SWELL Sculpture Festival founder Natasha Edwards recognised for world-class art to our sands

Natasha Edwards reflects on her love of art and the ocean, and how it led her to co-found one of the Gold Coast’s most beloved events.

SWELL co-founder Natasha Edwards. Picture Glenn Hampson

Growing up in an artistic family, Natasha Edwards always had one foot in the world of sculpture.

However, a move to Currumbin Beach as a teen inspired her to combine her creative skills with her other obsession; the ocean.

SWELL co-founder Natasha Edwards. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The two things came to fruition in 2003 when Ms Edwards co-founded the SWELL Sculpture Festival, now a popular annual fixture exhibiting some of local and international sculpture on the sands of Currumbin Beach.

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“Coming to the Gold Coast from cold, wet Victoria I just fell in love with Currumbin and knew that I would do something here one day,” she said.

“I’ve always had a love for sculpture and the sea, and I realised I could connect people with the ocean through art.”

Ms Edwards’ tireless work has earned her a nomination for a Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year Award, in the “Stars of Tourism” category.

“I take a lot of pride and care in supporting the artists that present their works,” she said.

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“Most of the artworks are representative of creators telling a bigger story – that’s the vision of SWELL.”

A SWELL Sculpture Festival exhibit in 2021.

Also a competitive sailor, Ms Edwards said she draws inspiration from being on the water and is preparing to partake in her fifth Sydney to Hobart race at the end of the year.

“There’s a very strong synergy between art and being out on the ocean,” she said.

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Despite the excitement of traversing Bass Strait, the job of curating the SWELL Sculpture Festival remains the top priority for Ms Edwards.

“SWELL Sculpture is a world-stage exhibition – the beach is one of the best platforms for artists to exhibit their work,” she said.

“We have Gold Coast artists stepping onto the world stage here, and each year the exhibition is going from strength to strength.”

Nominations for the Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year are open now.