Cedric Varcoe was born in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1984 and later moved to Port Pirie, South Australia. He has family connections to the Raukkan of Point Pierce and is of the Narangga Ngarrindjeri language grou

He began painting from the age of eight, inspired by observing his mother, aunties, uncles and sister paint. He works mainly in acrylics on canvas and his subjects are usually “lizards, snakes and stylized male figures” (artist statement, 2008).

In 2008 Varcoe completed a mural in a cell at the Port Pirie Police Station, which he hopes will encourage young people who are arrested by the police to see a different future for themselves and inspire them to express themselves using creative means. 2008 also saw his work exhibited in the 'Our Mob’ exhibition at the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Not content to remain in the media of painting, Varcoe is exploring other areas of the visual arts including sculpture and printmaking.

Writers:
Allas, Tess
Date written:
2009
Last updated:
2011