My name is Loretta Quinn, I have entered a fulfilling career as a lecturer/teacher and a public and private commission-based sculptor. My public sculptures are mostly made in bronze and cement. I have a diverse range of skills, which is evident in the work that I have exhibited in major galleries and various institutions both nationally and internationally.
With over 40 years in the industry, I have mentored and trained hundreds of students, assisting them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
I have had the privilege of creating several prominent public sculptures in the CBD of Melbourne, Victoria. One of my favourites is Within Three Worlds, a commemorative work dedicated to Anna Jane Esdaile.
This sculpture is located in Princes Park, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
My artistic journey has centred on creating commemorative sculptures that celebrate the unique bond between people and their loved ones and pets. I believe that consistency in my craft is key to delivering meaningful and lasting tributes.
About...
I’m a sculptor with a diverse range of skills and techniques.
I am based in Melbourne, Australia.
My name is Loretta Quinn, and I was born in Hobart, Tasmania, where my journey as a sculptor began over 40 years ago. These days, I call Melbourne home—it’s where I live and breathe my work.
Education
Exhibitions and Accolades
Here is an overview of my artistic journey...
My path into art started with a Bachelor of Fine Art at the University of Tasmania, and I didn’t stop there. I went on to earn a Postgraduate Diploma at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne and later a Master of Fine Art from Monash University in Caulfield, Victoria. Those years of study shaped me, and I’ve carried that energy into my career.
I’ve exhibited my sculptures in over 100 group exhibitions and poured my heart into 18 solo shows.
Two of them stand out to me:
A Decade of Sculpture at the Stonington Museum of Art at Deakin University in Malvern which felt like a milestone,
Silentium at the Glen Eira City Council Gallery in Caulfield, where I looked back over 20 years of creating.
Those moments were like pausing to see how far I’d come.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to receive awards and grants that kept me going. My work has found a home in collections here and abroad—places like the National Gallery of Australia, Melbourne City Council, the University of Tasmania, and the City of Port Phillip.
Seeing my sculptures in those spaces still feels surreal.
People have written about my work, too—reviews and photos popping up in newspapers and magazines across Australia and beyond. It’s humbling to know it’s reached that far.
Career
For many years, I shared what I’d learned as a lecturer and teacher and sculptor at some of Victoria’s big universities; places like the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne University, Phillip Institute of Technology, Monash, and RMIT. Teaching was a way to connect, but making art has always been my core.
Public works
In Melbourne, I have three public sculptures standing tall in permanent spots. The one I’m proudest of is Beyond the Ocean of Existence, a 6-meter bronze piece that used to sit at Flinders Lane and Swanston Street (It’s in storage with the Melbourne City Council right now, but I hope it finds its place again.).
Another one close to my heart is Within Three Worlds in Princes Park, Carlton—it’s a commemorative piece, and I love how people connect with it.
For me, sculpting has always been about more than just shaping materials—it’s about telling stories, marking moments, and leaving something behind that speaks.
I have recently commenced working on commemorative pieces to honour the memory of our beloved pets.
The bonds we form with our pets are profound and deserving of recognition.In recent years the concept of pet memorials has evolved beyond simple gravestones and urns.
This is where the concept of a memorial sculpture becomes a significant, tangible lasting tribute that captures the essence of a beloved pet.
Recent works
