She became an artist in her 20s, an outsider in the male-dominated subcultures of snowboarding, skate-parks and street fashion. After years of travelling, Bohie Palecek returned to her bushfire-affected home town of Braidwood, in New South Wales, where she’s part of a creative impulse flourishing across regional Australia. Now her own woman, she’s pioneering opportunities for a new generation of female artists.

How do you describe yourself?

I’m a fine artist, creating art to express myself, and a commercial artist, creating art to express someone else’s brand or purpose.

how did it all start?

I went through art school in Canberra, starting at Australian National University, then, after a gap year, moved over to TAFE to study graphic design. The gap year completely changed me. I spent the year snowboarding in New Zealand and realised that all the artists I looked up to in my early 20s were seen as illustrators. In that moment, I understood that I didn’t want my art to be critiqued on gallery walls*. I wanted it seen on snowboards and T-shirts. I liked working collaboratively with clothing brands and street fashion.

[*Bohie, now in her 30s, exhibits her art on gallery walls.]

Bohie Palecek. Photo: Asha Kidd — Bohie Palecek. *Photo: Asha Kidd*

“But in this space, women were outsiders.”

Your first job?

After graduating I got a job in a design studio, for my drawing skills, but I couldn’t sit in an office five days a week. I couldn’t succumb to someone else’s ideas.

Collaborative confidence?

I started out putting on art shows in my garage and getting involved in a lot of skate-park activities. I was part of a super low-brow subculture, which is where I felt my work really sat comfortably. But in this space, women were outsiders.

Bohie Palecek working on the Double Vision mural. Photo: Elliot Oakes — Bohie Palecek working on the Double Vision mural. *Photo: Elliot Oakes*

On the road?

A lot of my friends at the time were travelling to the US, touring in bands and riding skateparks. So I quit my job and went to America. It was big on many levels. I was with a boyfriend who I’d been with for almost five years and we separated two weeks into the trip. I had to make my own way. It sort of sling-shot me.

How did you respond to this freedom?

I got super quirky creative. I didn’t feel frightened, I felt totally free. It’s been hard to be in relationships since then. Being in a couple is difficult; I lose my creativity.

Revel in the Wildness mural by Bohie Palecek. Photo: Raine Turnbull — *Revel in the Wildness* mural by Bohie Palecek. *Photo: Raine Turnbull*

“Being in a couple is difficult; I lose my creativity.”

What are the options for female artists?

There are two clichés that we’re sort of touching on. One is the very free older artist. The woman who’s barefoot in a studio in the painting apron. I love this woman. I want to be this woman. The other is the female in a creative partnership. I see these in Frankie magazine. They’re beautiful couples that have great gardens and kids, creative kids and really funky houses. But they’re polar opposites, aren’t they?

Do you get lonely?

No, I’ve always felt really content in my own company.

Why did you move back to Braidwood?

I have to create structure for myself. Moving back to Braidwood (after five years in Adelaide) is part of that, creating a happy home for myself, instead of trying to fit into society’s expectation of what a woman my age should be doing. This has been a game-changer.

What doors has Braidwood opened?

I’m really refining my subject matter. I came home to be close to nature and community. I just missed being near my loved ones.

What do you need to be creative?

Clean clothes. Food. Silence. I need to be calm and have the headspace to ‘hear’ ideas and think. I like to keep my mind super-refreshed, so my thoughts go back and my feelings come forward.

[Braidwood is increasingly home to creatives, including local fashion label Saloon founders Dena Pezzano-Pharaoh and Jane Magnus, writer Elizabeth Farrelly, designer Matt Darwon.]

Hold Tight

A custom art design by Bohie Palecek for Biltwell motorcycle helmets.

your biggest challenge?

Judging myself… every time something doesn’t work out, or even when things do work out.

How do you push through that?

I’ve had to learn to live with myself, love myself. It’s a physical meditation, saying things like: ‘look how powerful I am, look at what my body can do.’ It’s my body that’s making my art. Only my body can express my ideas.

“That’s definitely come from reconnecting with myself.”

Bohie Palecek, Reflections. — Bohie Palecek, *Reflections*.

Does doubt happen mainly in creative moments?

No. It’s mostly around snowboarding and being active. Subcultures are massively male-dominated. For a lot of my 20s, the only women I saw with a snowboard or skateboard were models in magazines, although this wasn’t the case on the slopes. Same thing in traditional signwriting and the street-art world. They’re massively male-dominated worlds, though this too is changing. I feel the social consciousness has shifted heaps lately with the #metoo movement.

Collaborators Bohie Palecek (left) and Faith Kerehona met at an International Women’s Day Workshop in Canberra. Photo: Asha Kidd — Collaborators Bohie Palecek (left) and Faith Kerehona met at an International Women’s Day Workshop in Canberra. *Photo: Asha Kidd*

How has your art practice grown since returning home?

My first commission (in 2019) was a grant from the ACT Government, for International Women’s Day, running a workshop at the University of Canberra with high school girls, and a two-day collaborative mural. These young girls were saying things like, ‘Oh my parents reward my brother a lot more when he gets better grades. When I get straight A’s… I barely get a pat on the back.’ Everything was coming back to gender.

University of Canberra mural collaboration with Faith Kerehona. Photo: Raine Turnbull — University of Canberra mural collaboration with Faith Kerehona. *Photo: Raine Turnbull*

Where to from here?

Everything is evolving. I’ve just created two separate brands. Red Hat Design is a female-focused art platform for next generation women artists, and for my commercial stuff. I co-founded this with Faith Kerehona: we met at an International Women’s Day workshop in Canberra. The other brand, Bohie Palecek, is for my personal art. That’s definitely come from reconnecting with myself, my own confidence and expressing myself.

Founders of Red Hat Design, Faith Kerehona (left) Bohie Palecek are providing a platform for women. Photo: Asha Kidd — Founders of Red Hat Design, Faith Kerehona (left) Bohie Palecek are providing a platform for women. *Photo: Asha Kidd*

Who are your clients?

I’m working mostly through government grants and large-scale commissions, like my recent University of Canberra mural commission, as well as exhibiting my personal art in galleries, nationwide. My clients have included Westfield, Uber, Jacob’s Creek, ACT, NSW and SA Governments, Electric California, The Adelaide Festival, Ivy League Records.