Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge that Byron Writers Festival takes place on the traditional lands of the Arakwal Bumberbin Peoples of the Bundjalung Nation. We pay respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge them as the original storytellers of the lands and waterways of this Country.

Writer

Vincent Fantauzzo

Vincent Fantauzzo is a world-renowned, multi-award-winning artist celebrated for his emotionally charged works spanning portraiture, landscapes, nature, narratives, abstracts and thematic collections.

Vincent combines his world-class skills and ability to deeply connect with people to create unparalleled artistry that captures the true essence and narrative of each subject through an authentic, collaborative, trusting and emotionally driven process.

Vincent’s artwork is aspirational and inspires and connects with a diverse audience. Exhibited in prestigious galleries worldwide, Vincent’s art has garnered widespread acclaim, particularly through his multiple Archibald People’s Choice Awards, affirming his status as a leading figure in contemporary Australian art.

Raised amid poverty and violence on the poor streets of Melbourne, Vincent Fantauzzo was just a boy when he accepted he would either die very young, become a gangster or end up behind bars. Tormented by a troubled home life and dismissed as a simpleton at school where he struggled to read and write, Vincent projected a violent and frightening persona as a means of self-protection. Inside that tough exterior, however, lived a thoughtful, sensitive and creative boy whose only wish was to be loved – and to one day break free of the intergenerational dysfunction he seemed doomed to inherit. He could never have imagined how far his dream of a better life – and an uncanny knack for drawing – would take him. Unveiled is his memoir.

Byron Writers Festival '25

Join us from 8—10 August at Bangalow Showground on Bundjalung Country

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