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Exploration 24
Christopher Kerley
Introduction
FLG presents our highly anticipated annual showcase of emerging and unsigned artists. Exploration was created to provide a platform for emerging artists to successfully exhibit their art within a commercial gallery context. Now in its 24th year, this curated exhibition showcases the practices of talented artists from diverse backgrounds working across various mediums. This years finalists are Bronwyn Kidd, Christopher Kerley, Dan Elborne, Eliza Adam, Holly Block, J9 Stanton, Jo Mellor, Kate Stehr, Lesley Murray, Nicole O'Loughlin and Sid Pattni.
This year's EXPLORATION 24 ART AWARD, a solo at FLG in 2025, is awarded to SID PATTNI. Congratulations Sid!
The award was judged by Kelly Gellatly, Curator and Writer, & Myles Russell-Cook, Senior Curator, Australian and First Nations Art, National Gallery of Victoria.
Myles Russel-Cook noted : "Sid's work intertwines resilience and identity, inviting viewers to delve into the complexities of personal and cultural heritage. The piece is also very well-resolved, employing camp aesthetics to explore politics of identity and culture."
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDThe Winner of the People's Choice Award was Jo Mellor!
JO MELLOR
Jo Mellor is from Sydney (Cammeraygal Country) She brings a unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation to her textile artworks. Mellor's textiles seamlessly merge hand-stitched and embroidered cartographic lines onto digitally printed rust-patterned fabrics, creating a visual narrative that symbolises the detritus of mining activities. Through her art, Mellor re-imagines mining terrains, enhancing photographs of rust and embellishing them with vibrant threads to capture the essence of scarred earth.
In her exploration of mining landscapes, Mellor critically examines the issues of mining in Broken Hill, NSW (Wilyakali Country). Through a textile-based, eco-feminist practice, the artist lays bare the devastating consequences of land and water mismanagement by government bodies and corporations who fail to consult with the Traditional Custodians of Country. Her textile artworks were guided by Aboriginal Knowledge provided by Ngiyampaa Elder, Aunty Beryl Carmichael along with the methodologies of yarning and deep listening. Mellor acknowledges the mined pits and cavernous caves that The Broken Hill Cobalt Project has left with cobalt hues that infuse her works. As Jo Morrow aptly notes, ‘In its mined state, Cobalt is a dull grey – extracted for its magnetic properties. By presenting the alchemic Cobalt colour, Mellor plays with the symbolism of this colour – allowing us to imagine a bejewelled richness that may one day override this scarred and sacred landscape.'
Jo Mellor holds a Master of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from UNSW Sydney. Mellor has been a finalist in several art awards across Australia and received two grants from UNSW Sydney as well as the Australian Government Training Research Scholarship for the Master of Fine Arts (Research) degree at UNSW Sydney. Mellor has exhibited in Australia and USA. Her artworks are displayed in private collections in Australia, Europe, and USA.
DAN ELBORNE Dan Elborne is a visual artist based in Naarm / Melbourne. His primary working material is clay, which is utilized for long-form installation-based projects and sculptural series’. Across various modes of practice, Elborne builds work on intersecting foundations of memory, time, labour and materiality. Each project and piece is anchored in the historical, philosophical and technical potency of ceramics, as well as secondary materials including ash, gold, lead and bone. Through their use, Elborne references relationships and dichotomies between survival and suffering, preservation and decay, and the intricacies of remembering.
Elborne completed his Bachelor of Creative Arts with First Class Honours at the University of Southern Queensland in 2014, followed by a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) from the same institution in 2019. In recognition of his talent and contributions to the arts, Elborne has received various awards, scholarships, and grants, including the Sainsbury Sculpture Grant and the National Assistance Program for the Arts, Sidney Myer Fund & The Myer Foundation.
SID PATTNI Sid Pattni, an award-winning artist of Indian-Australian heritage, delves into the intricacies of identity and culture within a post-colonial context. His unique artistic language merges traditional embroidery and orthodox portraiture, offering a profound expression of his cultural roots. Pattni's accolades include the just announced Lester Prize 2024, the Kennedy Prize in 2023, alongside selections for esteemed national awards like the Blake Prize, and Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize. Additionally, he received the 2022 Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund Grant and delivered a TEDx talk.
