Denise Cox & Michelle Lennard

Watch House Gallery
Opening Event: Friday, 17 January 2025
Exhibition: Saturday, 18 January to Friday, 31 January 2025

This exhibition brings together a dynamic collection of acrylic, mixed media, and textile works that celebrate the vibrant textures and rich colours of Lutruwita/Tasmania. The artists offer their unique interpretations of the island’s natural environments, drawing inspiration from its striking landscapes, mountains, natural wonders, and coastal vistas.

Lutruwita/Tasmania’s diverse and often rugged terrains are brought to life through the interplay of texture and colour in each piece. Whether evoking the raw power of the wilderness or the intricate patterns and colours found throughout the island, these works immerse viewers in the sensory experience of Tasmania’s distinctive environment. From the deep hues of its forests to the delicate threads of its textile-inspired pieces, the exhibition invites a dialogue between nature, place, and the human presence that shapes and is shaped by it.

The exhibition features a combination of individual and collaborative pieces, each inspired by the unique textures and colours of Lutruwita/Tasmania. Through their collaborative works, Michelle and Denise seek to intertwine painting and textiles, making use of vintage and dead stock fabrics, thread and fabric off-cuts, repurposed materials, paper waste, and natural dyes. The integration of diverse materials reflects a shared ethos of sustainability and the deep connection to the land.

Michelle’s individual works reflect her strong commitment to repurpose, recycle, and reuse. By reimagining preloved garments, op shop finds, and saved fabric scraps, she creates pieces bursting with colour and vitality. Each work tells a story of transformation, where discarded materials are given new life and purpose.

Denise’s textured acrylic and mixed media pieces are dynamic and powerful. Incorporating texture with brushes, sponges, palette knives, and a range of household and discarded objects, her works capture the raw energy of Tasmania’s natural landscapes. The use of unconventional tools to apply materials adds depth and movement, creating tactile surfaces that evoke both the strength and fragility of the environment.

Together, Michelle and Denise’s works offer a rich, multifaceted reflection on Lutruwita/Tasmania, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the island’s colours, textures, and natural beauty. The exhibition highlights not only the artists' individual creative processes but also the collective power of collaboration in capturing the essence of a place so intimately tied to both its natural world and its human stories.

We invite you to reflect on the stunning textures and colours of Lutruwita/Tasmania, where nature and its striking beauty come alive through the hands and vision of these artists.