Rodney

Rodney Mallee started drawing at a young age. Art is Rodney’s life; it’s a way for him to escape and it makes him feel happy.

After his parents kicked him out of home, Rodney lived on and off the streets for eight years.

In between being homeless he found temporary shelter in public housing and crisis accommodation, started using ice and heroine, and was raped twice.

To get by, Rodney begged, sold his art and scrounged.

Although Rodney was scared while homeless, he also describes feeling alive during this time; and also that his prayers were often answered.

We think Rodney has great talent, particularly given he’s had no formal artistic training.  His linocut print, City Sunlight, was produced at an Open Canvas workshop – it was the first time Rodney had ever attempted this medium. Despite this, Rodney picked up the technique instantly and completed the piece in a very short space of time.

Rodney signs his art with several monikers, including Jezzabela and ‘666’, which references the number of letters in his first, middle and last names (not the devil!).