A Forest of Koalas brings together the creativity and environmental passion of Byron Bay Public School students in a powerful installation of five hundred handmade ceramic koalas. Filling the Gallery, the work transforms the space into a symbolic forest – an expression of care, hope, and action for Australia’s endangered koalas.

Created by students from Kindergarten to Year 6 under the mentorship of Northern Rivers artist Amanda Bromfield and the guidance of teacher Nicky Greenlaw, the project combines art making with environmental education. Through learning about koalas, habitat loss, and climate change, students are empowered to see themselves as caretakers and change-makers in their community.

For many children, this was their first experience working with clay – a tactile, expressive, and therapeutic medium that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and confidence. Together, their hundreds of small sculptures form a collective voice, reminding us that every action – no matter how small – can help protect the natural world.

Bromfield is an outspoken environmental advocate who has been using her art, for more than 15 years, to amplify the voices of the voiceless and bring attention to urgent ecological issues.

Amanda Bromfield, Dollar and Dozer, 2022, PB103 clay with underglaze and glaze, courtesy the artist.