Australian Design Centre plays a critical role in celebrating the work of Australian artists who embrace the highest degree of skill and who continually explore material, process and ideas to advance contemporary craft and design practice.

Object Space is our window gallery located at the Australian Design Centre HQ on William Street, Darlinghurst, on view 24 hours a day.

Studio 63: Ebony Russell and Alexandra Standen

22 September–22 November 2023

Ebony Russell and Alexandra Standen are resident artists at Sydney's Kil.n.it Experimental Ceramic Studio.

As neighbours and friends, they have been pursuing an opportunity to work on a collaborative project since early 2020. Australian Design Centre’s Object Space exhibition provided them with a perfect situation to develop and present their burgeoning ideas – to combine elements of art and design in a ceramics project that sits outside of their respective art practices.

Initially responding to their shared love of vintage Australian lustreware, this collaborative project focuses on a series of ceramic sconces and lamps, incorporating differing effects of light and shadow throughout the day and night.

“Working closely at Kil.n.it for the last few years, we have supported each other professionally and personally. We have come to appreciate each other's individual art practices and each other's distinct approach to working with clay", said Ebony and Alexandra.

"Many hours spent in the studio often leads to conversations discussing art, craft and design and how to cultivate and continue a successful art practice. We wanted to capture the importance of these conversations and the significant impact they have on our development and growth as artists".

"By working together three hours each week in the Kil.n.it Members Workshop, outside of our own studio spaces, allowed us to create in a neutral space. This framework led to open ended outcomes and true collaborative processes".

"We both made moulds based around organic shell-like forms. When the clay was pressed, we each selected different components to make our works – creating truly unique works, and a new artistic language for us to share”.

About the Artists

Ebony Russell

Ebony Russell explores objects imbued with notions of nostalgia and desire. As a child Ebony was obsessed with ornaments and passionate about cake decorating. She believes these objects and decorative processes have the capacity to evoke memories and engender a return to childhood reverie in adult life.

Ebony received her Masters in Fine Arts (Ceramics) from the National Art School, Sydney and is now a sessional lecturer in the Ceramics Department. She is represented by Artereal Gallery and has been selected as a finalist in the annual Saint Cloche Gallery - Little Things Art Prize and the biannual Meroogal Women's Art Prize.

Alexandra Standen

Alexandra Standen is an Australian artist who explores the potential of clay as a ceramic form – subverting the long-held association between ceramics and utilitarian function.

With graduate and postgraduate degrees from The National Art School (2011) and University of NSW Art and Design (2018) respectively, Alexandra has also undertaken a number of artist residencies over the last 4 years at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, Tel Aviv, Geneva, Istanbul, Great Britain and in rural New South Wales and Northern Territory. Winner of the Sidney Myer Award for Ceramics, Shepparton Art Museum 2012, Alexandra was also a finalist in awards including the Churchie National Emerging Art Prize, Gold Coast Ceramic Award and the Wynne Prize.

Image top: Studio 63, work in progress, 2023. Photo: courtesy the artists

Studio 63, Work in progress, 2023. Photo: Studio 63

Studio 63: Ebony Russell and Alexandra Standen

22 September–22 November 2023

Responding to their shared love of vintage Australian lusterware this project by

Ebony Russell and Alexandra Standen focuses on a collaborative series of ceramic sconces and lamps.

Lynn Pavey: Febrile Momentum

Febrile Momentum (2023), is inspired by Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre. It's three-dimensional, textile intricacy, echoes the forms found across the lakebed.

For Our Elders

15 June - 26 July 2023

Showcasing a selection of hand-crafted ceramic works created by the Elders' Ceramics Group for Campbelltown Arts Centre's exhibition: Budjari Mudjingaal, meaning 'good friends' in Dharawal language.

Kirsten Haydon: Ice Holds

30 March – 7 June 2023

Inspired by the salient condition of ice as it preserves knowledge and histories from the surrounding environment and atmosphere within its structure, Kirsten Haydon explores the concept and actions of ‘holding’ in her work, while considering the transition, and movement of Antarctic landscapes.

Chili Philly: Crochet Social 2023

4 February – 22 March 2023

Phil Ferguson, aka Chili Philly, brings Object Space to life for Sydney WorldPride with their delectable crochet creations, school dance social-style!

Alchemical Worlds: Reflections

24 November 2022 - 28 January 2023

This work connects ancient patterns with climate science research on coral and trees.

Yurilyimanha Wajarri Barna

28 October - 22 November 2022

yurilyimanha wajarri barna - moving about on Country, was named by Aunty Elvie Dann in Wajarri country of the Murchison region in Western Australia. An opportunity to connect to Country and share cultural knowledge whilst crafting kangaroo pelt bags.

Hope: An ADC and GOST collaboration

7 - 28 October 2022
A creative exchange between Australian Design Centre and Canberra’s Gallery of Small Things (GOST), Hope presents two simultaneous exhibitions in each venue, bringing NSW and ACT-based makers to new audiences.

Dinner Table Syndrome

9 August - 28 September

Sue Jo Wright is a Sydney-based artist using textiles to explore the concept of ‘Dinner Table Syndrome’, a term used to describe the alienation deaf and hard-of-hearing people experience every day at important social gatherings — such as at the dining table.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers

14 July - 1 August 2022


Tjanpi artists use tjanpi (grass) to make spectacular contemporary fibre art, weaving beautiful baskets and sculptures and displaying endless creativity and inventiveness.

Indigenous Jewellery Project

2 June - 13 July 2022

The aim of the Indigenous Jewellery Project is to strengthen and continue existing traditions and facilitate artists to develop a career as exhibiting contemporary artist jewellers through upskilling.

The Miner's Wife

31 March – 31 May 2022

A textile work is inspired by the Coober Pedy tradition of the miner’s wife having first pick of the quarried opals.

