Australian artist’s first solo exhibition set to paint a unique picture of life with young-onset Parkinson’s

An Australian artist, who honed his skills in Bristol, is set to launch his first solo exhibition next month in a bid to give people a unique insight into life with Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD).

Andrew Grero, who was diagnosed in his mid-thirties, will use a collection of bold, expressive and deeply personal artworks to encourage visitors to follow in his footsteps by experiencing how even simple everyday tasks can require a new approach or use up all of his energy.

Held at Inglewood Arts Hub in Perth, ‘Signal Lost: Finding my way with Parkinson’s’ kicks off with an opening night celebration on September 9th and will run until the 19th (Wednesday-Saturdays 10am to 3pm).

With his diagnosis strongly influencing the passion and direction of his craft in recent years, this exhibition supports Andrew’s mission to inspire others and reframe the idea of what it means to live and thrive with Parkinson’s. 

“When I was diagnosed in 2022, I didn’t really know much about it apart from perhaps hearing that legends like Michael J. Fox and Muhammed Ali had the condition. Little did I know that I was in for a rapid learning curve trying to navigate family life, work and attempting to be the same old me,” explained Andrew, who spent a year living in Bristol during his early thirties.

“Despite all the challenges, I feel lucky I can still paint and create art with Parkinson’s and this, in a way, is my superpower for initiating conversations and promoting a greater awareness of what it is like for a young person.”

He continued: “Signal Lost is a massive moment, not just for me personally but for the opportunity to raise greater awareness of this condition. The artworks speak a thousand words for every difficult moment, frustrating challenge and feeling of loss that comes with Parkinson’s and I hope it sparks some interesting conversations about perceptions and how we understand and support others.

“It also celebrates how we can overcome these hurdles and live a life that is still meaningful, fun and full of adventure, something I know only too well after the birth of my son Jules nearly two years ago.

“The first four paintings in the exhibition really represent the ‘young-onset’ element… the can, the shoe, the burger and the watch. Putting on my favourite ‘Jordans’ isn’t easy anymore, going to the local burger joint with friends isn’t as simple and a heavy burger can affect the impact of my medication, whilst the Swan draft represents my changing relationship with alcohol and how it can compound symptoms.

“The watch represents the clock ticking down whilst you wait for your next dose of medication or, on the flipside, realising you only have a few minutes left until the positive effects wear off.”

Signal Lost, supported by MSWA through their Life not Limits Grant in memory of Ros Harman, uses mixed media and a range of contrasting styles to form a versatile body of work.

Drawing on influences from pop culture and artists such as Arthur Boyd and Andy Warhol, subjects feature still life, everyday items and self-portraits exploring a changing sense of self.

These include:

‘Subaru Sunset’ – a powerful reminder of having to leave driving and his much-loved car behind

‘Falling Upwards’ – a self-portrait highlighting ‘work in progress’ and how a once confident individual is finding himself again and learning to deal with constant anxiety and a real fear of going outside

‘Medication and Apple with Ivy’ – the highs and lows caused by the complex relationship you have with Parkinson’s medication

‘Trapped’ – a reflection of the feeling of being trapped in your own body when trying to sleep and the power of the mind to overcome discomfort and pain using mindfulness techniques

‘Signal Lost’ – a simple reflection of the disconnect you feel.

Andrew, who is also known by his artistic name ‘aerogrero’, picked up the story: “I want this exhibition to be a celebration of what is possible and to say thank you to all the people – my wife Erin, my family, my friends and my work – who stand by me and help me still be ‘Andz’.

“I’ve had fantastic support and ongoing mentoring from Louise at DADAA that has made a real difference to the quality and focus of my work on display, whilst Inglewood Arts Hub has really got behind what we are trying to achieve with Signal Lost.

“MSWA has also been amazing throughout my journey and played a pivotal role in making this exhibition happen.”

Tony Millar, MSWA Chief Experience Officer, is delighted to see this exhibition come to life.

“Andrew truly embodies the spirit of MSWA’s Life not Limits Grant, a program designed to recognise the talent, determination and creativity within our neuro community.

“We’re proud to work with Andrew, not just with support and services throughout his journey with Parkinson’s, but also with this Grant, allowing him to do what he loves most.

“We can’t wait to see his vision come to life, bringing people and community together to spark new conversations and raise awareness for our neuro community.”

Andrew continues to combine his day job in the public sector with painting commissions and murals for people, local businesses and sports clubs, such as Bassendean Bowls Clubs and Perth Wildcats.