Navigate through to our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming exhibitions, events and creative engagements. Continue scrolling this page to see and read about our past exhibitions.
2023 Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW
Following on from last year’s success, an incredible four Studio A artists were recognised as finalists in this year’s prestigious Archibald prize (6 May - 3 September 2023). Emily Crockford and Thom Roberts secured placements as finalists for a third time, Catherine McGuiness was recognised for a second year in a row, and artist Daniel Kim celebrated his first selection as an Archibald finalist.
Emily Crockford selected one of her inspirations, contemporary artist and muralist Jeff McCann. In her vivid, joyful portrait, Crockford showcased Jeff in punchy pink acrylic, wearing one of his handcrafted costumes and a tangerine-tipped wig, in Jeff’s pink daisy eyelash clash.
Thom Roberts chose to paint the Principal Architect at Architectus, Farhad Haidari (whom he affectionately named Bert) in his artwork titled In the future there might be new tall buildings built by Bert. The stylistically bold, acrylic and graphite portrait depicted Haidari with skyscrapers that burst from the canvas and towered over the architect.
Catherine McGuiness, having met Kylie Kwong at the South Eveleigh Markets in 2022, submitted an emotive portrait of the restaurateur, chef, author and tv presenter in her restaurant “Lucky Kwong”. Lucky, the title of the portrait, aimed to accent Kylie’s personality and pay respect to the special meaning of the restaurant to Kylie.
Finally, Daniel Kim’s captivating debut as an Archibald finalist both demonstrated Daniel’s immense skill and also acted as a poignant tribute to his late mentor and artist, Greg Warburton. The moving Self portrait, holding memories, my mentor Greg Warburton, captured Daniel as he looked over an album containing photos of himself and Greg.
Words: Sam Kalis. Photos: Studio A
Rainbow, Mermaid, Fireworks, Bondi Pavilion Gallery
Emily Crockford and Studio A Guest Artist Rosie Deacon created an exhibition that can only be described as part mermaid garden, part titanic shipwreck and part aquatic dance party.
Conceptualised and created over a period of three years (2020-2022). The two artists met over weekly video chats and combined their creative vision for the deep sea. Emily’s colourful, dazzling designs and Rosie’s use of accessible materials in contemporary art concocted Rainbow, Mermaid, Fireworks.
The immersive exhibition took place at the Bondi Pavilion Gallery from April to May 2023 and imagined a new, magical universe under the sea filled with sparkly fish, smoking sharks and glittering mermaids. Emily drew and painted forms on fabric which were then posted to Rosie who shaped, bedazzled and beaded them. The pair ultimately fashioned a display of over sixty sequinned, textile sea creatures along with a hand-painted mural, wallpaper created with contemporary photographer Tanja Bruckner, and music designed to truly evoke an undersea dance party.
The two artists opened the exhibition on April 4, both dressed in shimmering pink and blue, floor-length mermaid gowns as they welcomed gallery goers and released their soft sculptures for sale.
Words: Sam Kalis. Photos: Silversalt courtesy of Waverley Council.
The photograph reproduced on vinyl featuring Emily and Rosie was taken by Tanja Bruckner.
Pink Panther Station, The Cube, Mosman Art Gallery
Thom Roberts’ most recent art installation, created in collaboration with Simon Wheeldon, sees Thom become the architect of his own city, a playful and vivacious metropolis where each skyscraper bursts with character.
Thom Roberts and Simon Wheeldon transformed The Cube at Mosman Art Gallery into the vibrant, multicoloured construction site that is Pink Panther Station from March to May 2023. Having moved on from their artist residencies at The Langston Epping and Brand X City of Sydney Creative Studios, the pair continued their work together to explore Thom’s fascination with Sydney’s architecture, trains and the human-like identities he correlates them with.
“I like working with Simon, I call him Popeye.” said Thom. “It's good to work with Popeye because he helps me to make buildings out of wood. Popeye is like an architect because he makes my cities and buildings and my trains come to life. He brings me lots of shapes and I like to put them together in ‘Thoms Way’.”
For the exhibition, Thom experimented with new materials and ideas. In a way only Thom could, he created an imagined public railway station inspired by Mosman, which he dubs ‘Pink Panther Town’. Thom converted the seemingly ordinary station into a spirited materialisation of his unique worldview, with paintings, three-dimensional urban dioramas and larger-than-life representations of Sydney’s public transportation system.
The installation is backdropped by a video work by Simon Wheeldon, which documents Thom’s exceptional way of moving through and interacting with cities as well as how this informs Thom’s creative process.
“From my point of view, something special happens when working with Thom, as we both jolt each other outside of our respective comfort zones” says Simon. “I've come to appreciate the way that Thom navigates the city at a fast pace and his own way of interacting with it. Hopefully I can document and show something of this through my own contribution.”
Words: Sam Kalis. Photos: Jacquie Manning
