About Joan and Her Work
Joan Relke has been working as a professional sculptor since 1986 when she and her partner, Carl Merten, began the creation and production of four greater-than-life size bronze figurative sculptures of Australian explorers for the Australian Bi-Centennial.
Since then, Joan and Carl have gone on to create many large public and corporate sculptures in bronze, stainless steel, aluminium, and stone.
Along with these commissions, Joan and Carl both work on their own projects, both for commissions and exhibitions.
Thematically, Joan’s work has always focused on creation and growth, with her early work exploring the symbolism of the egg. From there, the egg transformed into a female head, often with mythological references.
In 2001, Joan completed her PhD on female imagery in prehistoric art. This research informs much of her work.
An extensive catalogue of her female imagery can be seen at
