Stories from the Studio: Jo Parsons

Treasure, treasure everywhere – and Jo Made it all.

Jo Parsons, paints mesmerising abstract canvases from her home base in Braidwood QPRC.

STA went to visit Jo at Gallery 103, a unique artisan shopping experience where she showcases her award-winning original artworks alongside work by dozens of other local artists.

On offer at Gallery 103 are several of Jo’s impressive original canvases nestled among a myriad of products adorned with her designs. Umbrellas, tea towels, journals, and more are set to bring art into your life regardless of your budget.

A lifelong artist, Jo developed a passion for painting in high school, inspired by her art teacher. She first exhibited in Redfern in the ’90s and has spent years creating privately, often selling her work street-side in Paddington and Newtown. For Jo, painting is “pure escapism”—a way to explore identity, process complex ideas, and find inner peace. “Every stroke on the canvas is a simultaneous idea or thought, and I tend to work through a piece from start to finish, whether it takes me all night.”