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Jenny McCracken
Award-Winning Australian Artist
Jenny McCracken has worked professionally as a visual artist since completing a Fine Arts degree at RMIT in 1988. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she has developed a diverse practice encompassing large-scale murals, portraits, wildlife art, 3D pavement art, trompe l’oeil murals and paintings, sculpture and commissioned works. Jenny has been a finalist in the Moran Portrait Prize, Gosford Art Prize, Kennedy Art Prize, WAMA Works on Paper Art Prize and Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize. She held a solo exhibition at Gosford Regional Art Gallery in 2022 and was a semi-finalist in ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year, Season 2, in 2026.
Internationally recognised for her mastery of pavement art and 3D illusion, Jenny has achieved the unusual distinction of winning more pavement art competitions, both nationally and internationally, than any other Australian artist. Her career has taken her around the world, including to Grazie di Curtatone, Italy, in 2012, where she represented Australia in the world’s oldest pavement art competition and became Australia’s first acknowledged Madonnara. The journey was documented in CHALK: AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE, screened on SBS in 2014. She has also been a guest artist at the Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida, working alongside Master Artist Kurt Wenner.
Beyond her achievements in the art world, Jenny is a dedicated teacher and environmental advocate, running various ‘Art in Nature’ workshops to inspire new generations to connect with our natural world through observation and art. She has spent many years amongst dedicated environmentalist promoting the vegan diet as the best way to preserve the life we share this planet with, mitigate climate change, and free up land, waterways and oceans for regrowing and repair.
Awards & Recognitions
01
ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year, Season 2
Semi-finalist
2026
02
Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize
Finalist for the painting Inheritance, Oceans.
South Australian Museum in Adelaide
2026
03
Kennedy Art Prize
Finalist in the Kennedy Art Prize for Paradise Preserved, or The Fatal Gift of Beauty.
2023
04
WAMA National Centre for Environmental Art Biennial Art Prize
Finalist for The Treachery of Collections: Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides
2023
05
Gosford Art Prize
Finalist for Self-portrait
2020
06
World Street Painting Festival
First Prize
2015
07
Encontro Nazionale dei Madonnari
— Gold Medal for the Assumption of Mary.
Became Australia’s first Madonnara.
2012
08
Chalk Urban Art Festival
First Place for Freedom of the Species Begins on your Place
2011
09
Chalk Urban Art Festival
First Place for My Blue Angel
2010
10
Moran National Portrait Prize
Finalist for Hung on the Wall
2000
11
Geldern International Pavement Art Competition, Germany
First Place (with Roland Josuttise)
1991
01 / 11
ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year, Season 2
Semi-finalist
2026
01
ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year, Season 2
Semi-finalist
2026
02
Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize
Finalist for the painting Inheritance, Oceans.
South Australian Museum in Adelaide
2026
03
Kennedy Art Prize
Finalist in the Kennedy Art Prize for Paradise Preserved, or The Fatal Gift of Beauty.
2023
04
WAMA National Centre for Environmental Art Biennial Art Prize
Finalist for The Treachery of Collections: Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides
2023
05
Gosford Art Prize
Finalist for Self-portrait
2020
06
World Street Painting Festival
First Prize
2015
07
Encontro Nazionale dei Madonnari
— Gold Medal for the Assumption of Mary.
Became Australia’s first Madonnara.
2012
08
Chalk Urban Art Festival
First Place for Freedom of the Species Begins on your Place
2011
09
Chalk Urban Art Festival
First Place for My Blue Angel
2010
10
Moran National Portrait Prize
Finalist for Hung on the Wall
2000
11
Geldern International Pavement Art Competition, Germany
First Place (with Roland Josuttise)
1991
- Portrait painting on an easel of a smiling woman with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, wearing a dark uniform with gold epaulettes, holding a signed teddy bear with tartan-patched paws against a mint-green background.
- Trompe-l'oeil painting of a blue-and-white willow-pattern plate depicting two rabbits caught in a net under a night sky, flanked by a fork and knife, set against a lace-patterned background.
- Painting of two paradise parrots with blue, green, and red plumage shown from behind, tails elongated, with museum tags reading "National Museum Melbourne," in a wooden display box. Signed "Jenny McCracken 2023."
- Trompe-l'oeil painting of three regent parrots styled as museum specimens on a flowering bottlebrush branch and a mounted stand with a specimen tag, in a wooden display box.
- Trompe-l'oeil self-portrait painting of Jenny Mccracken wearing glasses and a floral face mask peeking out of an open cardboard box labeled "natural eco-friendly live culture," with a tally chart and small painted birds.
- 3D chalk pavement art of a portrait resembling Van Gogh seated in a large wicker chair with a hat and shoes, painted on brick pavement in a public square.
- 3D chalk pavement art depicting a reclining religious figure with cherubs and angel wings emerging from a stone niche, painted for the Madonnari festival; the artist crouches beside it wearing a "Chalk Urban Art Festival" shirt and sun hat.
