Being judged as the First Prize Trophy winner at the genU artX Regional 2025 has been a highlight of Aaron Deans’ art journey that promises more powerful displays to come. 

His Power House entry electrified the exhibition judges and sparked a rousing round of applause from the Rachinger Gallery crowd when the announcement was made on Thursday 3 April. 

On the night, the popular winner was pleasantly jolted by his latest achievement and found it difficult to express his joy.   

“I just can’t believe it. It’s the best evening of my life,” he said. 

“I feel overwhelmed, excited, with so many emotions. My arms are shaking.”

It’s the second time Aaron has impressed artX Regional judges, taking out the major prize in 2019 for Storm above the Power station. 

Living at Clifton Springs with his mother, Vera, and cat Minxie, Aaron’s approach to art has become synonymous with mimicking the fine detail and intricacies, like pipework and cables, in architectural and industrial structures. 

Since joining the genU Art Program at the Eastern Hub Community Centre more than five years ago, Aaron has become a highly valued class member, for his artistic contribution and being very supportive of his fellow artists. 

According to genU Participate art facilitator Gosia Reflinski, Aaron’s evolution as an artist has been stark, and his outstanding portfolio of work is testament to his dedication to his craft.  

Gosia said over time Aaron had grown to embrace flexibility in his approach to size, scale and topic, and was open to suggestions to try alternatives.   

“Once he would only work on A3 glossy and refused to work on anything else,” she said. 

“Now he can enlarge and superimpose, he’s learnt new techniques, and as trust has grown over the years, he will have a go at anything.”

In late 2023, Aaron tapped into Barwon Water’s admiration for this work, with his depiction of the Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant, which was a must have on their walls. He was also commissioned to create a piece to display in the genU head office in Belmont, titled Support Hub, which is another eye-catching drawing. 

“He’s a selling artist and it’s really important that he can make money selling his art,” Gosia said. 

A Q&A with Aaron. 

Q: Your mother Vera is also an artist. She would have been proud of you winning artX Regional 2025. 

A: “She was. I was, too. I feel like a million bucks, you know, famous almost in a way, and that's a good feeling.” 

Q: What does it feel like to have your work displayed at the artX Hall of Fame at genU’s head office? 

A: “It makes me feel brilliant, really happy and proud to be an artist. It makes me feel like I'm really talented and I can do it again. I can just keep going.” 

Q: Why did you choose to paint the Power House subject? 

A: “Because I love it. It’s my passion. I’ve always loved that kind of media. Ever since I was little, I would practice drawing buildings and power stations and control panels. Mum would take me to the factories like the Geelong Refinery and on tours of ships and that’s all the inspiration from there you see.”

Q: What do you like about that type of infrastructure? 

A: “I just love how there’s so much detail and pipes I’ve put in. So much detail, I put into everything I do.”

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of creating the winning artwork? 

A: “Well, all the detail. I had to go small and big at the same time and use paint pens and Posca pens and I’d have to go really into those gaps and fill them.”

Q: What does genU mean to you?

A: “It’s excellent. Everyone supports me. They trust in me. They love my art and my talent which I love to share with the world.”

Q: How do you think the genU art program has helped you progress and expand on your talent or channel your talent? 

A: “It's helped me so much so. I never used to be this talented…when I started at school all I could do was scribble and I slowly got better. 

“My teacher Gosia, she’s supported me so much. She believes in me, that I can basically draw anything that I like in my mind. My other art teacher, Kelly, she's helped me, too, with my art that she gives me good ideas, for buildings and stuff.” 

Q: What do you enjoy most about being in the art program on Wednesday? 

A: “Hanging out with my friends, like Caitlin. Laughing. Telling jokes. It's a great environment here at genU. Everyone supports me. Kelly supports me when I'm a bit agitated worked up, but that doesn't happen often, just every now and then.” 

Q: How does art help your emotions and how you feel?

A: “It puts me in my own space. Like I'm in my own world, basically. I'm in my zone. And music helps me concentrate. I listen to electronica – it relaxes my soul and gets out all that stress and anxiety.”