Mikaela Castledine 2026 Parliament of Western Australia Artist in Residence. Image credit: Jacinta Spry.
Now in its tenth year, the Parliament of Western Australia – Edith Cowan University Artist in Residence program commissions an artist to create a body of work responding to the Parliament, its democratic and political functions, parliamentary history and the significance of place in Western Australia. Throughout the three-month residency, artists are provided access to archival and research materials and opportunities to observe the parliamentary process firsthand.
The Art, Culture and Collections team supported Parliament to select Mikaela from a wider group of exceptional artists and will work closely with Parliament and the artist to support their artistic vision for the commission.
2026 Parliament of Western Australia Artist in Residence Mikayla Castledine creating art. Image credit: Bruno Kongawoin.
Mikaela will undertake the residency from August to November 2026, creating a new textile-based artwork that responds to the Parliament and the people who occupy it. Her project, titled Ground Truthing, will use hand-dyed silk and commercial cotton thread, crocheted and embroidered onto canvas, to create a map-like representation of Western Australia shaped by the personal experiences and stories of those she engages with during the residency.
Mikaela Castledine stitching. Image credit: Jacinta Spry.
An award-winning Western Australian artist and published writer based in the Perth Hills, Mikaela is recognised for her inventive sculptures, collages and crocheted artworks. Across a career spanning almost three decades, she has received numerous accolades, including the 2013 Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe Scholarship, the Mandorla Art Award and People"s Choice Award in 2018.
Mikaela said the residency presents a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between people, place and representation.
"Parliament has always been about place. From the beginning this land has been understood by walking upon it and much of the early governance of this state was provided by map makers, explorers and surveyors. This building draws together people from different, specific places, bringing their knowledge and experience of those places to build a picture," she said.
The residency is an enduring partnership between the Parliament of Western Australia and ECU. Established through ECU's School of Arts and Humanities a decade ago, the partnership has been continued by ECU's Art, Culture and Collections team since 2025, supporting connections between artists, the parliamentary precinct and the wider community.
Manager ECU Art, Culture and Collections Clothilde Bullen OAM said:
"For ten years, this residency has demonstrated the powerful role artists play in helping us explore the ideas, histories and places that shape Western Australia.
"Mikaela's practice is grounded in connection, storytelling and place, making her an outstanding choice for this year's residency. We look forward to seeing how her engagement with Parliament, its people and the community of visitors is translated into a significant new work."
This year, ECU has expanded the partnership through the introduction of the Parliamentary Lecture, a new public program that will see the Artist in Residence and a Member of Parliament participate in a joint lecture at ECU, exploring the intersections of art, democracy and public life.
Further details of the Parliamentary Lecture will be announced in the coming weeks.
