Fantastic Forms exhibition at David Roche Gallery South Australia exclusive

The vibrant, abundant and joyful exhibition Fantastic Forms, celebrating the creativity of the human imagination through drawing, ceramics, sculpture and animation, will be on show at David Roche Gallery from February 17 to May 9, 2026. Presented as a South Australian exclusive, the exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience significant works from the Bundanon Collection alongside contemporary Australian artists.

Featuring more than 200 drawings and ceramics, Fantastic Forms captures the energy, movement and colour in the expansive creative practice of Merric Boyd (1888–1959) in dialogue with three very different contemporary artists – Rubyrose Bancroft, Stephen Benwell and Nabilah Nordin.

Merric Boyd, Trees and post-and-rail fence, date unknown, pencil and coloured pencil on paper. Bundanon Collection. Photo: Rob Little.

Curated by Sophie O’Brien and Boe-lin Bastian, the exhibition is mid-way through its 2025–2028 national tour, bringing together historic works and newly commissioned pieces in a thoughtful and engaging presentation.

A rare opportunity to experience Merric Boyd’s work in South Australia

Gallery Director Robert Reason says the team is honoured to present the exhibition to South Australian audiences.

“The exhibition’s seamless blend of traditional disciplines like sculpture and ceramics with animation and drawing is inspiring. The artistic lineage of the Boyd family is widely celebrated, as is Merric Boyd’s pioneering role as Australia’s first studio potter. To see so many of his drawings, however, is a rare and captivating privilege, offering insight into Boyd’s creative process. Together with his ceramics, the drawings have made a deep impression on the work of three selected contemporary artists. I can’t wait for our visitors to immerse themselves in such a rich variety of artistic expressions,” he says.

Bundanon CEO Rachel Kent adds: “We are delighted to celebrate Arthur Boyd’s vision in presenting this national touring exhibition, which features his father’s works alongside new commissions from three contemporary artists at differing stages of their careers. Sharing this dialogue with audiences across Australia is especially meaningful, as it reflects Boyd’s deep commitment to connecting audiences to the work of living artists.”

Merric Boyd, Jug with trees, 1942, ceramic. Bundanon Collection. Photo: June Andersen.

Fantastic Forms expands from Merric Boyd’s well-known ceramic work into his energetic and playful drawing practice from the 1940s and 50s. These works are underpinned by the spiritual philosophy of love and connection that ran through his work and family life. A cornerstone of the Bundanon Collection, Boyd’s artwork reflects the strong influence he had on his son Arthur, both as an artist and as someone committed to a deeply creative life.

Contemporary artists respond to Merric Boyd’s creative legacy

Nabilah Nordin draws inspiration from Boyd’s idiosyncratic and whimsical drawings with three large-scale sculptural forms that experiment playfully with exaggerated dimensions and makeshift construction. Like Boyd, her practice is inventive and grounded in everyday life, encompassing cooking, socialising and interior decoration. Her work in Fantastic Forms explores the concealment and exposure of found objects, transformed with epoxy resin and painted in vivid neon hues.

Stephen Benwell, Introspection, 2022, earthenware with porcelain slip. Courtesy of the artist and LON Gallery.

Stephen Benwell’s series of 28 exquisite glazed ceramic figures offers a contrasting sense of intimacy and quiet reflection. Shaping, firing, painting and repainting his figures over months at a time, Benwell’s meticulous attention to detail becomes a form of devotion to these gentle human forms. Presented alongside carefully selected drawings by Merric Boyd, this exhibition represents the most substantial showing of Benwell’s delicate figures to date.

Two claymation videos by Rubyrose Bancroft capture the fun and immediacy of working with malleable materials. In each video, creatures and characters are formed from Plasticine and brought to life with beat-driven electronic music. The 7 Deadly Sins explores escapism through a humorous retelling of early religious narratives, while Mud captures the creation and explosive energy of organic material emerging from the earth.

A thoughtful cultural experience for South Australian visitors

For visitors seeking cultural enrichment and a deeper appreciation of Australian artistic heritage, Fantastic Forms offers a rare opportunity to experience historic and contemporary works side by side. Presented within the intimate and elegant surroundings of David Roche Gallery, the exhibition invites visitors to slow down, reflect and connect with the enduring creativity of Australian artists across generations.