Meet Greta Cooper, an inspiring student at the ANU School of Art & Design, currently completing her Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours), and this year’s chosen designer of the 2023 Graduating Exhibition logo. 

Greta considers herself a multidisciplinary artist and designer, with a focus on printmaking.

“I moved to Canberra in 2018 from a small town on the South Coast of New South Wales called Moruya. This was the start of my ANU journey, where I undertook a Bachelor of Visual Arts, majoring in Printmedia and Drawing. I am currently undertaking my Honours in Visual Arts, exploring ecological grief and memorialising the Black Summer Bushfires through installation. " 

Following a student competition held earlier in the year, Greta’s design was chosen by a selection committee and Greta was awarded an honorarium fee for her design. 

In alignment with the collaborative nature within the school and broader University, Megan Hinton, Senior Gallery Coordinator at the ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, worked closely with Greta to create a suite of graphics to support this year’s Graduating Exhibition. 

Greta notes that she was inspired by the Bauhaus movement from the early 20th century.

“I wanted to borrow elements of the iconic Bauhaus designs for my logo. I did this by using primary colours with black accents and simple shapes to create block-like letters. After doing some research about the Bauhaus while completing my designs, I became aware that the ANU School of Art and Design was modelled after the discipline-separate workshops. The openness and layout of the different workshops allow for collaboration and sharing of ideas. " 

Greta continued her research into the link between the School and the Bauhaus movement, discovering that “Udo Sellbach (1927-2006) was a printmaker from Germany who became founding director of the then Canberra School of Art in 1977, [and] he encouraged this Bauhaus philosophy which set out to change the way artists were taught. One of my favourite things about art school is the strong community atmosphere which is encouraged by this design layout. “ 

The final design suite combines practicality with boldness, showcasing the innovative creative abilities of the schools’ students in producing work that is both socially engaging and historically relevant. 

View Greta’s designs throughout the 2023 Graduating Exhibition at the ANU School of Art & Design, 2 – 10 December, 10am – 4pm daily (including weekends). 

For more information email soad.gallery@anu.edu.au