- Chalk pavement drawing of chimpanzees with a piglet, lamb, and piece of fruit, inscribed "Freedom of Species Begins on Your Plate," with the artist sitting beside it wearing a "Chalk Urban Art Festival" shirt.
- 3D chalk pavement art titled "My Blue Angel," depicting a winged figure with dark hair standing in a rippling pool of water, viewed from above. The smiling artist lies beside her artwork on the pavement.
- Mural-style portrait of a smiling young man wearing round glasses and a navy beanie reading "Trust Me I'm Greek," painted on brick against a colorful graffiti background.
- Black-and-white photo of the artist as a young woman kneeling to draw a chalk pavement portrait of two men with Cyrillic text, at an international pavement art competition.
Career Highlights
01
The Whaleshark
2025 – Feature 3D pavement artwork commissioned by the Shire of Exmouth for the town centre.
02
Kingfisher Lucky Dip
2020 – Water tower artwork featured on an Australia Post stamp released in September 2020.
03
Kingfisher Lucky Dip Stamp
Water tower artwork featured on an Australia Post stamp, released in September 2020.
04
Brewarrina Mental Health Murals
3D mural artwork in Brewarrina featuring a frill-necked lizard, echidna and googa band.
05
Jimmy Little Portrait
2020 – 3D portrait of Australian musician Jimmy Little painted on the Walgett Water Tower in collaboration with Indigenous artist Frank Wright.
06
Beyond the Walls
2021 – 3D mural created for the Barraba Street Art Commission with Zest Events International.
07
AllambiCare Seahorses
2021 – 3D seahorse mural artwork created for AllambiCare Esplanade Medical Centre in Warners Bay, NSW.
08
AllambiCare Turtles
3D turtle mural artwork created for AllambiCare Esplanade Medical Centre in Warners Bay, NSW.
09
Hanging Out in the Hunter
2024 – Dual-plane 3D illusion mural created for Cessnock City Council.
10
Vietnam War Memorial Mural
2019 – Vietnam War Memorial mural on the Gunnedah Water Tower Museum, created with Zest Events International.
11
The Octopainter
2026 – Feature 3D artwork created for the 10th anniversary of the ArtWalk Festival in Port Macquarie.
12
Regent Jewels of the Hunter
2023 – Wildlife mural celebrating the Regent Honeyeater and the natural environment of the Hunter region.
13
Painted Honeyeater
2023 – Wildlife mural commissioned for Merriwa, NSW, by Hunter Local Land Services.
14
Hung on the Wall
2000 – Portrait that toured with the Moran National Portrait Prize exhibition for two years.
15
Shoal Bay Art Trail
2025 – 3D pavement artwork created for the Shoal Bay Art Trail in Shoal Bay, NSW, for Port Stephens Council. Featuring Gymea Lily & Swift Parrot, Koala, White Sea Horses and Humpback Whale.
16
Where There Is Breath, There Is Hope
2023 – Mural featuring humpback whales and swift parrots in Newcastle, NSW.
17
Singing for Survival
2022 – 3D Regent Honeyeater mural installation in Capertee, NSW.
18
Wasting Time
2014 – Australia's largest-ever 3D pavement artwork at the time, created with Zest Events International.
19
Circus in a Box
2016 – 3D pavement artwork created for the Dubai International 3D Art Festival, where Jenny McCracken was a feature artist.
20
Chalk, an Australian Perspective
2014 – Documentary screened on SBS 1 featuring Jenny McCracken and her journey to Italy to compete in the world's longest-running pavement art competition.
01 / 20
The Whaleshark
2025 – Feature 3D pavement artwork commissioned by the Shire of Exmouth for the town centre.
01
The Whaleshark
2025 – Feature 3D pavement artwork commissioned by the Shire of Exmouth for the town centre.
02
Kingfisher Lucky Dip
2020 – Water tower artwork featured on an Australia Post stamp released in September 2020.
03
Kingfisher Lucky Dip Stamp
Water tower artwork featured on an Australia Post stamp, released in September 2020.
04
Brewarrina Mental Health Murals
3D mural artwork in Brewarrina featuring a frill-necked lizard, echidna and googa band.
05
Jimmy Little Portrait
2020 – 3D portrait of Australian musician Jimmy Little painted on the Walgett Water Tower in collaboration with Indigenous artist Frank Wright.
06
Beyond the Walls
2021 – 3D mural created for the Barraba Street Art Commission with Zest Events International.
07
AllambiCare Seahorses
2021 – 3D seahorse mural artwork created for AllambiCare Esplanade Medical Centre in Warners Bay, NSW.
08
AllambiCare Turtles
3D turtle mural artwork created for AllambiCare Esplanade Medical Centre in Warners Bay, NSW.
09
Hanging Out in the Hunter
2024 – Dual-plane 3D illusion mural created for Cessnock City Council.