Subplot

4 March – 28 March 2022

Otto Paton raises questions about the hidden forces that shape our future while investigating the impact of development on the urban landscape.

High (safe)-Tea

10 February – 3 March 2022

High (Safe)-Tea presents a traditional tea party playfully reimagined with an emphasis on hygiene and safety in a COVID-19 safe manner.

Apothecary Now!

18 November 2021 - 02 February 2022

Inspired by Renaissance apothecary jars (or albarellos), Sassy Park’s pots use techniques and motifs that link the current Covid-19 pandemic to history

Windowsmiths: Murmuration

20 May - 7 July, 2021

Murmuration - A Pliable Formation is a contemporary installation by the Windowsmiths.

Gingham All You’ve Got

25 March - 13 May
Eloise Rapp uses regular cotton business shirts as the base material for her work commenting on the urgent need to repair, reuse and revalue used textiles as robust materials.

Fashion Futures

4 February - 20 March 2021

In partnership with UTS Fashion & Textiles, we present a selection of work by the 2020 graduates. Three designers will be featured in our William Street window gallery for two weeks each. The designers are: Joshua Saacks, Kerry Brack and Sally Jackson.

Patterns In-between

26 November, 2020 - 27 January, 2021

Patterns In-between is Bic’s self-examination of living between two cultures and acknowledgement of the reality that exists ‘in-between’. 

Connecting Cultures

9 October – 24 November, 2020 

Connecting Cultures showcases wearable collections from Indigenous Australian brand, Gillawarra Arts and Colombian brand, Mami Watta Collections.

WORKSHOPPED20: Object Space

9 August - 30 September 2020 

On display, work by Alex Gilmour, WORKSHOPPED20 superstar.

The New Neighbours: Meredith Woolnough

09 June - 29 July 2020

On display in Object Space is the work The New Neighbours by Meredith Woolnough as a part of the exhibition Open House: 3rd Tamworth Textile Triennial.

In the Fire Zone: How to Cook a Knife

26 March - 27 May 2020

Designer-maker, contemporary jeweller and winner of the Australian Design Centre Award for Profile 19, Dianne Beevers investigates what might happen if people learn how to make their own domestic tools. This exhibition reveals her first accomplishments in knifemaking showing two Damascus kitchen knives.

Sweet Spot: Julie Paterson

31 January - 18 March 2020

Sweet Spot is a collection of stencil symbols and the marks that they make. In this work Julie Paterson cross pollinates her multidimensional practice as a designer, painter and printmaker. The collection of symbols, originally part of landscape paintings, create a library of shapes that leap from the canvas.

Bright Start

21 November 2019 - 22 January 2020

Bright Start features the work of first year students of the Bachelor of Design Degree and is part of the Designing Bright Futures exhibition program produced by Australian Design Centre in partnership with UNSW Art & Design. 

Intergradation: Taerim Claire Jeon

3 October - 13 November 2019

Intergradation is an exhibition of the Jogakbo (Traditional Korean patchwork) work of a Sydney based artist Taerim Claire Jeon. This exhibition is presented in partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre, Australia. 

Gadigal Mural Exhibition

2 July - 13 August 2019

Gadigal Mural is an Object Space exhibition, celebrating NAIDOC 2019 and the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Language. 

Jane Theau

1 August – 25 September 2019

Just shopping, always shopping is one of a series of large-scale lace drawings depicting people in unexceptional, everyday moments

Stephen Goddard

28 May - 26 June 2019

Welcome. by Stephen Goddard explores typographical design, punctation and meaning in street signage.

How do you read the sign? If you trespass will you be prosecuted, or that no trespassing violators will be prosecuted and should be allowed to stay?  

Suzanne McRae

11 April - 26 May 2019

Suzanne McRae's work is immersed in sentimentality and the haunting nature of memory. These once cherished creatures, inhabitants of the past, live on today. 

Gunybi Ganambarr

1 February - 3 April 2019

On display in Object Space is the work of acclaimed Yolngu artist Gunybi Ganambarr as part of the exhibition STEEL: art design architecture. 

Dennis Golding

22 November 2018 - 23 January 2019

Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding exhibits one of his newest superhero capes titled My Cape, which empowers human and posthuman experiences of being on country. 

Dorothy Filshie

5 October - 14 November 2018

Fish Out of Water is an exhibition of the textile object work of NSW artist Dorothy Filshie.

Esme Timbery: Shellwork

2 August - 3 October 2018

The iconic artworks, Untitled 'Sydney Opera House' and Untitled 'Harbour Bridge' by Bidjigal artist and elder Esme Timbery celebrate the important shellwork tradition of the La Perouse community and Timbery's contemporary practice. 

Euphemia Bostock

21 June - 29 July 2018

Fashion Collection 1987 by artist Euphemia Bostock is a collection of handprinted garments featuring original designs created for the 1987 Au Printemps Department Store exhibition ‘Australis down under’ in Paris.

Vita Cochran

5 April - 22 May 2018

Textile artist Vita Cochran embraces bold colour and geometric designs through her hand-embroidered handbags and applique hangings. 

Play Up

8 February - 24 March 2018

This project involved the making of objects to support humour therapy in dementia care and was a collaboration between Tasman Munro, a social designer interested in creating objects that bring life to communities and Jean-Paul Bell, a humourmanitarian with a long history in the arts and health industry. 

Gunjan Aylawadi

6 October – 15 October 2017

Sydney-based paper artist Gunjan Aylawadi presents HAKK, a large-scale, intricate paper installation.

Adam Cornish

23 November 2017 - 31 January 2018

Adam Cornish's Trinity Collection is based on the nautilus shell and was the first project he designed for Alessi.