Featuring more than 200 drawings and ceramics from the Bundanon Collection (NSW), Fantastic Forms captures the energy, movement and colour in the expansive creative practice of Merric Boyd (1888-1959) in dialogue with three very different practices by living Australian artists: Rubyrose Bancroft, Stephen Benwell and Nabilah Nordin.
Fantastic Forms expands from Merric Boyd’s well-known ceramic work into his energetic and playful drawing practice from the 1940s and ‘50s, all of which were underpinned by the spiritual philosophy of love and connection that ran through his work and family life.
A cornerstone of the Bundanon Collection, Merric Boyd’s artwork reflects the strong influence he had on his son Arthur, both as an artist and as someone committed to a deeply creative life.
Singaporean/Australian artist Nabilah Nordin draws inspiration from Boyd’s idiosyncratic, whimsical drawings with her three large-scale sculptural forms that playfully experiment with exaggerated dimensions and makeshift construction.
Stephen Benwell’s series of 28 exquisite figures in glazed ceramic are, by contrast, studiously worked and intimate in scale. Shaping, firing, painting and re-painting his figures over months at a time, Benwell’s attention to detail manifests as a form of love for these gentle human forms.
Two claymation videos by Bundjalung artist Rubyrose Bancroft capture the fun of working with malleable materials in real time.
A vibrant, abundant and joyful exhibition, Fantastic Forms celebrates the creativity of the human imagination through drawing, ceramics, sculpture and animation.
On show at David Roche Gallery in Adelaide until May 9, 2026.
For further information go to: antiquestovintage.com.au/find/fantastic-forms-bundanon-touring-exhibition/
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