Marle Woman: Jerico Tracy

Marle Women is created to celebrate our philosophy of designing pieces for women of all ages and stages of their lives. We hope each interview inspires you, the same way in which these women do to us.

Here, we speak with Art Curator and Gallery Director of Jerico Contemporary, Jerico Tracy. After eight years of building and maintaining relationships with artists, clients, dealers and collectors in Sydney, Jerico Tracy launched her namesake gallery with the intent to make art more exciting, engaging and accessible.

She speaks with us about her upbringing that influenced her connection to art, the importance of giving emerging artists and art collectors a professional and curated platform, and why dressing for her pregnant form has been an unexpected, but enjoyable aspect of getting dressed every morning. 

Can you share a little bit about yourself, your background, and upbringing? What defining aspects have contributed to the women you are today? 

I was born and raised in Sydney, alongside three brothers. My mother was a veterinarian so our home was always full of animals and love.

We were very fortunate to travel quite extensively when we were growing up, and I think spending significant periods of time overseas at such a young age had a huge impact on me and led to my interest in art. I was able to experience some of the world’s leading art galleries and museums and see the effect that art had on people in a wider cultural context. 

I have been shaped into the woman I am today from the company I keep. I am surrounded by strong women who continually inspire me as well as my husband who has always been an enormous support in following my dreams.

After eight years of building and maintaining relationships with artists, clients, dealers and collectors in Sydney, you launched Jerico Contemporary in 2016. Tell us how the idea came about to own your own gallery space of which you could showcase the work of both emerging and established artists to make art more exciting, engaging and accessible? What makes Jerico Contemporary unique in the market?

What makes Jerico Contemporary unique is that we focus on emerging artists but present their work in a way that would normally be reserved for mid-late career artists. It is really important to me to support and encourage young artists, and give them a platform to showcase their work in a professional, curated context. The art world can be intimidating, so one of the main objectives when initially opening the gallery was to be approachable and for people to feel welcome. Part of this ethos, is also offering works that are affordable for young or emerging collectors.

Have you always been confident in your style or is this something you have learnt with age?

I have always loved to dress but I think my style has definitely evolved with age. I have found confidence in my personal style over time and now choose quality over quantity and invest in timeless pieces rather than any follow seasonal trends.

How do you approach the work that you do? Are there any guiding principles that influence the way you work creatively?

I tend to work quite intuitively rather than follow any set structure. When working alongside artists and creatives I think the most important thing is to have an open mind and allow ideas to emerge and evolve from any set plan. I find that is when the magic happens.

How does a typical day begin? Do you have any non-negotiable morning rituals that set you up for a productive day ahead?

Each morning is different depending on the day ahead. At the moment I am nine months pregnant, so I am doing pre-natal Pilates a couple of times a week and walking in Centennial Park on alternate days. I like to get my body moving before starting work for the day to clear my head before the madness begins.

"I have been able to wear my Marle dresses from previous seasons throughout my pregnancy, and I love that I have been able to wear pieces that I love from my existing wardrobe even while my body has undergone so many changes"

How would you describe your personal style? Has it always been this way, or has it evolved over the years?

I would define my style as minimalist; I tend to opt for classic pieces with unexpected cuts and gestural lines. I have always been drawn to a neutral palette, but I do believe that my personal style is constantly evolving. Especially now being pregnant for the first time and having my body change so dramatically. It has meant that the silhouettes and shapes that used to work for my body no longer fit or flatter my new shape.

Dressing for a new form has been a really unexpected but enjoyable aspect of being pregnant, I have made a dedicated effort not to change my style or buy maternity clothes, rather work with things that already exist in my (and my husbands) wardrobe.

Quick fire Questions

Images by Sophie Brockwell