Reflecting on Radiance
You may pass by Philippa O’Brien’s artwork every day without even realising. With decades of experience in public art, she has added colour and character across Perth through site-specific pieces that hold up a mirror to the environments many of us may take for granted. For Philippa, public art isn’t just about creativity – it’s centered around solving practical challenges and seamlessly integrating her work into its surroundings, making it feel as though that art piece was always destined to be there. Soon to be installed at MSWA Shenton Park, Philippa’s latest sculpture, Radiance, has been purposefully designed with the future residents in mind.
In her early career, Philippa’s creativity manifested in many forms – first studying English Literature at university, then travelling to a London art school, before working as a set designer in Western Australian theatre. This eventually led her to the public art space – what she now deems as a natural career progression.
“I did a lot of work as a theatre designer and I was very familiar with playing around with scale – that’s something that’s been very useful,” she said.
With over 30 years of experience in creating art, Philippa has artwork placed all across Perth. One of her most notable creations is the Banksia Garden situated in Kings Park.
“I’m pleased to have done some pieces that will stay there for a long time. I have a work in Kings Park, which I know people are very fond of,” she states.
The Banksia Garden consists of two long seats decorated with banksia leaves and marble floor paving. Depicting five banksias that grow naturally in the park, the design is fashioned from sheets of multi-coloured Italian marble. Created before computers, every piece was cut by hand, exactly as the ancient Greeks or Romans would have done. Creating art that needs to withstand the sometimes intense and varied WA climate is a task that doesn’t come easy. Each piece of work needs to be structurally and aesthetically sound, made of practical materials which fit the environment, are nice on the eyes, and budget.
In addition to Kings Park, Philippa has pieces located in the WA Family Court, Bassendean, Gosnells, Mindarie and many in Ellenbrook. Her next piece is to be placed perfectly primed at the entrance to the new MSWA Shenton Park – slated for completion in June 2026.
The new facility will be composed of 20 state-of-the-art apartments and will offer high-support accommodation. Although Philippa is well-versed in creating works designed for public spaces, her involvement in this project feels especially meaningful. Living with Parkinson’s disease herself, she describes a synergy to this project and the impact it will have on people living with neurological conditions.
It’s the entry to their home and I think about what that means for people. I want to make an uplifting and positive experience.
Approaching the design process for a piece such as this, Philippa mentioned the environment and audience are two key factors to take into consideration.
“I spent quite a lot of time just absorbing what the site was like. Of course, at that stage it’s just a sand patch,” she remembers.
“But it was surrounded by the heritage bushland, which when I first saw it – full of beautiful, lush banksia covered in flowers – it looked beautiful. I started off by taking bits of the environment – a few branches, the gum nuts and so on, and just thinking about it all.”
One prominent landmark on the street is a large gumtree. The tree is another example of how public art needs to integrate into the environment, instead of fighting against it. Once Philippa observed the site (and the tree), she began to draft multiple versions of what the sculpture could look like. After throwing everything on a page that came to her head or hand, the selection process began. As always, practicality plays a part.
“You must be very practical about what you can build, what materials you’ll use and can afford to build. First, it’s the idea you like and second is whatever is practical.”
After all her hard work and conceptualising, Radiance was created.
Described as a tall and thin stainless-steel structure – which holds its own against the incredible gumtree and surroundings, Radiance is a very strong, simple sculpture. But, with some key features.
“It’s reflective, it’s sparkling, it’s alive. It’s very responsive to whatever’s going around – the weather, a cloud, cars in the street. Its painted parts include the colours of the banksias in the park. It absolutely makes a strong statement,” she describes.
Every time you go through the doorway, you’re going to be reflected. You will sparkle.
Radiance is currently under construction and will be soon installed in its (and the residents’) new home in Shenton Park. Philippa’s hope is that it makes people feel proud of their surroundings.
“It’s beautiful. I hope the residents feel proud of it and they like it as an entry to their home.”
Philippa is not only a talented artist but also an author, with her latest book called No Stone Without a Name, which you can find at the Subiaco Bookshop.
Now living in Ballarat with her daughter, she reflects on a career that spans time, location and generations – a privilege she takes very seriously.
Through works like Radiance, she mentions that the true purpose of adding a beautiful piece of public art to a place is to brighten the lives of the people it’s meant for. Simply put, “it’s the whole point.”
