Portraits of Self Discovery: 25 Years of Self-Portraits

Portraits of Self Discovery: 25 Years of Self-Portraits
By Jessica Illichmann (Mad Dame)

Portraits of Self Discovery is a one-night-only exhibition expanding 25 years of photographic self-portraiture by artist Jessica Illichmann, aka Mad Dame.

Spanning 2001 to 2026, this collection traces a deeply personal journey from early photographic film experiments to the digital age and the rise of social media as a new form of visual storytelling.

Using the camera as a tool for identity and transformation, the work evolves from a private visual diary into a professional photographic practice, reflecting both artistic growth and wider sub-cultural shifts in technology and self-expression.

Combining the raw intimacy of a scrappy teenage diary to the bold hyper colour and influence of underground subcultures, the photographs trace an emotional and cultural journey across time; from the energy of the Y2K era through periods of introspection and isolation to moments of confidence, liberation, and female identity, extending into the present day.

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness how one life unfolds through images. You are invited to reflect on your own personal evolution while experiencing a visual record of creativity, resilience, and self-discovery across a generation.

✨Portraits of Self Discovery

📆Friday 20th March 

🥂6-9pm 

📍The Nicholas Building 

Level 9, 920, 37 Swanston street, Melbourne

P.S Free cocktail on arrival! 🥂