Cedric Varcoe
Cedric was born in Adelaide in 1984. His family is Narangga, from Point Pearce Mission on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, and Ngarrindjeri, from the southern regions of the River Murray and the Coorong in coastal South Australia. Cedric’s mother’s heritage is Ramindjerri, which is a subset of Ngarrindjeri and relates to the Victor Harbor and Goolwa region, where Cedric still lives with his family and extended family.
Cedric has been painting since he was very young, inspired by watching other family members paint and by stories of Ngarrindjeri Country and culture shared by his grandfather and other elders throughout his childhood.
In 2008, Cedric completed a mural in one of the cells at the Port Pirie Police Station, hoping to inspire young people who had been arrested and to help them see that they could express themselves creatively through art. Cedric has won multiple local awards and has been exhibiting since 1997. In 2015 and 2017, he received a grant from Arts SA for professional development workshops with Better World Arts. During this program, Cedric’s development as a painter progressed in leaps and bounds and inspired him to flourish and practise arts and culture full-time.
While working with Better World Arts, Cedric has become a full-time artist and cultural advisor. His art practices are varied; he is also an exceptional weaver, mural maker, storyteller, and workshop presenter.
Mediums: Acrylic
Location: Tarntanya (Adelaide)
Years with BWA: 11