Western Australian artists break the mould at Coalesce exhibition

Distinctly Western Australian art exhibition, Coalesce, opens at KolbuszSpace Perth on Saturday, August 3, as part of the annual Indian Ocean Craft Triennial.

Coalesce presents innovative practices by artists working within and beyond the craft space, with unique textiles by regional WA Aboriginal artists alongside contemporary ceramic works by two Perth-based artists.

Curated by Sandra Murray; sculptural ceramics by Tom Freeman and Holly O’Meehan will feature in parallel with textiles by Anita Churchill, Dora Griffiths, and Cathy Ward of Waringarri Aboriginal Arts. The Waringarri artists’ move to screen-printing is new in 2024, making it a premiere of their vibrant textiles with culturally significant motifs of the Miriwoong people.

“Coalesce offers a unique celebration of the vibrancy of Aboriginal textile art together with two dynamic Fremantle/Walyulup-based artists,” said curator Sandra Murray.

O’Meehan, who grew up in the Great Southern, delves into the impact of colonial agricultural methods on the natural environment in WA’s Great Southern and South West regions. She incorporates handmade clay and ceramic objects with organic material and discarded items.

Freeman playfully joins unconventional media with clay forms, exploring clay’s physical transformations that occur beyond his control. The Fremantle-based artist adds found pieces from his daily life to spur unexpected and colourful outcomes.

Coalesce is showing at KolbuszSpace Perth on Saturday, August 3 until Sunday, August 11 as part of the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial. For more info, head to indianoceancrafttriennial.com