Penny Brooshooft

Penny Brooshooft is a Perth-based artist who transforms recycled paper and cardboard into sculptural works that explore time, material transformation, and the shifting meanings objects carry as they age. Drawing on a background in zoology and a deep connection to the environment, her practice reimagines discarded materials as tactile forms that celebrate both sustainability and the enduring beauty of patina and wear. Working with waste paper and cardboard, Brooshooft has developed a signature material she calls “Cardcrete” — a clay-like medium that allows her to shape vessels, objects, and richly textured wall sculptures. Through a hands-on process of building and layering, she creates vibrant works that reference ornament, architecture, and historical materiality while remaining grounded in contemporary reuse. Her practice centres on the belief that materials accumulate meaning over time: surfaces soften, colours deepen, and traces of handling become part of the work itself. By transforming overlooked waste into enduring forms, Brooshooft invites viewers to reconsider both the value of discarded materials and the evolving stories objects carry as they move through time.