Deadspace Arts Collective
Airport warehouse transforms into temporary artist studios
What happens when art, property and airports come together? A positive collaboration with ongoing community benefit – as Skyfields discovered when we invited Western Australian artists to take over a 2.8 hectare industrial site at Perth Airport.
The site has been transformed into a thriving hub of creativity and collaboration – and evolved to form the Deadspace arts collective.
The alliance between a major property owner and developer and a melting-pot of independent artists began in February 2025 when Skyfields offered a peppercorn lease to West Perth-based arts house, Voxlab Productions, on a temporary basis. It was a rare opportunity at the 2,105 hectare Airport Estate, where Skyfields manages a portfolio of over 600 leases and has a vacancy rate below 1%.
Artists Converge on Industrial Precinct
Voxlab invited other artists to join them on the same rent-free basis, converting some 8,000 square metres of warehouses, sheds and offices into working studios for painters, sculptors, metalworkers, musicians, photographers, fashion designers, textile artists, interdisciplinary artists and filmmakers.
The communal experience has been so positive that the artists have formally banded together and established a not-for-profit group, Deadspace Incorporated, to strengthen collaboration, community-led placemaking, development of young artists and the WA arts industry.
“It's a really innovative approach from Skyfields to involve artists at a grassroots level in commercial property development,” said Deadspace co-founder Bec Juniper. “It has huge benefits to the community because it enables artists to think bigger, knowing we have the facilities to produce whatever our imagination dreams up. We hope that this will be a model for how artists can collaborate and transform 'dead spaces' all over Perth."
Skyfields Vision for Airport Estate
Dan Sweet, Chief Property Officer of Perth Airport, said the sponsorship of arts infrastructure reflects Skyfields’ community-facing vision for development of the Airport Estate.
“We know that artists are in desperate need of infrastructure and space to produce their art, not just exhibit it. We also know that public art adds vibrancy and appeal to places, and that’s something Skyfields is passionate about,” said Dan.
“As we embark on one of Australia’s largest urban redevelopments, we are committed to working with community and industry – from arts and culture to sport and lifestyle – to create dynamic destinations that enhance peoples’ lives. Bold ideas are welcome at Skyfields and we love to hear from the community and industry about new ways to collaborate.”
At their new base, the artists worked on various commissions – some for buildings and developments around the Airport Estate, some for elsewhere. This included exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, creations for Sculptures by the Sea and other community art projects, and commissioned pieces for public and private clients.
Transformation Leads to New Opportunities
The site for the studios was previously a vehicle showroom and auction house; an enormous grey warehouse surrounded by a sea of parking lots. A couple of pirate flags blowing in the breeze is all that hints at the new occupants.
Inside, the open-plan warehouse comes to life with diverse forms of art in various stages of production, and a hoarder’s paradise of salvaged materials intended for a better purpose. There are no set boundaries as the visual artists work alongside each other: experimenting, exchanging ideas, creating and finishing original works for commissions and exhibitions. The musicians have taken up space in the old offices which provide more sound-proofing, while the open sheds have turned into an engineering wing where sculptors and metalworkers are making the most of the car turntable and pulleys.
A giant pink bunny, ancient motorbikes, pushbikes, printing presses, welding machines, graffitied walls, drum sets and filmmakers’ trailers dot the horizon, with the Airport traffic control tower in the background.
The Deadspace collective was founded by eminent names on the local and international arts scenes. For enquiries, contact Bec Juniper of Voxlab Productions: [email protected] or 0409 683 367.
Deadspace founding members:
Bec Juniper
A Perth-based artist renowned for her textured aerial landscape paintings that reflect the emotional and geological essence of Western Australia's outback.
Jon Denaro
A sculptor whose exploratory, hand-crafted works fuse art and science, often using found materials to challenge industrial norms.
Ian Daniell
A British-born artist and ocean explorer living in WA, celebrated for his life-size ocean art that combines scientific accuracy with vibrant depictions of marine life.
Louis Moncrieff
A Fremantle-based painter whose expressive works explore human emotion and the passage of time through abstract forms.
Kaz Djordjevic
A painter, photographer and textile designer known for her vibrant abstract artworks and storytelling-driven photography.
James Dudding
A sculptor and arts technician whose practice spans fabrication, installation, and public art, with a focus on material experimentation and precision.
George Howlett
A Fremantle-based multidisciplinary artist who repurposes neon and industrial materials to create humourous and immersive installations.
Jebediah Sun
Sharing the same name as the indie-rock band, Jeb works in sound recording and alternative live music, experimenting with different formats and styles to deliver unique gigs and showcase emerging artists.
Pablo Hughes
A multidisciplinary artist working in photography and installation, exploring themes of decay, renewal, and cultural connection.
Ezra Myers
A multidisciplinary artist known for expressive illustration and photography.
Bennet Miller
A sculptor and installation artist best known for conceptual works like Dachshund UN, blending performance and satire.
Rom Denaro
A multidisciplinary artist whose work explores identity, memory, and materiality through abstract forms.
Tim Dixon
A photographer specialising in atmospheric landscapes and emotive portraiture.
Che Denaro
An emerging art student exploring contemporary themes through mixed media and digital experimentation.
Brett Toddman
An artist whose work is rooted in expressive abstraction and environmental storytelling.
Emma Dodds
Introspective works that blend organic textures with emotional depth.
Chanel Nguyen
A creative blending DJing, photography, and production to craft immersive multimedia experiences.
Ken Trijo
A multidisciplinary artist working across DJing, photography, and visual production.
Hanna Qui – Textiles
A textile artist exploring cultural identity and tactile storytelling through fabric.
Linton Partington
A curator and consultant with a focus on contemporary art and cultural strategy. Co-owner of Linton and Kay Galleries.
Hayley Partington
An architect and administrator contributing to thoughtful design and project coordination.