Glenda Borchard
Acrylic
Glenda Borchard’s works revisit the images, emotions and quiet elegance of mid-century Australian life, particularly in coastal settings. Her retro-inspired, highly stylised paintings are a portal on to a time when life was simpler, yet fashion and design were more articulated and refined.
Centred on the human figure, particularly the female form, Glenda’s narrative paintings explore memory and human relationships. Poised gestures and atmospheric scenes linger in her frames like moments caught and gently paused, lending an almost cinematic tone to her work. A dreamlike quality mirrors the way memory itself works: softened at the edges, light-driven, incomplete.
Her artist palette is steeped in nostalgia – strong primary colours with heightened contrast. Cinched waists, flared skirts, wide-brimmed hats, classic bathing suits and stylish heels faithfully capture female fashion of the 50s and 60s.
Glenda’s work can best be described as “simultaneously nostalgic and contemporary”.
Her artwork is presently represented by two notable Queensland galleries: Montville Art Gallery, Sunshine Coast and Red Hill Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Glenda’s paintings are also held in private collections across Australia. She has exhibited widely – both in solo shows and in group settings. Her extensive career has woven together roles as a visual artist, teacher and art educator at Arthur Boyd’s Bundanon Trust.
Glenda was born and raised on Sydney’s northern beaches. She studied painting at the University of Wollongong, earning a Bachelor of Creative Arts. Glenda and her graphic designer husband, David, have called the Sunshine Coast home since 2020.
Website - https://gborchard.com