Expanded Textiles
Nqa Blayed, Jane Bodnaruk, Julia Boros, Sadhbha Cockburn, Elizabeth Day, Ellen Ferrier, Joanna Fowles, Kath Fries, Agnieszka Golda, Sylvia Griffin, Cecilia Heffer, Waihan Lee, Madeline McGregor, Julie Paterson, Sue Pedley, Catriona Pollard, Venessa Possum, Rhonda Pryor, Jane Richens.
Curators | Kath Fries & Sylvia Griffin
Exhibition assistant | Annie Lu
Downstairs | Opens on Sep 5 until Sep 27 | Fri, Sat & Sun
Expanded Textiles is a group exhibition investigating contemporary textile and fibre practices beyond their conventional boundaries, reflecting the growing intersection of sustainability, environmental awareness and contemporary textile and bio-textile art.
Expanded Textiles is a group exhibition investigating contemporary textile and fibre practices beyond their conventional boundaries, reflecting the growing intersection of sustainability, environmental awareness and contemporary textile and bio-textile art.
Bringing together nineteen intergenerational artists and their wide range of conceptual, spatial and materially complex practices, this exhibition emphasises transformation and experimentation. Natural processes such as plant-based dyeing, growing plant and fungi fibres, weathering and staining, connect a number of the works. Others are connected by construction and deconstruction through processes of weaving, stitching, twisting, spinning and knotting using traditional manual techniques. In contrast, several foreground biological investigation, or technological processes and innovative fabrication methods. Many make connections between nature and the climate crisis, personal history, ancestry and identity, which resonate as non-linear narratives throughout the exhibitions.
Together, these artists reveal the remarkable versatility of textiles as a contemporary artistic medium, both visually compelling and intellectually engaging, honouring traditional techniques while continually evolving through new ideas, materials and processes.
Bringing together nineteen intergenerational artists and their wide range of conceptual, spatial and materially complex practices, this exhibition emphasises transformation and experimentation. Natural processes such as plant-based dyeing, growing plant and fungi fibres, weathering and staining, connect a number of the works. Others are connected by construction and deconstruction through processes of weaving, stitching, twisting, spinning and knotting using traditional manual techniques. In contrast, several foreground biological investigation, or technological processes and innovative fabrication methods. Many make connections between nature and the climate crisis, personal history, ancestry and identity, which resonate as non-linear narratives throughout the exhibitions.
Together, these artists reveal the remarkable versatility of textiles as a contemporary artistic medium, both visually compelling and intellectually engaging, honouring traditional techniques while continually evolving through new ideas, materials and processes.
Kath Fries www.kathfries.com
Sylvia Griffin www.sylviagriffin.com.au
Nqa Blayed www.Blayed.net
Julia Boros www.juliaboros.au
Sadhbha Cockburn www.sadhbha.com
Elizabeth Day www.elizabethday.art
Ellen Ferrier www.ellenferrier.com
Joanna Fowles www.joannafowles.com
Agnieszka Golda www.agnieszkagoldamartinjohnson.carbonmade.com
Cecilia Heffer www.ceciliaheffer.com
Waihan Lee www.Katelwh.wixsite.com/artist
Julie Paterson www.juliepaterson.com.au
Sue Pedley www.suepedley.com.au
Catriona Pollard www.TheArtofWeaving.com.au
Venessa Possum www.venessapossum.com
Rhonda Pryor www.rhondapryor.com
Jane Richens www.tabbilforest.com.au
Instagram | Kath Fries Curator @kathfries_curator Nqa Blayed @nqa_bla Jane Bodnaruk @janebodnarukart Julia Boros @juliaboros Sadhbha Cockburn @sadhbha.c Elizabeth Day @elizabethday28 Ellen Ferrier @ellen.ferrier Joanna Fowles @joannafowles Kath Fries @kath_fries Agnieszka Golda @agnieszka_golda_au Sylvia Griffin @sylviagriffinart Cecilia Heffer @contemporary_lace Waihan Lee @Waihan.kate.lee Madeline McGregor @maddy_ilona Julie Paterson @clothjulie Sue Pedley @sue.pedley Catriona Pollard @CatrionaPollard Venessa Possum @venessapossum Rhonda Pryor @rhondapryor10 Jane Richens @janerichens Annie Lu @luiecreativestudio
Facebook | kath.fries sylvia.griffin.14
Opening | Sat Sep 5, 3-5pm
Join us for the opening of groupshow 'Expanded Textiles' curated by Kath Fries & Sylvia Griffin; Upstairs 'Square Logic' by Cornelis Timmer; Backroom, 'SUBLIMITY' by Sophia Lee Georgas
Kath Fries, Matrix I, 2026, Reishi (Australian native Ganoderma steyaertanum) grown on sisal, hessian, and found wooden stretcher frame. 63 x 63 x 7 cm. Photo credit: Kath Fries.
