This is an exhibition of figurative ceramic sculptures that invites viewers to reflect on the fluidity of existence, exploring the physical and emotional distances we carry and the unseen forces that shape our realities. Through a lyrical exploration of migration, memory, and longing, the work draws from personal experience, navigating the space between two worlds.
Oceans, fish, shifting landscapes and figurative forms, serve as metaphors for transformation and impermanence, tracing the passage between "here" and "there." Fish embody memory and emotion, shaped by currents of hope and loss, while the work drifts between dreams and reality—whimsical and mystical moments of pause.
Figurative forms in clay, adorned with glazes, slips, and oxides, range in scale and detail, each telling a story through surface and shape. Complementing these are digital collages that layer hand-drawn and photographic imagery, combining elements of water, flora, and sea life—meditations on introspection and the natural world. Together, these works trace a poetic journey—harvesting memory, honouring change, and revealing the subtle connections between nature and the self, between movement, pause, and the ever-changing state of being.
School HOLIDAY workshop: Make a clay ‘wish fish’
Young people are invited to join Michelle Merrifield for a hands-on clay workshop at Kingston Arts Centre on Tuesday 20 January from 10am to 12pm, where imagination swims free.
Create your own Wish Fish — a symbolic creature carrying dreams, hopes, and transformation. As you mold the clay, you’ll be invited to set an intention or wish, giving your fish its quiet magic. No experience needed — just curiosity and a sense of wonder.
For ages 6 to 15. Creations can be collected after a couple of weeks once they have been dried and fired. Parents/guardians will be contacted once creations are ready to take home.
Places are limited, please book via the link to the right.
meet the artist at the gallery
Visit the gallery on Saturday 13 December to meet exhibiting artist Michelle Merrifield who will be in the gallery making some of her hand-built fishes. Feel free to chat to her about her ceramic process, how she goes about bringing life to her fishes and figurative forms, that are reflections on migration, memory, and loss.
learning resource
Enjoy a free resource to learn more about the themes and artworks in Michelle's exhibition, developed for families and young people. Click to download here or pick up your complimentary copy in the gallery.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Michelle Merrifield is a South African-born, multidisciplinary artist now living and working in Dingley. With formal training in Fine Arts and Graphic Design, she began her creative career as an illustrator. After relocating to Australia, her practice evolved to include graphic design, freelance illustration, and teaching in both graphic design and ceramics.
Since 2019, Michelle has focused on her ceramics practice, creating expressive, hand-built sculptures that explore themes of introspection, symbolism, and the natural world. Her work was awarded the 2021 Small Sculpture Prize at the East Gippsland Art Gallery, and she has recently been selected for the 2025 Magnify Artist in Residence program.
access
Free street parking is available near all Kingston Arts exhibition spaces. Dedicated mobility parking spots are located at the main entrances of Kingston Arts Centre (G1 & G2) and Shirley Burke Theatre (G3).
G1 and G2 at Kingston Arts Centre are less than 200m from Moorabbin Station. G3 at Shirley Burke Theatre is less than 200m from Parkdale Station.
All venues have automatic doors and either flat or ramp access at their main entrances. The side entry at Kingston Arts Centre & Kingston City Hall also has step-free access.
Each gallery space provides all-gender, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
For more details and special requirements visit our accessibility page
We are committed to providing accessibility options for all our patrons. Please reach out to our helpful staff by calling (03) 9556 4440 or emailing if you have any queries.