10
Vietnam War Memorial Mural
2019 – Vietnam War Memorial mural on the Gunnedah Water Tower Museum, created with Zest Events International.
11
The Octopainter
2026 – Feature 3D artwork created for the 10th anniversary of the ArtWalk Festival in Port Macquarie.
12
Regent Jewels of the Hunter
2023 – Wildlife mural celebrating the Regent Honeyeater and the natural environment of the Hunter region.
13
Painted Honeyeater
2023 – Wildlife mural commissioned for Merriwa, NSW, by Hunter Local Land Services.
14
Hung on the Wall
2000 – Portrait that toured with the Moran National Portrait Prize exhibition for two years.
15
Shoal Bay Art Trail
2025 – 3D pavement artwork created for the Shoal Bay Art Trail in Shoal Bay, NSW, for Port Stephens Council. Featuring Gymea Lily & Swift Parrot, Koala, White Sea Horses and Humpback Whale.
16
Where There Is Breath, There Is Hope
2023 – Mural featuring humpback whales and swift parrots in Newcastle, NSW.
17
Singing for Survival
2022 – 3D Regent Honeyeater mural installation in Capertee, NSW.
18
Wasting Time
2014 – Australia's largest-ever 3D pavement artwork at the time, created with Zest Events International.
19
Circus in a Box
2016 – 3D pavement artwork created for the Dubai International 3D Art Festival, where Jenny McCracken was a feature artist.
20
Chalk, an Australian Perspective
2014 – Documentary screened on SBS 1 featuring Jenny McCracken and her journey to Italy to compete in the world's longest-running pavement art competition.
- 3D pavement art illusion of a large whale shark and sea turtles on a footpath, with two smiling women posing as if paddleboarding beside it.
- Aerial view of a cylindrical water tower mural depicting a kingfisher diving underwater, painted with a spiral staircase, in a rural green field under a blue sky.
- $1.10 Australia postage stamp featuring the same kingfisher water tower mural, split above and below a rippling waterline, labeled "Gulargambone, NSW | Jenny McCracken."
- Mural of an echidna and its baby (puggle) painted beneath the eaves of a building, tongue extended toward the ground, against a blue sky.
- Large mural on a cylindrical water tower depicting an older man playing guitar, surrounded by Aboriginal dot-painting motifs of animals and a river, signed "F. Wright" and "Jenny McCracken," 2020.
- Mural on a brick building depicting a waterfall and rainforest scene bursting through broken brick openings, with colorful parrots and a heron in flight; a woman poses beside it.
- Mural of a leafy seadragon swimming underwater among seaweed and small fish, painted on an interior wall.
- Mural inside a warehouse showing an underwater scene with a sunken shipwreck, sea turtles, coral, and a treasure chest, wrapping around the corner of two walls.
- 3D artwork of hot air balloons over a landscape, with a woman posing as if climbing a rope ladder toward the basket; a kingfisher perches on top. Signed "Jenny McCracken 2024."
- Mural on a cylindrical water tower depicting soldiers standing around a white cross memorial surrounded by poppies, framed by green foliage.
- 3D pavement art of a large blue-ringed octopus painting at an easel beside a wooden post and pipe, with water flowing around a cracked pavement illusion; a woman sits atop the post. Signed "Jenny McCracken" and dated 2026.
- Large mural on a red building of a regent honeyeater bird with black, white, and yellow plumage, alongside smaller birds and a landscape scene, with text reading "This is Wonnarua Country."
- Mural of a regent honeyeater perched on a flowering branch, framed within a painted window opening on a green cinder-block wall, with a mountain landscape and yellow wattle blossoms visible behind it. Signed "Jenny McCracken 2022."
- Mural-style portrait of a smiling young man wearing round glasses and a navy beanie reading "Trust Me I'm Greek," painted on brick against a colorful graffiti background.
- 3D pavement art of a humpback whale and calf with parrots flying around them, viewed from above on a paved plaza near city buildings. Signed "@jennymccrackenartist."
- Large 3D pavement art installation depicting a steampunk-style flying machine with people in blue shirts, alongside two children playing on giant books and a chessboard, with a koala; viewed from above in a busy plaza.
- Mural on the gable end of a pavilion depicting regent honeyeaters in a bushland scene, one in flight over burnt tree trunks and one perched among gum blossoms.
- Large 3D pavement art installation depicting a steampunk-style flying machine with people in blue shirts, alongside two children playing on giant books and a chessboard, with a koala; viewed from above in a busy plaza.
- 3D pavement art of a clown on a unicycle juggling cards inside an opened wooden box, with playing cards and a rabbit in a top hat; two women pose interacting with the scene.
- DVD cover and packaging design for "Chalk: An Australian Perspective," a film by Zest Events International, featuring the "My Blue Angel" chalk artwork and a countryside road scene.
Interview with Jenny
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