Sylvia Griffin, Stained, 2025, cotton, natural angophora dye, charcoal, graphite, timber, 190 x 82 x 3. Photo credit: Ellen Dahl.
Julie Paterson, Menindee Memorial Loop, 2024-2026, thread and cotton, 75cm x 25m. Photo: Julie Paterson.
Agnieszka Golda, Before the Sun, 2026, plant dyes on silk organza and reclaimed wood, 167 × 137 cm. Photo: Agnieszka Golda
Catriona, Pollard, Whispers of the River, 2025, reclaimed copper wire, foraged Five Leaf Water vine, charcoal. 73 x 125 x 19 cm. Photo: Catriona Pollard.
Cecilia Heffer, Data Lace, (detail view) 2017, paper lace: shredded documents, machine stitched onto a soluble substrate, 90cm x 220 cm. Photo: Cecilia Heffer.
Ellen-Ferrier, Touching the world otherwise (kith and kin), (detail view) 2025, water, oxygen, gelatin, vegetable glycerin, vinegar, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, tree sap (pine and eucalypt varieties), shellac, raw sheep wool, recycled electrical conduit, recycled copper. Dimensions variable. Photo: Hamish McIntosh.
Jane Richens, Hibiscus heterophyllus collar, 2026, hand-processing Hibiscus heterophyllus bark, dimensions variable. Photo: Jane Richens.
Venessa Possum, Ngurra bayali manga ngaliya (Country speaking lightning relationality), 2026, (detail view). Mundowi - resin ink, Gubidj (white ochre and acrylic binder), sinew and Irish linen, 194 x 206 cm.
Sylvia Griffin, Stained, 2025, cotton, natural angophora dye, charcoal, graphite, timber, 190 x 82 x 3. Photo credit: Ellen Dahl.
Julie Paterson, Menindee Memorial Loop, 2024-2026, thread and cotton, 75cm x 25m. Photo: Julie Paterson.
Agnieszka Golda, Before the Sun, 2026, plant dyes on silk organza and reclaimed wood, 167 × 137 cm. Photo: Agnieszka Golda
Catriona, Pollard, Whispers of the River, 2025, reclaimed copper wire, foraged Five Leaf Water vine, charcoal. 73 x 125 x 19 cm. Photo: Catriona Pollard.
Cecilia Heffer, Data Lace, (detail view) 2017, paper lace: shredded documents, machine stitched onto a soluble substrate, 90cm x 220 cm. Photo: Cecilia Heffer.
Ellen-Ferrier, Touching the world otherwise (kith and kin), (detail view) 2025, water, oxygen, gelatin, vegetable glycerin, vinegar, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, tree sap (pine and eucalypt varieties), shellac, raw sheep wool, recycled electrical conduit, recycled copper. Dimensions variable. Photo: Hamish McIntosh.
Jane Richens, Hibiscus heterophyllus collar, 2026, hand-processing Hibiscus heterophyllus bark, dimensions variable. Photo: Jane Richens.
Venessa Possum, Ngurra bayali manga ngaliya (Country speaking lightning relationality), 2026, (detail view). Mundowi - resin ink, Gubidj (white ochre and acrylic binder), sinew and Irish linen, 194 x 206 cm.
