• HOUSE OF W is an exploration of all things women’s football - the moments that made it and the people who shaped it.

    This is a celebration of us, welcome to HOUSE OF W.

  • Understanding my place in time has always helped me feel grounded and part of something bigger. Women’s football is a sacred and special place. I love existing inside the W community. It’s a space where you feel nurtured, powerful and free. The football is passed along through generations. When the ball is in your hands, you hold great influence on the game.

    The ripples of AFLW are far reaching. It is often described as a movement, which certainly feels true to my own experience. Despite our colours or idenitites - we move together in unison.

    The timing of my career has allowed me to experience playing before and after AFLW existed. For many, it appeared that the AFLW burst onto the scene overnight, however many had been building it’s foundations in the shadows for decades before we were elevated into the light.

    HOUSE OF W is an exploration of these people and moments of significance across generations. I hope to build this collection over time and continue celebrating all things W.

  • Just like footy, this exhibition is for all. For arty people who have perhaps never seen an entrance into the world of footy. For footballers - at every age and level, for the community that surrounds footy, the diehards, the curious, the people who want to immerse themselves in the world of W.

  • Darcy Vescio is a Melbourne based, Wangaratta born footballer and creative. Much of their life has been spent chasing a sack of air around the backyard, dribbling kicks through the trees and hurling their body into the mess.

    Growing up in the country Victorian town of Markwood, football created a deep sense of belonging.

    Outside of sport, Vescio spent their time creating. From paper craft to beading, scrapbooking and sculpting, they are at their happiest when generating something with their hands

    Vescio plays AFLW at Carlton FC where they started as an inaugural player in 2017. They have worked at the Club as a graphic designer during that time, as well as freelancing and collaborating with other creatives.

    HOUSE OF W is Vescio’s second solo show following THAT SACK OF AIR (2024).

VISITOR INFORMATION

  • Jacky Winter Gallery
    52 Budd St, Collingwood
    VIC 3066

    24 September - 4 October 2026

  • Thu 24 Sep — 12-6pm
    Fri 25 Sep — 12-6pm
    Sat 26 Sep — Closed
    Sun 27 Sep — 12-5pm
    Mon 28 Sep — Closed
    Tue 29 Sep — 12-6pm
    Wed 30 Sep — 12-6pm
    Thu 01 Oct — 12-6pm
    Fri 02 Oct — 12-6pm
    Sat 03 Oct — 12-5pm
    Sun 04 Oct — 12-5pm

  • Public Transport
    86 Tram
    Stop 20, Keele St
    Walk 250m to gallery

    Parking
    Street parking available

  • Fully wheelchair accessible venue
    More information available here

  • Free entry

 

TO EXPLORE HOUSE OF W ONLINE

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HOUSE OF W is an exploration of all things women’s football - the moments that made it and the people who shaped it.

This is a celebration of us, welcome to HOUSE OF W.

9 Premiers
AND 1 Virus

Acrylic wool

This tufted series pays tribute to the AFLW Premiers across the decade.

NOTE:
In 2020, the season was cancelled due to COVID-19. The news broke about 2 hours after we had won our way into a preliminary final. I was mindlessly scrolling when the news broke on Instagram... the group chat started popping off. It was a wild time.

$600 EACH +GST

BUY

FOOTY
HEART

Glazed clay, acrylic paint

$900 +GST
SOLD

THERE WILL NEVER BE A TIME AFLW DOESN’T EXIST

Acrylic wool
1750 × 850mm

On Friday 3rd February 2017, at 7:45pm, Alison Downie [Carlton FC] and Emma King [Collingwood FC] hurled themselves into the air marking the first contest in AFLW history.

The night felt like a euphoric fever dream. I will never forget the feeling of looking around in disbelief and seeing ‘just skin’. It was a lockout game, the masses truly turned up to witness the moment AFLW came into existence.

A friend said at the time “there will now never be a time AFLW doesn’t exist.”

We had no idea what AFLW was going to bring, it felt like our lives changed overnight. The moment certainly felt bigger than football, however its significance continues to grow on me as time passes.