Pattni's upcoming residency at Khōj in New Delhi, India (in collaboration with the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art), marks a significant milestone in his career. Focused on historical research into Indian miniature painting, his project examines the impact of colonial rule on artistic patronage in the 18th and 19th centuries. During his time in New Delhi, Pattni will delve into primary and secondary sources, including texts, archival materials, and scholarly publications, to gain a comprehensive understanding of this art form. This endeavour will enable him to engage with and reinterpret historical themes while fostering collaborations with local artists. With a focus on painting and embroidery, Pattni's studio practice delves deep into the intricacies of diasporic identity, offering collectors a rare opportunity to engage with art that transcends cultural boundaries and resonates with authenticity.
J9 STANTON J9 Stanton, a Mparntwe / Alice Springs based artist, is driven by a profound desire to inspire environmental consciousness through her art. Her journey began amidst the urban sprawl, where she witnessed first hand the staggering waste generated by modern society. This realisation fuelled her passion for sustainability, prompting her to repurpose discarded materials into captivating artworks that challenge perceptions. Drawing from her training in painting (RMIT) and sculpture (VCA), Stanton's practice embodies a harmonious blend of imagination and resourcefulness. Her artworks, often crafted from industrial discards, serve as poignant reminders of our collective responsibility towards the planet. Through her work, she seeks to transform societal norms, advocating for a more balanced relationship with nature. Since relocating to central Australia, Stanton's artistic vision encompasses the unique landscape and culture of the region, garnering her acclaim for her thought-provoking contributions to the local art scene. Stanton's dedication extends beyond her personal practice; she has been instrumental in nurturing the talents of local Aboriginal artists, fostering a sense of community and empowerment through art. Through her transformative artworks, Stanton invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment, sparking conversations and contemplation about our role in shaping a sustainable future.Download J9's CV and Bio
NICOLE O'LOUGHLIN Nicole O’Loughlin, a multidisciplinary artist residing in lutruwita/Tasmania, traverses textiles, painting, and printmaking in her creative journey. Her artistic vision mirrors the world's intricacies, from the microscopic organisms depicted in her prints and paintings to the feminist, political, and social narratives woven into her textile works.
Challenging conventional notions of craft, Nicole employs traditional media within a contemporary framework, pushing against the tide of industrialization that threatens the handmade. Her diverse skill set guides her practice, allowing for a fluid and evolving exploration of artistic expression.
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts with 1st class Honours and ongoing doctoral studies at the University of Tasmania, Nicole's academic pursuits complement her artistic endeavours. Her accolades include winning the Henry Jones Art Prize mixed media category in 2023 and the People's Choice Award winner at the Paul Guest Art Prize. O'Loughlin's commitment to the arts extends beyond her personal practice, as evidenced by her roles as a sessional tutor at the University of Tasmania and as a coordinator of various arts initiatives. Her works grace collections including the Australian Parliament House Art Collection and the Ararat Australian Textile Museum.
ELIZA ADAM
Eliza Adam, a multidisciplinary artist based in Meeanjin / Brisbane, delves into the rich tapestry of interconnectedness through her diverse artistic expressions in painting, sculpture, and textile-based processes. Her practice focuses on explorations of place and time. Responding directly to her surroundings, and both recent and distant histories of place, Adam's investigates time as it is registered in landscape through light, growth, movement and decay. Through built layers and simple notations, Adam’s work presents the landscape as an informal archive.
Drawing inspiration directly from her environment, Adam unearths the layers of history embedded within landscapes. From the streets of Meanjin to the vast expanses of the Western Australian desert, each locale serves as a source of inspiration, shaping and informing her creative practice.
Adam holds a Bachelor of Fine Art, a Graduate Certificate in Arts and Community Engagement and a Graduate Diploma in Education. She has exhibited Nationally in both group and solo exhibitions. Recent exhibition highlights include participation in a collaborative exhibition 'Mutual Intent' at the Brisbane Powerhouse, a solo exhibition at Caboolture Regional Art Gallery (QLD) and a recent solo exhibition at Belco Arts (ACT). Adam was also a recent finalist in The Elaine Bermingham Memorial Prize in 2020 and the Redland Art Awards in 2022.
