Dean Stewart, Toolbox 2, 2025, timber and acrylic paint. Photograph by Guy Blunden.

Direction Forward presents a collection of artworks which explore scale, form, texture and colour in surprising, engaging ways – transforming found objects and discarded materials into considered, contemporary assemblages.

Taking an architectural approach to his work and through the act of reclamation, Dean Stewart sources found objects and materials from across the Northern Rivers and beyond. Through experimentation and exploration, objects and materials undergo a metamorphosis. As objects are physically modified by the artist, they are also infused with the associated memories and essences they carry, allowing them to embody a narrative that is deeply personal and yet universally resonant.

Opening event: Friday 21 February, 5:30-7:30pm