$5,500 +GST
SOLD

2025
PRIDE BALL

Acrylic on canvas
900 x 600mm

In 2025, I designed the AFLW Pride round ball. Having landed in women’s footy through a transitional time - experiencing the game both before and after AFLW’s existence, I wanted the design to explore women’s football history.

These are the 10 moments woven into the pride ball design. This painting brings those moments to life a little further and are chronologically placed along the Sherrin.

$1,500 +GST

BUY

IN SAL WE TRUST

Acrylic on canvas
900 × 900mm

Sal Rees is a football icon. She is a founding member of the Darebin Falcons Women’s Sporting Club (formerly Fairfield Falcons) and was the first women to reach 200 VWFL games. In 1995, Sal made history nominating herself in the AFL Draft. Note: the television news segment which aired at the time is one of the greatest clips YouTube has to offer, watch it here.

I always loved seeing Sal at the Falcs. She put people at ease whilst giving them the belief that they could do or be anything in life.

I wanted to paint this portrait imagining Sal playing for her beloved Hawks - had she been able to be drafted in 1995. The jumper is the 1995 Hawthorn jumper with alterations to the AFL logo and ‘Household’ logo. The banner to the left is from a Fairfield Falcons grand final and the banner on the right is Sal’s 200 VWFL game banner. Sal is holding her 1995 draft nomination form.

Being an AFLW player is the privilege of my lifetime and we often find motivation to push for better by thinking of the future generations. For me, thinking about Sal and her peers is equally as powerful.

In 2024, Sal passed at the age of 58. She will forever be an icon of our game.

Thanks for everything Sal.

ENQUIRE FOR PRICE

HOUGHTON 100

Acrylic wool
1750 x 850mm

On Saturday 1st November, Gemma Houghton became the first AFLW player to reach 100 career goals in final round of the 2025 season. The match was GWS Giants V Port Adelaide at Henson Park. Houghton kicked the milestone goal after the final siren, allowing her entire team to celebrate the significance of the occasion.

$5,500 +GST

BUY

HEADS OR FAILS

Acrylic on canvas
900 × 600mm

Sue Alberti is a Bulldog, a boss and a badass. Alberti contributed more than 100k to the VWFL from 2008 until the league was taken over by the AFL in 2013. Alberti has always advocated fiercely for women’s football and puts her money where her mouth is. As well as supporting the players, Alberti also sponsored the umpires. She has continually fought hard to push our game forward, which included meeting with Gillon McLachlan in support of accelerating the creation of AFLW.

Whenever I see Sue with her sunnies on, I know she means business.

$1,200 +GST

BUY

SHANNON MCFERRAN

Acrylic on plywood
600 × 400mm

Shannon McFerran is one of the most decorated players of our game. McFerran was a dominant rover during her time in the VWFL winning the Helen Lambert medal (league best and fairest) five times as well as 10 club best and fairests. 

I remember hearing stories about her playing prowess as I learned the lay of VWFL land in the early 2010s. People would say that “she was the Daisy Pearce of her era.”

It felt only fair that she had her own playing card.


$1,100 +GST

BUY

SEATED RIVALRY

Marine plywood, acrylic wool
1100W x 460H x 375D

Seated Rivalry is a bench which contains tufted sections - representative of the 6 teams I recall most prominently during my VWFL (now known as VFL Women’s). These sections are moveable, symbolic of an evolving ladder. VWFL team include: Darebin Falcons, Diamond Creek, St Albans, St Kilda Sharks, Melbourne University and Eastern Devils

The name ‘Seated Rivalry’ pays tribute to the queer foundations of women’s football.

$1,500 +GST
SOLD
SHOP MERCH

THANK YOU

Thank you to Bek Vilardo for capturing Opening Night and the Pioneer Party
Thank you to Tatanja Ross for capturing bump in day
Thank you to Jacky Winter Gallery for have me

Thank you to my family, friends and my partner Emily for supporting me throughout this venture

Thank you for visiting HOUSE OF W, I hope you enjoyed your stay!
See you at the footy.

-Darcy V

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