpture, painting and public murals, allowing me to explore colour, scale, and narrative in new ways.
I’m inspired by nature—particularly insects such as moths and beetles—as well as themes of childhood, memory, and wonder. These motifs have appeared throughout my work, but have become central to my practice as I explore ideas of transformation, resilience, and our connection to the natural world. I’m interested in creating moments of curiosity and delight in urban environments, inviting viewers to slow down and notice the small, often overlooked details around them.
I have a background in ceramic design and completed a Bachelor of Fine Art in 1993. My early work focused on large-scale sculptural ceramics inspired by natural forms, and I’ve since worked across painting, drawing, and printmaking. These disciplines continue to influence my approach to surface, texture, and composition and all influence my current practice
I’ve had several solo shows and contributed to various group shows, and was shortlisted for the 2019 Stencil Award. I have completed numerous public artworks and private commissions both locally and internationally.
Selected exhibitions & Prizes
2025
Born of Earth, Bound for Wing -Solos Show– Winter Residency 2025 – Yarra Sculpture Gallery – Abbotsford, Victoria
Small Wonders – Red Gallery – North Fitzroy, Vic
2024
Mischief and Mudbugs – Solo pop-up show – St Kilda, Victoria
Fortearth Fortheart co – Group Show – 45 Downstairs Gallery- Melbourne
2023
Flying the Coop - Solo Show - Off the Kerb - Collingwood
Dealer’s Choice - Just Another Agency - Group show - Oshi Gallery. Collingwood
Moss Foundation Skate Deck Group Show - Iionia Gallery- South Yarra
St Kilda Streetart Gathering Show -Rus Kitchin Gallery- St Kilda
15 Artists - Quadrant Gallery - Kew
2022
Moss Foundation Skate deck group show- Magnate Gallery- Docklands Melbourne
Moss foundation Deck art show- Mint Gallery -Gold Coast
Cutting it fine - Group show- Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne
2021
Prism City - Hue and cry collective- Geelong
Moss foundation Deck show, Ambush Gallery Sydney
2020
Background Bob & his friends - Firstsite Gallery -Colchester -UK
Subterranean Femmes (Curator & Contributing Artist) -The Dirty Dozen - Campbell Arcade - Melbourne
2019
Animalia - Off the Kerb Gallery - Collingwood
12 x 12 exhibition - The Stockroom Gallery - Collingwood
The Blender Studios show - West Melbourne
Vivarium – The Stockroom Gallery - Collingwood
International Women’s day exhibition - The Stockroom Gallery (Clifton Hill)
2019 -2021 Stencil Art Prize - Shortlisted - travelling exhibition
2018
12”x12” - The Stockroom Gallery - Clifton Hill
Sphere - Off the kerb Gallery - Collingwood
2017
Bring a plate - The Stockroom - Ringwood
#ownit exhibition The Meat Market - North Melbourne
Dodgy art show - The Stockroom Gallery - Ringwood
1993
Interiority - Final year group show - Monash University- Melboure
The Walkers Award - Melbourne Arts Center - Melboure
Fresh - Student award exhibition - Craft Victoria -West Melbourne
Publications & Media
Better Homes and Gardens – Magazine- July 2021
Better homes & Gardens – Season 27 Episode 18 Selected 2021
Background Bob and his Amazing friends II 2021
Cut - 10 Years if the stencil prize, 2020
Background Bob and his Amazing friends 2020
The Daily Telegraph UK, 2019
Burn City – Melbourne’s painted Streets, Chamberlin 2017
OMKalen – for Elletube - (The Ellen Degeneres show ) https://www.ellentube.com/studios/OMKalen/omkalen-down-under-kalen-s-first-time-in-australia.html
