Nation Made is our artist-in-residence program, currently in operation at Precinct 75, the future home of Nation St Peters. The Precinct 75 program is unique in that we have invited a group of artists, musicians, artisans, and makers to use existing warehouse spaces while the site is still being built..
The site itself is rising from the original Taubmans paint factory, which opened in 1901. It's an important part of Sydney's creative history, and we're helping write the next chapter. Here, artists are not just coming in to decorate finished buildings, they're embedding culture at the ground level. We like to think of it as culture under construction.
Meet resident artist Luke Cornish, a Sydney-based stencil artist whose work bridges street art and contemporary fine art. Cornish is known for his painstaking, hand-cut stencils—sometimes made from hundreds of layers—which he uses to build hyper-real portraits that explore vulnerability, identity, and the quiet intensity of human experience. A self-taught artist who first trained as a signwriter, he has become one of Australia’s leading stencil practitioners, and in 2012 became the first stencil artist to be shortlisted for the Archibald Prize. His practice is shaped not only by technical ambition but by a strong social conscience: Cornish has spent time working with communities in Syria and Lebanon, creating art programs for children living through conflict and drawing inspiration from their resilience. Recent recognition includes winning the 2024 Gallipoli Art Prize for The Pity of War, a contemporary reimagining of the Pietà that reflects his ongoing interest in compassion and the cost of conflict. Through all of it, Cornish’s work retains a sense of precision and empathy: images shaped by discipline but driven by humanity."Just being in this precinct, and having the freedom and the space to really transform my practice into something that wasn't possible in such a small studio before this, it's been incredible."
— LUKE CORNISH
VIDEO BY MIRAE
Precinct 75 will be Sydney's next cultural destination, featuring over 15,000 square metres of artisanal retail, commercial, and residential space that pays homage to the site's 'makers precinct' heritage. Located just 15 minutes from Sydney's CBD, the mixed-use development will include curated restaurants, bars, and creative retail spaces, all designed to bring new life to this special pocket of Sydney's inner west.
Nation St Peters is our build-to-rent (BTR) offering within this dynamic precinct, providing modern rental homes designed specifically for Sydney renters who value flexibility, security, and community. As part of Nation's innovative approach to Sydney rentals, residents can enjoy the freedom to take long and short-term leases, switch apartments as life changes, or relocate between Nation buildings without break fees. The development will feature over 200 premium build-to-rent apartments, providing quality homes for close to 1,000 people in one of Sydney's most connected locations.
PHOTOS BY PARKER BLAIN
Over the coming weeks, we will continue to share the stories and works from these amazing artists currently embedded at Precinct 75 as part of Nation Made.
→ Follow Precinct 75
→ Follow Nation St Peters
