For Saturday Indesign 2026, we invited ten artists to transform selected pieces from our collection through their own creative practice, giving familiar Few & Far forms new meaning and expression.
Ash brings a layered and intuitive approach to the exhibition; shaped by instinct, abstraction and a deep connection to the natural world.
After nearly a decade in graphic design, Ash found a renewed intensity for painting while on maternity leave with her first daughter.
The work was made in quiet intervals, often in the margins of the day. Early exhibitions in local cafés and businesses were met with encouragement, and a rigorous, intimate practice took shape.
Recognised across Australia, including finalist selections in the Paddington Art Prize, Flow Art Prize and Signature Art Prize, Ash has quickly established herself as a singular voice in contemporary abstraction.
She paints intuitively, losing herself in the process and letting instinct take over. As the layers build, she is drawn to the moment when something unexpected appears — that sense of surprise and wonder that keeps bringing her back to the canvas.
How much the shape of the piece carried the energy of the painting process. The arms have this beautiful folding-over form that feels really fluid, and I love that you can rearrange the back cushions to create different effects each time.
I knew almost immediately I wanted to take on the challenge of translating my usual 2D practice into something 3D – and I love working at scale, so the bigger the better.
I had a rough colour palette in mind going in, but I let the piece evolve organically from there.
I worked with fabric paints, mixing a palette of the tones I wanted. I diluted the paint and let it dry between layers to build up that same opaque, layered effect I use in my normal practice, and used a range of brush sizes to keep the surface interesting.
Ethereal. Cosy. Comforting.
Ash wants her work to sit in a space where you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking at, but it feels somehow familiar – leaving room for the viewer to sit with that feeling.
Much of her work circles around self, motherhood and the natural world. These are the things that connect her to something beyond the everyday, and painting is how she makes sense of them.
SEE MORE OF ASH HERE.
We are a team of creatives, designers & curators with a love of
meaningful spaces, considered design and pieces made to be lived with.
