Joy Chan: Pronoia

Pronoia: the belief the world is working in your favour. This exhibit reflects the artist’s shift from turbulence to optimism & hope.

Artist Bio

Though not formally trained, Joy has had a deep love for art since childhood, working mostly wit pencil and charcoal during her school years. Nearly 20 years since her last sketch, Joy starte painting in late 2023, as a creative form of therapy. A cathartic experience, she very quickly discovered a passion for painting that became a near obsession, producing nearly 50 paintings in the first 12 months alone. While technically still a novice, her work has won an award at the 2025 Royal Canberra Show, and several pieces have been sold around the world to Melbourne, Los Angeles and Toronto. Her work is now an indispensable part of her life, and she hopes to continue evolving as an artist for many years to come.

Artist Statement

“What is your process?” Long answer: My work has been a meditative exercise in letting go of control, of any plans, of any premeditated outcome for each piece. Quite simply, when the mood strikes to paint, I listen. My mood in the moment usually dictates what colour palette I may lean towards – from there, the rest of the process is strictly instinctive. “What tools feel right to use today?”

“What kind of texture am I looking for?” “Does this align with how I’m feeling?”

My work has become a deeply personal, cathartic and safe arena in which I can practice the art of simply letting things be. Without forced outcomes, the canvas becomes a space in which mistakes do not exist, where I can play and experiment freely with my creativity. Quiet contemplation allows the canvas to show me what is already hidden within, emerging from the spaces between lines and colours. Short answer: Get stoned, make art.

Exhibit: Pronoia

Pronoia (noun): the belief that the world is conspiring to do you good; the positive counterpart to paranoia. This exhibit contains a selection of work from the end of a turbulent period of the artist’s life, embodying the optimism and renewed sense of hope she felt when creating these pieces.

Joy Chan’s Pronoia Exhibition runs from 2 January to 15 January 2026

Opening Night Friday January 2nd 6pm-8pm

🎟️ Free entry – RSVP encouraged. Includes free drinks & nibbles.

More on the artist: https://bluethumb.com.au/joy-chan