Telstra Into Art Series: Drop by Drawing

Olana Janfa is a self-taught artist based in Melbourne. Born in Ethiopia, Olana migrated to Norway as a teenager and has lived in Australia since 2015. Known for his uniquely expressive style, bold use of colour and often-humorous narrative captions, Olana has established his name as a compelling and prolific creator whose art playfully reflects nuances of pop culture, politics and identity. Along with his studio practice, Olana works on large-scale mural projects, fashion collaborations, brand identity, book illustration and other commercial projects. He has exhibited his work in galleries across Melbourne, and his work can be found in private collections around the world.

Nic Plowman has held 18 solo exhibitions and exhibited in over 60 group shows. He is primarily known for his dedication to both traditional and experimental drawing. He was a finalist in the Dobell Drawing Prize in both 2023 and 2025, receiving a Highly Commended in this year’s award. He was also a finalist in the Kedumba Drawing Award in 2023 and 2024, with his work acquired into the Kedumba Collection of Australian Drawing by the Board of Trustees in 2023. Plowman has also been a finalist in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship (2006, 2002). He has undertaken residencies in Australia and internationally, and his work is held in numerous public and private collections. Plowman lives and works in Melbourne and is represented by James Makin Gallery.

Jodie Di Natale is a large-scale figurative artist working in drawing and painting. She received her Bachelor of Fine Art majoring in Drawing in 1997 and completed her Masters of Contemporary Art in 2020 both from the Victorian College of the Arts. Her practice employs a large-scale compositional strategy where the figurative protagonists consume the frame to boldly explore the fragile boundaries that delineate the monster within. The works utilise narrative qualities to serve as a visual commentary on the complexities of power and control with deliberate intention to challenge meaning and perception. The psychologically charged drawings delve into the biological power dynamics in humans and animals to discuss the intricate interplay between the historical and the political. Di Natale’s work resides in national public and private collections and has been exhibited in national and international galleries.

Nic Plowman has held 18 solo exhibitions and exhibited in over 60 group shows. He is primarily known for his dedication to both traditional and experimental drawing. He was a finalist in the Dobell Drawing Prize in both 2023 and 2025, receiving a Highly Commended in this year’s award. He was also a finalist in the Kedumba Drawing Award in 2023 and 2024, with his work acquired into the Kedumba Collection of Australian Drawing by the Board of Trustees in 2023. Plowman has also been a finalist in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship (2006, 2002). He has undertaken residencies in Australia and internationally, and his work is held in numerous public and private collections. Plowman lives and works in Melbourne and is represented by James Makin Gallery.