Plus 1, Group exhibition

Opening 5–7pm, Thursday 15 May 

There’s an inherent challenge to bringing a plus-one to events. Whether it’s weddings, parties, or formal dinners, the act of introducing a companion to your personal, professional, or creative sphere can feel exciting, strangely intimate, or uncomfortably awkward. Sometimes the plus-one is an ideal fit, seamlessly blending into the social fabric. Other times, their presence becomes an amusingly misplaced puzzle piece. In either case, the choice of plus-one often reveals more about the inviter than the invitee—highlighting tastes, friendships, aspirations, or even hidden anxieties.

The exhibition Plus 1 harnesses this social phenomenon and playfully applies it to the realm of exhibition-making. Each artist in the gallery stable was asked to invite another to exhibit as their "plus-one"—someone they believe is making good (or relevant) work, or someone they’ve long wanted to collaborate with. The approaches vary widely: some are surprising, others more expected. The exhibition explores these relationships and influences between artists, highlighting how differing methodologies and media can complement or contrast one another. Some artist pairs share a clear aesthetic affinity, while others thrive on the intriguing friction of divergent practices.

Collaborations range from cross-disciplinary blends—pairing fashion with painting, or ceramics with jewellery—to partnerships unified by conceptual interests, such as language politics or reinterpretations of historical imagery. Friendship, mentorship, and mutual support also feature strongly, emphasising the importance of community in creative practice.

Collectively, the artist pairs in Plus 1 create an exhibition rich in personal connection, artistic innovation, and playful juxtaposition.

Artists included in the exhibition are:
Alan Ibell + Esther Deans
Ann Shelton + Kirsty Lillico
Caitlin Devoy + Nat Tozer
Caroline McQuarrie + Marci Tackett
Claudia Kogachi + Emma Jing
Denys Watkins + Garth Steeper
Elisabeth Pointon + Deborah Rundle
Emily Hartley-Skudder + Georgina May Young
Erica van Zon + Kate Woods
Hannah Ireland + Reece King
Harry Culy + Michael Mahne Lamb
Jaime Jenkins + Karl Fritsch
Kāryn Taylor + Maddy Rose Hansen
Kereama Taepa + Nikau Hindon
Priscilla Rose Howe + Casey James Latimer
Ruby Wilkinson + Rose Pickernell
Tyne Gordon + Sam Norton