HOLLY BLOCK Holly Block is a multidisciplinary artist based in Naarm / Melbourne, Australia, whose artistic journey spans across various mediums including video, photography, installation, and sculpture. Her practice interrogates the nature of reality, through the lens of vibration and notions of imaginal reality. Found objects, such as hair, dolls, animal taxidermy, fur coats are deployed in triangulations of identity, entangling the human, non-human and other. Her work is informed by object-oriented ontology, mysticism, animalism and myth. Above all, and despite overt aesthetic outcomes, the monstrous feminine does not lie down leading the artist to question which fragments of identity are more monstrous, offering perspectives beyond the anthropocentrine.
Block holds a Master of Contemporary Art at the Victorian College of the Arts, The University of Melbourne, building upon her earlier academic achievements of a Bachelor of Art in Psychology. Beyond her artistic endeavours, Block brings over a decade of experience in dance, performance, and choreography, infusing her artistic practice with a unique sense of movement and rhythm.
Download Holly's CV and BioArtist Statement
LESLEY MURRAY Warrane / Sydney-based artist Lesley Murray's vibrant ceramic creations are a testament to her fascination with deconstructivism in architecture, 20th-century design, and the expressive potential of colour. Embracing the inherent versatility of clay, Lesley's hand-built sculptures demonstrate its fluidity and responsiveness, inviting viewers to engage with its tactile qualities and organic forms. Through her work, she explores the interplay of shape and shadow, balancing elements of suspension and movement with a sense of playful spontaneity.
Having earned her Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts (Ceramics) from TAFE Northern Beaches in 2022, Lesley continues to push the boundaries of her craft, infusing each piece with a sense of energy and intrigue that leaves a lasting impression on all who encounter it. In recent years she has been listed as a finalist in the Muswellbrook Regional Gallery Art Prize 2024, National Emerging Art Prize 2023, Hornsby Art Prize 2023, and the Blacktown City Art Prize 2023.
CHRISTOPHER KERLEY Based in Naarm / Melbourne, artist Christopher Kerley explores psychological themes like belonging, memory, time, and loss in his paintings. Using light, perspective, and colour, Kerley creates scenes that are both emotive and mysterious, evoking stillness and unease.
Kerley holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Monash University. His work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across Australia and has been recognized in several art awards, including the Rick Amor Drawing Prize, the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize and the Alice Prize. His pieces are held in public collections like the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the City of Glen Eira, the City of Port Phillip and in private collections.
Download Christopher's CV and Bio
KATE STEHR As a sculptor on the South Coast of NSW (Dharawal Country), Kate Stehr repurposes found objects, cherishing the rich history and memories embedded within each element. Her artistic journey is often an exploration of the absurd, as she delights in creating objects that defy their conventional purpose.
At the heart of her current series, 'Bush Telegraph,' lies a nostalgic nod to the tools of writing. Through her sculptures, she reimagines disjointed brush stoppers and inkwells, inviting viewers to ponder the essence of these everyday objects. The title, 'Bush Telegraph,' encapsulates the essence of Australian rural life—a term evoking the informal network through which news and gossip traverse the vast landscapes of the outback. In each piece, she aims to capture the essence of storytelling and community, intertwining whimsy and nostalgia to create a narrative that resonates deeply with the Australian experience.
Kate Stehr holds an Honours Degree (National Art School) and a Masters of Philosophy (University of Wollongong).
BRONWYN KIDD Bronwyn Kidd is a collaborative expressionist from Naarm / Melbourne who, informed by an international career working with models to promote high fashion, now weaves a vivid cloth of memory, womanhood and community. Layering digital and analogue photography of dance performance, and in costumed portraiture, she represents her subjects’, and her own, journey toward new identity radiating a mature resolution in calm and unity. In love with classicism, Bronwyn's observational lens projects a cinema of past, present, and future, morphing remembrance with discovery.
Her works are collected in London’s National Portrait Gallery; and exhibitions at Monash Gallery of Art (2008); National Gallery of Victoria (2016); MARS Gallery (2023).
