Muscle Cars is a vibrant series of new paintings by Jo Kiriazis. Enter a world bursting with racing stripes, novelty number plates and bold colours!
Muscle cars are a feature of the Australian cultural landscape. They can be aspirational items that symbolise status, wealth and sub-cultural groups. They represent speed, motion and freedom.
As artist Jo Kiriazis explains, I got my first my car when I was a teenager. It was a Muscle Car - a midnight blue Ford Cortina TD with a sunroof and yellow flames painted on the wheel arches and bonnet.
I loved this car and everything associated with it. My father sold the car as punishment for speeding. I have never had the opportunity to return to the dizzying heights of a true Muscle Car.
These paintings reflect the future that I never had. A world of fast cars in bright colours and possible futures they could bring.
Muscle Cars is produced by Arts Access Victoria as part of their creative studios program.
Jo is a visual artist based in Melbourne and a practising member of Nimbus Art Studio with Arts Access Victoria.
She presented her major exhibition Flags Series at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre in 2023 and exhibited in the A1 Darebin Art Salon with her painting Family Business Shop. She is currently working on a major new project for Alter State 2026. Her practice is characterised by colourful, gestural, and playful painting, often drawing from narratives within her personal life and lived experiences.
Arts Access Victoria (AAV) is the state’s peak body for arts and disability. They have been a leader in disability arts practice, access and cultural equity since 1974. AAV is Disability-led and works with over 1700 deaf and disabled artists and arts workers every year. AAV produces and platforms the work of Deaf and Disabled artists. They run studios throughout Greater Melbourne and mentorships across the state. AAV presents exhibitions, performances, festivals and so much more.
AAV support the development of a vibrant arts and cultural sector that reflects society in every way. Where Deaf and Disabled people are in every part of the creative industries. They work across the sector to increase Deaf and Disabled people’s participation in and access to arts and culture.
