Gretchen Hillhouse

Meet our Director: Gretchen Hillhouse

As founder and director of Arty Architectural, Gretchen Hillhouse brings over 30 years’ experience of creative practice into play.

Gretchen’s detailed knowledge of public and private art installation was initially informed by her post-graduate studies in fine art at the University of Tasmania and was deepened during studies in glass and ceramic design at the university of South Australia and furthered with studies in jewellery fabrication and gold and metal-smithing.

Gretchen initially created sculptures and paintings for exhibition and commission in public and private galleries both in Australia and overseas before expanding her practice to include a jewellery, clothing and design-object arm, supplying 100 galleries around Australia and exporting to France and Argentina for 12 years. Now working exclusively in architectural scale work, Gretchen is committed to amplifying the Voices of First People Artists, often collaborating on multi-artist projects.

Gretchen’s artwork has been awarded numerous prizes including the Sydney Myer Award, and has been acquired for permanent collection by private collectors overseas and public galleries throughout Australia including the Art Gallery of South Australia, Museum and Art Gallery of Tasmania, Shepparton Art Gallery, Art Gallery of NSW, Brisbane Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.     

Highly skilled in community consultation, engagement and partnership development - abilities built over years consulting to indigenous and colonised communities, businesses and organisations and developing the leadership capabilities of business, organisational and government leaders; Gretchen ensures client-responsive and community-appropriate public artworks.

Gretchen’s genuine interest in people and training in Neuro-Associative practice allows her to form solid creative connections and get to the heart of a project’s requirements quickly.

You can be assured of outcomes that absolutely reflect the most deeply held values of your target demographic or community that enhance connection and bring spaces to life.