Community & Business
29 June, 2022
Local art recognised in Sydney exhibition
YUNGABURRA ceramic artist Sharon Weller has captured the eyes of many with her unique sculptures, and now they will form a display at one of Sydney’s most prestigious exhibitions.
Artisans in the Gardens 21st Anniversary exhibition at the Sydney Royal Botanical gardens showcases over 3,000 diverse pieces of artwork across a variety of mediums by a group of carefully selected artists.
Humbled by the honour of showcasing her pieces, Sharon will have several of her sculptures displayed amongst many others for the first time in her life this October.
From a young age, Sharon loved seeing what she could with her imagination with whatever bits of scrap paper, paint and other “doodads” she could find around the house.
From jewellery to upcycled furniture and clothing, she knew 3D art was her style which led her to take up ceramic art.
“I am currently working on 10 botanical sculptures for the Artisans in the Gardens 21st Anniversary exhibition at the Sydney Royal Botanical gardens which I was lucky enough to be selected for,” she said.
"This will be my first exhibition in Sydney and first visit to the botanical gardens and it’s a privilege for me as an artist to be accepted into such an exhibition and I am very thankful.”
Sharon believes her art is not just something aesthetic to the eye, but something to work the brain with unique and different techniques used to entertain those who lay eyes upon it.
Balancing, pivoting, floating illusions are created with her statues, challenging her to think outside the box to create something that has never been seen before.
Each piece of art that Sharon creates tells a story.
“I loved the idea of turning mud into a beautiful solid 3D form, combined with technical skill, science, hard work and I had created pieces that people wanted to buy and within a short time I had a gallery market and a homewares market,” she said.
“I hand-painted reef and rainforest designs and these were sold in galleries and a range of other hand-painted ceramics sold through decor shops throughout Cairns, Gold Coast and private commissions.
“By 2000 I had started hand building sculptures and was lucky enough to be able to sell them through an already established gallery market.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 29 October to 6 November, with many beautiful pieces of art to for sale or just to be admired.
From the comfort of her home, Sharon will continue to create her sensational sculptures to display at the Artisans in the Gardens 21st Anniversary exhibition.
“I find myself happiest when I was creating,” she said.
As well as being recognised on a national scale, Sharon's art will also be displayed next year at the local gallery in Atherton making the next year a very busy and creative one.
To see Sharon’s work, visit www.instagram.com/sharonweller_ceramics
