G.W. Bot

G.W. Bot is the pseudonym of Christine Grishin, a prominent Australian artist who has dedicated over three decades to her practice. Born in Quetta, Pakistan, to Australian parents, she pursued her art education in London, Paris, and Australia, eventually graduating from the Australian National University in 1982. Her drawings were first published as illustrations in a book in London in 1980 and since 1985, she has worked as a full-time artist maintaining an independent studio practice.

The selection of her exhibiting name, G.W. Bot, dates back forty years. “According to Aboriginal totemic belief, each member of a clan inherits a totemic relationship with a particular plant or animal of the region,” she explains. “I like this idea of oneness with the environment. Where I live, wombats are especially prevalent and they have become my totemic animal. The earliest written reference to a wombat occurs in a French source where it is called ‘le grand Wam Bot,’ and hence my exhibiting name is G.W. Bot.”

Engaging in printmaking, painting, sculpture, and graphic art, G.W. Bot has showcased her work extensively both nationally and internationally. She has presented over 50 solo exhibitions in various cities such as Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she has participated in more than 200 group and invitational exhibitions. She is the recipient of numerous commissions and has been awarded residencies in Europe, Asia and Australia. Her work is held in many galleries, including the National Gallery of Australia, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.