Beyond Bizarre
Beyond Bizarre
By artist: Jacqui Burnell
Chalk paint and wax on vintage drawers. 80 x 40 x 73 cm
Clarice Cliff revolutionised British ceramics in the 1920s and 30s with bold colour, fearless design and a style that ignored convention. At the time, her work challenged ideas of what "good taste" should be, inviting admiration from some and criticism from others. This hand-painted cabinet pays tribute to one of Cliff's iconic Bizarre landscapes, translating a ceramic design onto vintage furniture. By moving her imagery beyond pottery, it asks who owns creativity and where art is allowed to exist. Artists are often expected to justify their choices, defend their influences or explain why their work doesn't conform. They inherit opinions, trends, criticism and comparisons that are not theirs to carry: these are someone else's monkeys. Rather than taking on those expectations, this piece celebrates the freedom to create with joy, colour and curiosity. It honours an artist who refused to be confined by convention and reminds us that originality often begins by leaving other people's burdens behind. In the spirit of the exhibition, this work quietly suggests that the weight of judgement belongs to the viewer, not the maker. Sometimes the greatest creative act is recognising which monkeys are yours… and which monkeys never were.
About the artist.
Jacqui Burnell is a Brisbane-based self-taught artist whose practice spans painting, functional furniture art, and imaginative clay creations. After leaving a long corporate career in 2017 due to chronic illness, Jacqui returned to art as a form of personal restoration. What began as therapy evolved into a vibrant multidisciplinary practice grounded in curiosity, storytelling, and a love of colour. Working with chalk paint, acrylics, and air-dry clay, Jacqui moves fluidly between canvas, sculpture, and furniture. For canvas art she enjoys still life, portraits, and often leans toward moody blues, storm-laden skies, or bold maximalist colour. Her clay work brings forth whimsical characters, expressive faces, and animals that are infused with personality and charm.
Collection or delivery.
This item is part of the Not My Monkey Art Exhibition, on display at Plant Empire from 25 July - 16 August 2026. Exhibition items are available for sale in person or online. In the unlikely event that a customer purchases the item in-store at the same time as it is sold online, we will refund the online purchase - thank you in advance for your understanding if this situation does occur. Exhibition pieces will be available for collection in-store or delivered from 16 August: due to the size of this work, it is only available by collection or courier delivery.