GWA (aka Wade Goring) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Sydney, Australia. His practice spans both digital and traditional media, including illustration, painting, collage, photography, video, and animation. His work draws influence from and comments on queer culture, comic art, street art, pop art, pop surrealism, cinema, advertising, concept design, and religious myths. GWA’s art often sits in a playful, provocative space — humorous, a little naughty, and not afraid to flirt with discomfort.

As a practising artist for at least the last 15 years, often leaning heavily into digital art making methods,  GWA encountered the assumption that his work was “made by a computer” and therefore  less legitimate than more traditional art. Digital tools have often been misunderstood as doing all the creative labour, rather than being extensions of the artist’s hand and decision-making. Now, with the rapid rise of AI-generated art, GWA faces a new challenge: the word “digital” is increasingly assumed to mean “AI,” further blurring the line between what we value as ‘real’ and ‘fake’.

Rather than stepping away from digital methods, this shift has pushed GWA to emphasise what makes his work undeniably human. He embraces imperfection, impulsiveness, and real world textures, allowing accidents and flaws to remain. This approach is a response to both the expected polish of digital aesthetics and the disposable efficiency of AI image-making.

Although much of his work remains digitally produced, it is deeply informed by traditional drawing, painting, and printmaking techniques. His digital practice aims to feel tactile and alive, embedded with very human desire, humour and contradiction. Through gallery exhibitions, art books and other physical public displays of his work, GWA hopes to show that his work does have legitimacy while still not take itself too seriously. Although, it’s always a good idea to take a closer look as there is much hiding in plain sight.

Ultimately, GWA hopes his work provokes a response, whether its a laugh, a raised eyebrow, arousal, discomfort, or delight  and serves as a reminder that art is most affecting when it’s  messy, flawed, cheeky, and very much made by humans.