Sydney Art Month

For Sydney Art Month, the Sydney Collage Society (SCS) sought to create a series of large-scale artworks that could showcase the collective creativity of five artists — Steve Tierney, Kubi Vasak, Liz Peniazeva, Millie Bartlett, and Myrrhine Fabricius — while exploring the collaborative nature of collage itself. The challenge was to merge distinct artistic voices into a cohesive, visually compelling exhibition that resonated with the public and reflected the dynamism of the Chippendale precinct.

The artists approached the project as a dialogue between process and material. By embracing the iterative nature of collage — collect, cut, create — each individual’s work became a thread in a larger conversation. The strategy was to create a shared visual language that allowed multiple perspectives to coexist, while still forming a unified experience that could engage gallery visitors and celebrate collective authorship.

The series reflects the layered, interwoven nature of collaborative collage. Individual contributions were sliced, reassembled, and woven together, forming new compositions that highlight both difference and harmony. Drawing inspiration from Steve Tierney’s practice, the works explore texture, pattern, and the physicality of cut-and-paste processes. Each piece acts as a container of conversation, inviting viewers to consider the interplay of voice, material, and form.

Exhibited as part of Sydney Art Month in the Chippendale precinct, the large-scale collages were presented as immersive, visual anchors within the exhibition space. Their scale and intricacy invite audiences to move through the works, noticing details up close while appreciating the overall unity from a distance. The collaborative process is evident in the final compositions, turning the gallery into a site of dialogue and discovery.

The project successfully showcased the Sydney Collage Society’s collaborative ethos and the expressive potential of large-scale collage. Visitors experienced a rich, multi-layered exhibition where individual voices merged into a collective visual conversation. The works highlighted the adaptability of collage as a medium and reinforced SCS’s role in fostering experimental, process-driven art in Sydney’s contemporary scene.